Overview
 Central Piedmont Master Naturalists helped youth get outdoors in nature through a Junior Naturalist club. |
The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service.
The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is jointly sponsored by
- Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
- Virginia Department of Forestry
- Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
- Virginia Museum of Natural History
The process for becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist typically takes 6 to 12 months. One starts by completing a 40-hour basic training course offered by the Central Piedmont Chapter. An additional 8 hours of advanced training are also required. An important part of the certification process is the required 40 hours of volunteer service.
Learn more about the Central Piedmont Master Naturalist Chapter and our activities by reading our latest newsletter.
Upcoming Family Bluebird House Workshop
Saturday, March 5, 2011, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Bear Creek Hall, Bear Creek Lake State Park
Download the flyer for more details and registration information
Upcoming Training Course
Do you enjoy the outdoors? Would you like to share your love of nature with others? Become a certified Virginia Master Naturalist!
Begin by taking a training course to learn all about the ecology and natural history of the Central Piedmont of Virginia.
The next course will run from May 11, 2011 until July 13, 2011.
Mostly Wednesday evenings with some Saturday field trips.
There will be 13 sessions to be held primarily at the Prince Edward County Extension Office and at Bear Creek Lake State Park.
Cost of the course is $100.00
Contact Catherine Fleischman at 804-375-3121,
, or Tom Kneipp at
for more information on how to enroll.
Applications may be mailed to:
Tom Kneipp/VMN
Bear Creek Lake State Park
22 Bear Creek Lake Rd.
Cumberland, VA 23040
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact David Smith at (804) 492-4390 ext. 4000 (TDD number 1-800-828-1120) between 8 AM and 5 PM to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event. Virginia Master Naturalist programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Central Piedmont Partner Organizations
Central Piedmont chapter members volunteer at locations such as Cumberland State Forest and Bear Creek Lake State Park. They conduct educational programs, citizen science projects, and stewardship efforts at these and other locations.
For More Information
 Central Piedmont Master Naturalists are doing biodiversity studies at Cumberland State Forest, finding interesting species such as this Indian Pipe, a saprophytic plant that feeds on organic matter (rather than using sunlight to produce food, like most plants.) |
More information is available on the Virginia Master Naturalist statewide Web site
Documents for Central Piedmont Chapter Volunteers
Volunteer Application and Enrollment Form
Virginia Master Naturalist programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
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