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 2009

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 13.

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.

2009 Course Outline

This is a draft syllabus, subject to change.

Feb. 19 - Keith Carson and Beth Hawse, Class Representatives
Beth Hawse Welcome
Denise Hayes 5:30 – 6:00 Introduction to the Virginia Master Naturalist Program
Keith Carson 6:00 – 6:45 American Naturalists
Steve Adams 7:00 – 8:30 Ecological Concepts (and Nature of Naming)

Feb. 26 - David Kirk, Class Representative
TBA 5:30 – 6:15 Weather and Climate
Wil Orndorff 6:30 – 8:30 Virginia Biogeography & Geology and Soil Sciences
Zenah Orndorff

Mar. 5 - Deirdre Marriner Roden, Class Representative
Kent Ford 5:30 – 8:30 Aquatic Ecology and Management

Mar. 12 - Catherine Gardner, Class Representative
TBA 5:30 – 8:30 Ornithology

Mar. 19 - Linda Reyns, Class Representative
Steve Adams 5:30 – 6:45 Botany
Steve Adams 7:00 – 8:30 Dendrology

Mar. 28 - Keith Carson, Class Representative
Field Trip
Barrie Wolfe 8:00 – 4:30 Geology & Hydrology
Dan Foster

Apr. 2 - Martin DiLeggi, Class Representative
Paul Bugas 5:30 – 6:45 Ichthyology
Jason Hallacher
Aaron Coffman
Edie Kretsch 7:00 – 8:30 Entomology

Apr. 16 - Keith Carson, Class Representative
John Pagels 5:30 – 8:30 Mammalogy

Apr. 23 - Laura Neale, Class Representative
Mike Hayslett 5:30 – 8:30 Herpetology

Apr. 25 - Keith Carson, Class Representative
Field Trip
Mike Hayslett 8:00 – 12:00 Herpetology
Gary Robinson 12:30 – 4:30 Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

Apr. 30 - David Kirk, Class Representative
John Wright 5:30 – 6:45 Forest Ecology and Management
Lou Verner 7:00 – 8:30 Urban and Suburban Systems

May 7 - Beth Hawse, Christine Hodges, and Sara Bell, Class Representatives
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 16 - Keith Carson, Luanne Osborne and Christine Hodges, Class Representatives
Field Trip
Terry Flaherty 7:30 – 4:00 Ornithology, Dendrology and Botany
Keith Carson
Luanne Osborne
Christine Hodges

May 21 - Beth Hawse, Class Representative
Beth Hawse 5:30 –8:30 Return Test, Take Practical
*Written test will be take-home and open book.