2007-2008 Training Course

Application Process

Thank you for your interest in the New River Valley Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program.   We will only be able to accept 28-30 students into the new Master Naturalist training program and anticipate more applications than spaces available.  Therefore, a selection process will take place and a committee will make selections based on various criteria including applicant interests, skills, availability, and past volunteer service.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a corps of well-informed volunteers who 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.

The cost for the New River Valley Master Naturalist course is $75 ($50 for students).  This fee covers class supplies and transportation for some of the field trips.  Attached with this letter is the application form (or download the MS Word form from this site).  Both the application and the course fee (make checks payable to Virginia Master Naturalist Program/NRV Chapter) are due by July 30.  These should be sent to the following address:

Judy Kirwan
Virginia Master Naturalist Program / NRV Chapter
P.O. Box 11296
Blacksburg, VA 24062-1296

Course Details

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program consists of a minimum of 40 hours of classroom and field training and 40 hours of volunteer service.  The classroom and field training will cover a core set of curriculum objectives, focusing on ecology, natural resource management, basic natural history of the animals and plants of Virginia, and skills for teaching and field research.  Volunteer service can be in the form of education, citizen science, or stewardship. 8 hours of advanced training will also be required each year to remain certified.

If accepted into the program, you will receive the 40 hours of intensive instruction presented by experts in the various fields of natural resources.  In return, you will be expected to commit 40 hours of volunteer service.  We encourage all applicants to consider these expectations and evaluate their ability to fulfill the class, field, and volunteer requirements.

The following dates and tentative topics have been scheduled for the classroom and field training sessions.  Classes will be held from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.  Field trips are generally all day. 

Fall 2007

Spring 2008

You can also download the syllabus as a MS Word file.

Again, we thank you for your interest in the Virginia Master Naturalist Program, and we are excited about this opportunity to work with volunteers with interests in natural resources.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services, or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Michelle Adcock at the Montgomery County Extension office at (540) 382-5790/TDD* during the business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.        *TDD number is (800) 828-1120.

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.

Last revised on Monday, August 27, 2007