For general information about the Alleghany Highlands Chapter or questions about the upcoming session, please contact the Chapter Advisor:

Beth Hawse
Chief Ranger of Interpretation and Education
Douthat State Park
14239 Douthat State Park Road
Millboro, Virginia 24460
540-862-8117

Basic Training Course, February-May 2010

To Apply

Please send a completed application form to the address above, along with a check for the $125 course fee, payable to the Alleghany Highlands Master Naturalists. Applications are due February 1.

Alleghany Highlands Application Form (MS Word format)

About the Program

Download the Alleghany Highlands Master Naturalist brochure (PDF, 1 MB)

The Virginia Master Naturalist program is a statewide volunteer training program that will positively impact natural resource education and conservation across Virginia. The program’s mission is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

At the state level, the Virginia Master Naturalist program is sponsored jointly by Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Department of Forestry, and the Virginia Museum of Natural History.  At the local level, Douthat State Park will sponsor the Alleghany Highlands Chapter and Beth Hawse will serve as the Chapter Advisor. 

The program consists of a network of Virginia Master Naturalist chapters across the state. Each chapter is responsible for recruiting and training volunteers and for working with partners to create and coordinate volunteer service opportunities. The training consists of a minimum of 40 hours classroom and field time covering a core set of curriculum objectives. The objectives focus on ecology, natural resource management, basic natural history of the animals and plants of Virginia, and skills for teaching and field research. To become a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, each volunteer must also complete 40 hours of service. This service can be in the form of education (such as leading an interpretive program in a state park), citizen science (such as collecting data on wildlife populations), or stewardship (such as restoring a natural area).

This program benefits Virginia’s citizenry, its public lands, and its natural resources. The development of a dedicated volunteer corps will expand the capacity of Virginia’s natural resource agencies. The cooperative nature of the program provides a mechanism for state, local, non-profit, and other partners to work together towards the common goals of conservation and education. The volunteer service provides a purposeful way for citizens to spend time outdoors and on Virginia’s public lands.

2010 Course Outline

Feb. 18 (Class Host: Keith Carson)           
Denise Hayes 5:30 – 6:00 Introduction to the VA Master Naturalist Program
Keith Carson 6:00 – 6:45 American Naturalists
Steve Adams 7:00 – 8:30     Ecological Concepts/Nature of Naming

Feb. 25 (Class Host:)                                                         
Phil Hysell 5:30 – 6:15 Weather and Climate
Wil Orndorff   6:30 – 8:30     Virginia Biogeography & Geology and Soil Sciences
Zenah Orndorff                          

Mar. 4 (Class Host: Caren Nash)               
Steve Adams                 5:30 – 6:45     Botany
Steve Adams                 7:00 – 8:30     Dendrology     

Mar. 11 (Class Host: Caren Nash)             
John Pagels                   5:30 – 8:30     Mammalogy

Mar. 18 (Class Host: Dawn Peck)              
Kent Ford                      5:30 – 8:30     Aquatic Ecology and Management

Mar. 27 (Class Host: John Stanley)         Field Trip                    
Dan Foster                    8:00 – 4:30    Geology & Hydrology

                                    Van from Riders Up! Outfitters

Apr. 1 (Class Host: Caren Nash)               
Paul Bugas                    5:30 – 6:45     Ichthyology
Jason Hallacher
Aaron Coffman                           
Edie Kretsch                  7:00 – 8:30     Entomology

Apr. 8 (Class Host: Keith Carson)             
Keith Carson                  5:30 – 8:30     Ornithology

Apr. 22 (Class Host:)         
Mike Hayslett                 5:30 – 8:30     Herpetology

Apr. 24 (Class Host:)                               Field Trip
Mike Hayslett                 8:00 – 12:00   Herpetology
Gary Robinson               12:30 – 4:30   Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

April 29 (Class Host: Dawn Peck)             
Pat Sheridan                  5:30 – 6:45     Forest Ecology and Management
Lou Verner                     7:00 – 8:30     Urban and Suburban Systems

May 6 (Class Host: Beth Hawse)               
Beth Hawse                   5:30 – 6:30     Interpretation and Teaching Skills
Christine Hodges           6:30 – 7:00     Risk Management and Working with Youth
Sara Bell                        7:15 – 8:15     Citizen Science and Research
Beth Hawse                   8:15 – 8:30     Distribution of Written Test & Instructions*

May 15 (Class Host: Keith Carson)           Field Trip      
Terry Flaherty               7:30 – 4:00     Ornithology, Dendrology and Botany
Keith Carson                                           
Luanne Osborne                                     
Christine Hodges                                               

May 20                           5:00 – 8:30      Return Test, Take Practical

*Written test will be take-home and open book.