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 2008

To Apply

Please send a completed application form to the address above, along with a check for the $100 course fee, payable to the Alleghany Highlands Master Naturalists. Applications are due February 8.

Alleghany Highlands Application Form (MS Word format)

About the Program

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.

Course Outline

This is a draft syllabus, subject to change.

Feb. 21
Denise Hayes 5:30 – 6:00
Holly Walker 6:00 – 6:45
Steve Adams 7:00 – 8:30

Feb. 28
Jay Webb 5:30 – 6:15 Weather and Climate
Wil Orndorff, Zenah Orndorff 6:30 – 8:30 Virginia Biogeography & Geology and Soil Sciences

Mar. 6
Jay Gilliam 5:30-8:30 Aquatic Ecology and Management

Mar. 13
John Pagels 5:30 – 8:30 Mammalogy

Mar. 20
Steve Adams 5:30 – 6:45 Botany
Steve Adams 7:00 – 8:30 Dendrology

Mar. 29 Field Trip
Marilyn Maisano 8:00 – 4:30 Geology & Hydrology

Apr. 3
Edie Kretsch 5:30 – 6:45 Entomology
Paul Bugas 7:00 – 8:30 Ichthyology
Jason Hallacher

Apr. 10
Paul Cabe 5:30-8:30 Nature of Naming and Ornithology

Apr. 17
Mike Hayslett 5:30 – 8:30 Herpetology

Apr. 26 Field Trip
Keith Carson 8:00 – 12:00 Dendrology and Botany
Luanne Osborne
Beth Hawse
Gary Robinson 12:30 – 4:30 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
Mountain Stream Stewards

May 1
Pat Sheridan 5:30 – 6:45 Forest Ecology and Management
Lou Verner 7:00 – 8:30 Urban and Suburban Systems

May 8
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 and Instructions*

May 17 Field Trip
Terry Flaherty 7:30 – 4:00 Ornithology, Dendrology and Botany
Keith Carson
Luanne Osborne
Christine Hodges

May 22 5:30 –8:30 Return Test, Take Practical

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