Chapter Chartering Information

2010 Chapter Application Announcement Letter | Application Materials | Additional Reading

Dear supporters of natural resource education and conservation,

I am pleased to announce that the Virginia Master Naturalist Program Coordinator and Steering Committee are accepting applications for new chapters to develop in 2010-2011. While the program already exists in 27 communities in Virginia, it is not yet available for all parts of the state. By adding new chapters, we hope to bring the program to communities with demonstrated need and interest. We do, however, need to manage the program within our available time and resources, so we likely will add only 2-3 new chapters at this time.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide volunteer training program that benefits natural resource education and conservation across Virginia. The program’s mission is to develop and support 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. Partnerships at the local level are a cornerstone of the program and include many other public and private organizations.

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, citizen science, or stewardship.

If you are interested in developing a Master Naturalist chapter, please review the attached documents and contact the Program Coordinator for assistance with the application process. The Chapter Chartering Guidelines document outlines the application process and expectations. Applications for new chapters are due August 15, 2010.

Sincerely,
Michelle Prysby
Virginia Master Naturalist Program Coordinator
Virginia Tech Department of Forestry/Virginia Cooperative Extension
Email: Web: www.virginiamasternaturalist.org
Phone: 434-872-4580

Attachments/Application Materials

Note: Unless otherwise indicated, all documents are in PDF format to maximize compatibility and readability and require the most recent version of Adobe Reader. The latest version of Adobe Reader can be downloaded for free at http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.

2010 Chapter Application Announcement Letter (MS Word)
Chapter Chartering Guidelines (PDF): This document details each step of the chapter chartering process and is for use by Local Coordinating Committees and individuals interested in starting new chapters. Pay close attention to the job descriptions for Chapter Coordinators and Chapter Advisors.
Volunteer Enrollment Forms: The application package must include signed volunteer enrollment forms for all members of the Local Coordinating Committee, including the Chapter Advisor. The forms include the minimum information required to officially enroll volunteers in the program. Chapters may choose to add additional questions to this form.
- Volunteer Enrollment Form (editable MS Word form version): This version is best for completing electronically, then printing and signing. It is protected so that nothing but the form fields may be changed.
- Volunteer Enrollment Form (print version): This version is best for printing and filling out completely by hand.
2006-2009 Chapter Information: This link provides the names and contact information for each of our existing chapters. Newly forming chapters are encouraged to coordinate their efforts with neighboring existing chapters.

Additional Reading

Visit our Documents page for additional reading about the Virginia Master Naturalist program. The documents listed below are also helpful for Local Coordinating Committees to review.

Volunteer Policy Handbook : This document details expectations for volunteer conduct, training, service projects, reporting, etc.
Guidelines for Basic Training: This document describes the objectives of the basic training course and provides suggestion for the Local Coordinating Committee on how to plan and carry out the course.

Last revised on Tuesday, June 02, 2009