Rivanna Master Naturalists
PO Box 8284
Charlottesville, VA 22906

For general information about the Rivanna Master Naturalist Chapter or questions about the upcoming session, please contact LoriAnne Barnett, 434-872-4580,

Training Course

We will be hosting a lecture series during the Fall of 2007, open to the public and those interested in becoming trained Master Naturalists.  Dates and times will be announced as soon as the lecturers are secured.

The next classroom training session will be held beginning in the Spring of 2008, likely in January.  Expect the application to be posted online sometime in late November 2007.  The spring session will be an evening class, with dates and location TBA.  As soon as we have this information, it will be posted online. 

Keep in mind, this training program is geared toward volunteer work for organizations in our local area.  Therefore, in addition to completing the classroom training piece, you must obtain 40 hours of volunteer service hours in the first year, through work on approved projects, and 8 hours of Advanced Training.  In order to recertify every year, you will need to continue to offer 40 hours of volunteer service to projects of your choosing.  Many of our trained members have found this to be a very rewarding program, especially because they are already volunteering with a number of organizations here in Charlottesville.  Therefore, it was easy to obtain the hours for certification, and fun to be a part of a program with many like-minded people.  A list of some of the approved projects can be found below.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact LoriAnne Barnett at the email address or phone listed above.


Volunteer Service

Rivanna Chapter Approved Projects

If you are an agency or organization and would like some information about adding one of your projects to our approved project list, or if you have questions about existing volunteer opportunities with the Rivanna Master Naturalists, please contact the Volunteer Projects Committee Chair at or (434) 970-3585.

Education Opportunities

  1. Ivy Creek Natural Area – School Tour Program
  2. Ivy Creek Natural Area – Nature Program/Walk Leader at ICNA or RMNA
  3. Lake Monticello Owner’s Association – Lake Health Public Education Work
    Group
  4. 4-H – Junior Naturalist Club**
  5. Rivanna Conservation Society – Education Program
  6. Charlottesville High School – McIntire Park Walks**
  7. Charlottesville Parks – Educational Materials for Azalea Park Kiosk
  8. Charlottesville Parks – SOL based Curriculum for Select Park Sites
  9. Va Cooperative Extension – GPS Orienteering Workshops**
  10. Gordon Avenue Library – Children’s Programs
  11. Chesapeake Bay Foundation – Virginia Watershed Education
  12. Senior Center – 50+ Gardener and Naturalist Education Program
  13. Albemarle County Parks – Wildlife Mapping and Flora Inventory
  14. Wintergreen Nature Foundation – Educational Programs
  15. 4-H – MWEE Opportunities for Area Schools
  16. Rivanna Master Naturalist Tabling Projects
  17. 4-H Summer Camp
  18. 4-H Environmental education Club
  19. Middle James Roundtable Education Projects

Citizen Science Opportunities

  1. Rivanna Trails Foundation – Natural Resource Inventory
  2. Hawk Watch – Rockfish Gap Hawk Watch
  3. Rivanna Conservation Society – Rivanna River Water Testing
  4. Tandem Friends School – Habitat and Ecosystem Mapping at the School**
  5. Charlottesville Parks – Tree Identification Project
  6. Va Game and Inland Fisheries – Frog and Toad Calling Survey
  7. Cornell Laboratory – Great Backyard Bird Count
  8. Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries – Wildlife Mapping
  9. StreamWatch – StreamWatch Monitoring
  10. Lake Monticello Owner’s Association – Water Testing
  11. Bluebird Nest Box Monitoring

Stewardship Opportunities

  1. Ivy Creek Natural Area – Trail Monitor
  2. Charlottesville Parks – Invasive Management
  3. Virginia Native Plant Society, TJ Chapter – Native Plant Rescues
  4. Virginia Native Plant Society, TJ Chapter – Native Plant Care
  5. Rivanna Conservation Society – Riparian Buffer Planting
  6. Albemarle County Parks – Trail Building and Maintenance
  7. BF Yancey Elementary – Trail Maintenance and Tree ID
  8. Senior Center – 50+ Habitat Enhancement Project
  9. National Audubon Society – SNP Invasive Species Removal
  10. The Nature Conservancy – Stewardship Projects
  11. Rivanna Trails Foundation – Monthly Workdays
  12. Charlottesville Parks – Earth Day Tree Planting

** Volunteers currently filling this limited request, project may open up in the future

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact the Chapter Advisor, Peter Warren, at the VCE-Albemarle/Charlottesville Office at 434-872-4580  (TDD number 1-800-828-1120) during business hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. 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.

Last revised on Monday, July 23, 2007