The Southwestern Piedmont Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program serves Martinsville, Henry County, and surrounding areas.

For information about this chapter contact:
Denny Casey- Chapter Advisor
Virginia Museum of Natural History
21 Starling Avenue
Martinsville, VA 24112
Phone: (276) 634-4184

Chapter News and Events | Certification and Training | Service Projects | Sponsors

Chapter News and Events

Calendar of Events

Latest issue of the chapter newsletter

Master Naturalist Certification

The process for becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist typically takes 6 to 12 months and requires the following:

40 hours of basic training, including classroom sessions and field trips
8 hours of advanced training
40 hours of volunteer service

Visit www.virginiamasternaturalist.org for more information about the program.

Registration for the Basic Training Course

The deadline to register for the 2012 Virginia Master Naturalist Training Class in July 15.

The Chapter’s annual Basic Training Course begins on August 14 and ends in early December. Each class meets on Tuesday night from 6-8 PM.

Classes are held in the education center at the Virginia Museum of Natural History and in various locations in the field.

How to apply: Download a MS Word application form at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/southwesternpiedmont_application.doc, or contact the Chapter Advisor (see above).

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, Dennis Casey, at the Virginia Museum of Natural History at (276) 634-4184 (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.

Topics Covered in the Course

The 2012 Basic Training Course Syllabus

Date	Topic	Presenter (Contact)	Hosts	Location and Time
Tuesday 14 Aug	Introduction to the Virginia Master Naturalist Program, Naming, Naturalists and Journaling	TBD	Kathy	Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 21 Aug	Geology, Soil Science and Physiographic regions	Dr. Alton Dooley		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Saturday 25 Aug	Geology Field Trip	Dr. Alton Dooley		Meet at Museum at 9:00 to 11:30 AM
Tuesday 28 Aug	Biogeography	TBD		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 4 Sept	Weather and Climate	Dr. Denny Casey		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 11 Sept	Entomology and Invertebrates	Dr. Joe Keiper		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 18 Sept	Ichthyology	Mike Pinder (DGIF)	Kathy	Museum 6 to 8 PM
Saturday 22 Sept	Wildlife Management Picnic BYO lunch at 12:30	Dan Lovelace (DGIF)		Location TBD 10AM to 12:30
Tuesday 25 Sept	Aquatic Ecosystems	Carolyn Thomas		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Monday 1 Oct	Ornithology	Gene Sattler		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Saturday 6 Oct	SOS training field trip SOS testing opportunity Potluck/Weenie roast at 11:30	Wayne Kirkpatrick	Kathy	Kathy’s place 9:00 to 11:30 AM
9 Oct	Wildflowers	Bob Tuggle		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 16 Oct	Dendrology	Kevin Keith DOF		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Saturday 20 Oct	Woodland Ecosystem field trip (Followed by a picnic)	Sam Jensen?		Fairy Stone Park TIME TBD 2.5 hrs
Tuesday 23 Oct	Herpetology	Jason Gibson	Kathy	Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 30 Oct	Mammology	Dr. Nancy Moncrief		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 6 Nov	Election day, no class
Tuesday 13 Nov	Citizen science and project opportunities	Hailey Cartnell, collections manager		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 27 Nov	Interpretation 1	Danny and Susan Martin		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 4 Dec	Interpretation 2 (Current members invited to hear the class presentations) Test distribution	Danny and Susan Martin		Museum 6 to 8 PM
Tuesday 11 Dec	Test Due

Southwestern Piedmont Chapter Virginia Master Naturalist Volunteer Service Projects

Education Projects

“Coyote”, “Hydro-Power”, and “Smith River Trail Hike” Programs presented at Cub Scout Day Camp
Project Leader: Danny Martin
“Coyote: The New Comer” presentation for visitors at Reynolds Homestead
Project Leader: Danny and Susan Martin or
“Creature Feature” Displays (different wildlife each month) for visitors at Philpott Lake- Visitor Assistance Center
Project Leader: Danny and Susan Martin or
Development of BSA Merit Badge Education Resources
Project Leader: Ruth-Decker Chaney
Interpretation at VMNH/ tours for visiting groups
Project Leader: Gael Chaney
Recycle Education Game for pre-planned events
Project Leader: Marty Bullins
Trout in the Classroom
Project Leader: Marty Bullins
Teaching an MN Chapter Basic Training Class
Project Leader: Gael Chaney
Publicity and Communication Networking
Project Leader: Lynn Pritchett
Area Pocket Naturalist Guide
Project Leader: Denny Casey
Teach SOLs 4.4 & 4.5 (Plant life and ecosystems) to four fourth grade classes at Patrick Henry Elementary School
Project Leader: Marty Bullins

Citizen Science Projects

Water Quality Monitoring
Project Leader: Lisa Cahill
Plant Inventory of Frank Wilson Park
Project Leader: Gael Chaney
Research and Collections Volunteer
Project Leader: Ruth-Decker Chaney
Frank Wilson Park Eco-Survey
Project Leader: Christy Deatherage

Stewardship Projects

Frank Wilson Memorial Park Clean-Up in Martinsville City
Project Leader: Christy Deatherage

Smith River Clean-Up in Henry County
Project Leader: Marty Bullins

Invasive Species Removal with Volunteer Groups
Project Leader: Larry Turner

Gravely Nature Preserve Stewardship Project in Henry County
Project Leader: Denny Casey

Collection of acorns from native oak species for seedling stock
Project Leader: Lynn Pritchett

Invasive Species Removal Day
Project Leader: Kathy Fell

City Park Beautification
Project Leader: Kathy Fell

Sponsors and Partners

Last revised on Monday, May 07, 2012