Virginia Naturally maintains an excellent calendar of upcoming events and trainings that relate to environmental education.
All Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers (including those currently in training) are invited to our statewide Volunteer Training and Conference this fall. This year, the Banshee Reeks Master Naturalist Chapter will host us on their home turf of Leesburg. Our home base will be the Best Western in Leesburg, but you can plan on spending lots of time in terrific outdoor settings such as Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship, and the Potomac Gorge.
Who is invited? All Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers and chapter advisors, including current trainees!
Where? Leesburg, VA and environs, hosted by the Banshee Reeks Master Naturalists
When? The full conference runs from Friday, October 30 (late afternoon/suppertime) through mid-afternoon on Sunday, November 1. We'll also be offereing a pre-conference field trip from 8:30 am until 4:00 pm on Friday, October 30. The location is not yet finalized, but will be soon!
What? This is a chance to get in your advanced training for the whole year! Friday evening will include a reprise of last year's successful "Share Fair" poster session with displays from all of our participating chapters. We'll also have time then for informal discussions among chapter members about best practices for running chapters in a successful and efficient way. Saturday will start with classroom sessions on natural resource programs and topics, followed by in-depth field sessions in nearby parks and natural areas. Saturday night, we'll have a banquet and keynote speaker. Sunday will have a combination of classroom and field sessions with a variety of ending times to accommodate varying travel plans.
Cost? To be determined. We anticipate that the cost will be similar to last year's and we're working hard to keep it affordable, around $125 for the conference and $35 for the pre-conference trip. The conference fee includes dinner on Friday, lunch and the banquet dinner on Saturday, and lunch on Sunday. It also includes instructional materials and field trip transportation. We have negotiated a special rate at the Best Western and breakfast will be included with your hotel stay.
More information? Check back here often as we post more agenda information, the pre-conference trip plans, and registration information.
Our first annual conference was a great success! To learn more about what we did, visit http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/conference2008.html.
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