Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training 2025
New for June 3, 2025
Program and Instructor info added!
Program and Instructor info added!
Overview | Schedule At-a-Glance | Venue & Lodging | Registration | Travel Info | Sessions and Instructors | Volunteering | ADA Accommodation
Overview
When
The 2025 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Training will be Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7. Pre-conference field trips and activities will take place during the day on Friday and the main event will run Friday evening through Sunday mid-day.
Where
Our Pocahontas and Riverine Chapters welcome VMN volunteers from across Virginia to the Richmond region. We will be based at the Westin Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.
What
The Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training is an opportunity for VMN volunteers to share ideas and learn from each other, to participate in high-quality continuing education sessions, and to learn about a region of Virginia that may be different from their home communities.
Each year, one or more of our local VMN chapters serve as the host chapter(s) for the conference, helping to choose programming that showcases their local natural areas, presenters, and style. The programming includes both on-site sessions and off-site field trips to visit natural resource highlights of the area. We emphasize hands-on learning and skill-building, trying to choose sessions that relate to the education, citizen science, and stewardship volunteer work that VMN volunteers do.
Who
Due to the nature and limited space of our VMN conference, only certified VMNs, VMN members, VMN trainees, and partners from our state agency sponsors (including chapter advisors) may attend.
When
The 2025 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Training will be Friday, September 5 through Sunday, September 7. Pre-conference field trips and activities will take place during the day on Friday and the main event will run Friday evening through Sunday mid-day.
Where
Our Pocahontas and Riverine Chapters welcome VMN volunteers from across Virginia to the Richmond region. We will be based at the Westin Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.
What
The Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training is an opportunity for VMN volunteers to share ideas and learn from each other, to participate in high-quality continuing education sessions, and to learn about a region of Virginia that may be different from their home communities.
Each year, one or more of our local VMN chapters serve as the host chapter(s) for the conference, helping to choose programming that showcases their local natural areas, presenters, and style. The programming includes both on-site sessions and off-site field trips to visit natural resource highlights of the area. We emphasize hands-on learning and skill-building, trying to choose sessions that relate to the education, citizen science, and stewardship volunteer work that VMN volunteers do.
Who
Due to the nature and limited space of our VMN conference, only certified VMNs, VMN members, VMN trainees, and partners from our state agency sponsors (including chapter advisors) may attend.
Conference Schedule - At-a-glance
*This is schedule is subject to change
Friday, September 5
10:00am-4:00pm -- Pre-conference Field Trips
4:00-7:00pm -- Registration
5:00-6:00pm -- Welcome Reception
6:00-7:00pm -- Dinner
7:00-8:00pm -- Chapter Share Fair
8:00-9:00pm -- Evening Activities (optional)
Saturday, September 6
7:30-9:00am -- Registration
9:00am-12:00pm -- Morning Sessions (includes keynote and classroom sessions)
12:15-1:15pm -- Lunch
1:00-4:30pm -- Afternoon Sessions (includes field trips and classroom sessions)
6:00-7:00pm -- Dinner (exact time subject to change
7:00-8:30pm -- Evening Activities (optional)
Sunday, September 7
7:30-8:30am -- President's Breakfast
7:30am-1:00pm -- Boxed Lunches available for pickup
9:00am-12:00pm -- Sunday Sessions (includes field trips and classroom sessions)
*This is schedule is subject to change
Friday, September 5
10:00am-4:00pm -- Pre-conference Field Trips
4:00-7:00pm -- Registration
5:00-6:00pm -- Welcome Reception
6:00-7:00pm -- Dinner
7:00-8:00pm -- Chapter Share Fair
8:00-9:00pm -- Evening Activities (optional)
Saturday, September 6
7:30-9:00am -- Registration
9:00am-12:00pm -- Morning Sessions (includes keynote and classroom sessions)
12:15-1:15pm -- Lunch
1:00-4:30pm -- Afternoon Sessions (includes field trips and classroom sessions)
6:00-7:00pm -- Dinner (exact time subject to change
7:00-8:30pm -- Evening Activities (optional)
Sunday, September 7
7:30-8:30am -- President's Breakfast
7:30am-1:00pm -- Boxed Lunches available for pickup
9:00am-12:00pm -- Sunday Sessions (includes field trips and classroom sessions)
Lodging
Lodging will be at The Westin Richmond. The group rate will be $168 per night plus tax for a single king room or a double queen room.
Attendees can book using this group link or by calling 1-888-627-7786.
If you have any trouble getting a double queen room in our room block, please contact Tiffany Brown at [email protected]. It may be that we need to add more room nights to the block or change the room types available.
The group rates closes on August 14, 2025. If you try to book before that date and there are no group rate rooms available, please contact Tiffany at [email protected].
Lodging will be at The Westin Richmond. The group rate will be $168 per night plus tax for a single king room or a double queen room.
Attendees can book using this group link or by calling 1-888-627-7786.
If you have any trouble getting a double queen room in our room block, please contact Tiffany Brown at [email protected]. It may be that we need to add more room nights to the block or change the room types available.
The group rates closes on August 14, 2025. If you try to book before that date and there are no group rate rooms available, please contact Tiffany at [email protected].
Registration
Registration Dates
Registration will open on July 24 at 6:00pm.
Registration will close on August 18.
Registration Types and Fees
There are 4 registration types to choose from for the conference.
Full Conference, $295
This registration type includes the following:
Friday & Full Saturday, $275
This registration type includes the following:
Friday & Partial Saturday, $225
This registration type includes the following:
Saturday - Trainings Only, $125
This registration type includes the following:
Breakfasts on both Saturday and Sunday are on your own.
Registration Dates
Registration will open on July 24 at 6:00pm.
Registration will close on August 18.
Registration Types and Fees
There are 4 registration types to choose from for the conference.
Full Conference, $295
This registration type includes the following:
- Access to Optional Pre-conference Field Trips on Friday
- Training sessions on Saturday and Sunday
- Reception, Dinner and Share Fair on Friday evening
- Lunch and Dinner on Saturday
- Boxed lunch on Sunday
- Access to Optional Evening Activities on Friday and Saturday
Friday & Full Saturday, $275
This registration type includes the following:
- Access to Optional Pre-conference Field Trips on Friday
- Training sessions on Saturday
- Reception, Dinner and Share Fair on Friday evening
- Lunch and Dinner on Saturday
- Access to Optional Evening Activities on Friday and Saturday
Friday & Partial Saturday, $225
This registration type includes the following:
- Access to Optional Pre-conference Field Trips on Friday
- Training sessions on Saturday
- Reception, Dinner and Share Fair on Friday evening
- Lunch on Saturday
- Access to Optional Evening Activities on Friday
Saturday - Trainings Only, $125
This registration type includes the following:
- Training sessions on Saturday morning and afternoon (evening activities not included)
- Lunch on Saturday
Breakfasts on both Saturday and Sunday are on your own.
Travel Information
Conference Sessions
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Volunteering at the Conference
Volunteer information will be posted here in 2025.
Volunteer information will be posted here in 2025.
ADA Accommodation
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact VMN Program Assistant Tiffany Brown at 540-231-0790 (TDD*) during business hours of 9am-5pm to discuss accommodations at least 5 days prior to the event.
*TDD number is (800) 828-1120
If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact VMN Program Assistant Tiffany Brown at 540-231-0790 (TDD*) during business hours of 9am-5pm to discuss accommodations at least 5 days prior to the event.
*TDD number is (800) 828-1120