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A Community-Based Natural Resources Volunteer Program

Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginia conserve and manage natural resources and public lands.

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2018 Virginia Master Naturalist Year in Review

2/2/2019

1 Comment

 
Volunteer teaching in monarch butterfly costumeVMN-New River Valley volunteer dons wings to educate community members about pollinators and their habitat at the 2018 Hokie BugFest. Photo contributed by Judy Kirwan, VMN-New River Valley Chapter.
We are busy in the VMN state office reading through the annual reports from our chapters.  Chapter leaders work hard on these reports to compile the membership and volunteering statistics for their chapters and to describe some of their most impactful projects from the year.  It's exciting for us to hear about their accomplishments, and it is clear that Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers are continuing to make important impacts in their communities and to benefit Virginia's waters, woods, and wildlife.

In 2018, 1,994 volunteers reported more than 190,000 hours of service, over 28,000 hours of continuing education, and nearly 145,000 face-to-face exchanges of educational information about natural resources.  The volunteers reported stewardship work at 446 sites across Virginia, including local, state, and national parks, local and state natural areas, trails, schoolyards, and more.  Their service in 2018 is valued at  more than $5 million, based on the value of a volunteer hour in Virginia as calculated by IndependentSector.org.

Value
2016
2017
​2018
New Basic Training Graduates
382
415
411
VMN Members
2,879
3,039
3,429
Active Volunteers (Reported service that year)
1,743
1,845
1,994
Certified Virginia Master Naturalists
1,206
1,256
1,397
Continuing Education Hours
24,190
27,851
28,032
Service Hours: Education
35,432
38,843
43,308
Service Hours: Citizen Science
43,517
52,420
64,811
Service Hours: Stewardship
29,852
36,516
43,939
Service Hours: Chapter Administration
25,303
28,214
38,245
Total Service Hours
145,996
155,992
190,304
Monetary Value of Service
$3.94 million
$4.21 million
$5.09 million
Sites Improved
323
364
446
1 Comment
Laura Mae
2/4/2019 05:40:38 am

Great quantifications for the value of volunteers!

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Virginia Master Naturalist Program | 460 Stagecoach Road, Suite E201 | Charlottesville, VA  22902 | Phone: 434-872-4587 | Fax: 434-872-4578

The Virginia Master Naturalist program is open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.