Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training 2022
Overview | Conference Schedule| Lodging Information | Registration | Travel Information | Volunteering
What's new on this page as of March 23, 2022?
Lodging section updated!
Registration dates added!
The Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront will be our home base for the 2022 VMN Conference (Photo credit: Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront.)
Overview
When
The 2022 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Training will be Friday, September 9 through Sunday, September 11. 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 Tidewater and Historic Southside Chapters welcome VMN volunteers from across Virginia to the coast. We will be based at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel, just down the road from First Landing State Park.
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.
COVID-19 Note
This event is going to happen! It will be in-person at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel on the dates listed above. Covid protocols will be decided as we get closer to the event as we will have the best understanding of the situation at that time. No decisions about masking, vaccination requirements or physical distancing protocols have been made at this point. Updates will be posted here. Stay tuned for more info!
When
The 2022 Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Training will be Friday, September 9 through Sunday, September 11. 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 Tidewater and Historic Southside Chapters welcome VMN volunteers from across Virginia to the coast. We will be based at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront hotel, just down the road from First Landing State Park.
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.
COVID-19 Note
This event is going to happen! It will be in-person at the Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront Hotel on the dates listed above. Covid protocols will be decided as we get closer to the event as we will have the best understanding of the situation at that time. No decisions about masking, vaccination requirements or physical distancing protocols have been made at this point. Updates will be posted here. Stay tuned for more info!
Sunrise on Virginia Beach.
(Photo credit: Michelle Prysby)
Conference Schedule - At-a-glance
Friday, September 9
4:00-7:00pm - Conference Registration
5:00-6:00pm - Welcome Reception
6:00-7:00pm - Dinner
7:00-8:00pm - Share Fair
8:00pm - Optional Evening Activities
Saturday, September 10
7:30-9:00am - Conference Registration
7:30-8:30am - President's Breakfast
9:00am-12:15pm - Morning Sessions
12:15-1:15pm - Lunch
1:30-4:30pm - Afternoon Sessions
4:30-5:30pm - Break
5:30-6:00pm - Social
6:00-7:00pm - Dinner
7:00-8:30pm - Optional Evening Activities
Sunday, September 11
9:00am-12:15pm - Morning Sessions
12:15-1:15pm - Lunch
Friday, September 9
4:00-7:00pm - Conference Registration
5:00-6:00pm - Welcome Reception
6:00-7:00pm - Dinner
7:00-8:00pm - Share Fair
8:00pm - Optional Evening Activities
Saturday, September 10
7:30-9:00am - Conference Registration
7:30-8:30am - President's Breakfast
9:00am-12:15pm - Morning Sessions
12:15-1:15pm - Lunch
1:30-4:30pm - Afternoon Sessions
4:30-5:30pm - Break
5:30-6:00pm - Social
6:00-7:00pm - Dinner
7:00-8:30pm - Optional Evening Activities
Sunday, September 11
9:00am-12:15pm - Morning Sessions
12:15-1:15pm - Lunch
Lodging Information
Lodging will be at our conference venue. VMN will not be handling the lodging reservations for 2022, but we do have a block of rooms secured at a lower rate for conference attendees that can be booked directly with the hotel by calling them or using the link below. We encourage you to book your lodging early if you know you will be attending the VMN Conference.
Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront
5700 Atlantic Ave (57th Street & Atlantic Ave)
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
T: 757-266-5323
The conference rate is $106 per night plus applicable taxes and a daily resort fee of $2.12.
The conference rate is available starting three days prior to the event and for three days following the event. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, you must make your reservation by calling the hotel directly rather than through the link below.
Attendees can book their lodging HERE.
Lodging will be at our conference venue. VMN will not be handling the lodging reservations for 2022, but we do have a block of rooms secured at a lower rate for conference attendees that can be booked directly with the hotel by calling them or using the link below. We encourage you to book your lodging early if you know you will be attending the VMN Conference.
Wyndham Virginia Beach Oceanfront
5700 Atlantic Ave (57th Street & Atlantic Ave)
Virginia Beach, VA 23451
T: 757-266-5323
The conference rate is $106 per night plus applicable taxes and a daily resort fee of $2.12.
- Room types available in the conference block are rooms with 1 King bed or 2 Queen beds.
- Reservations on the group rate must be made with the hotel by August 8, 2022. After this date, rooms will be available at the hotel's prevailing rate.
- A one night's advance deposit is required for each room reserved. The balance owed beyond that, if any, is due at check-in.
- Attendees can cancel their reservation 72 hours or more prior to their scheduled arrival and receive a refund on their deposit.
- It an attendee does not cancel 72 hours or more prior to their scheduled arrival, then they will be charged a penalty of one night's room and tax to the credit card on file.
The conference rate is available starting three days prior to the event and for three days following the event. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, you must make your reservation by calling the hotel directly rather than through the link below.
Attendees can book their lodging HERE.
Registration
Registration Dates
Registration Fees
Registration fee information will be posted here in June 2022.
Registration Dates
- Registration will open on July 14 at 6pm.
- Session slots will be available on a first come, first served basis. As sessions fill up, Attendees can put themselves on a waitlist for the sessions they would like to attend. In the past, we have almost always managed to get everyone into the sessions they want.
- The detailed session schedule will be posted on this page in early-June. There will be plenty of time to review options before Registration opens.
- Registration will close on August 22 at 11:59pm.
- The last date to request a refund will be August 26. All refunds will be less a $25 admin fee.
Registration Fees
Registration fee information will be posted here in June 2022.
Travel Information
We recommend that if your travel plans include arriving in Virginia Beach on Friday afternoon, that you time your trip to arrive at the hotel by 3:00pm. The Tidewater area is known to get very congested and Friday afternoons can be especially difficult. Plan accordingly if possible!
We know that traffic may cause delays for attendees and so we will have Conference Registration open from 4:00pm all the way through dinner. Dinner will be available until 7:00pm. If you were to miss that window, you would be on your own for dinner. There is a restaurant in the hotel and many other choices a short drive away.
We recommend that if your travel plans include arriving in Virginia Beach on Friday afternoon, that you time your trip to arrive at the hotel by 3:00pm. The Tidewater area is known to get very congested and Friday afternoons can be especially difficult. Plan accordingly if possible!
We know that traffic may cause delays for attendees and so we will have Conference Registration open from 4:00pm all the way through dinner. Dinner will be available until 7:00pm. If you were to miss that window, you would be on your own for dinner. There is a restaurant in the hotel and many other choices a short drive away.
Volunteering at the Conference
Conference volunteer slots will be available to our host and partner chapters first. If additional help is needed, we will open sign ups to the rest of the state. Information on how VMNs can register to volunteer at the conference will be sent out in early-April 2022 by our Conference Volunteer Coordinator, Cat Amory, to the host chapters.
Conference volunteer slots will be available to our host and partner chapters first. If additional help is needed, we will open sign ups to the rest of the state. Information on how VMNs can register to volunteer at the conference will be sent out in early-April 2022 by our Conference Volunteer Coordinator, Cat Amory, to the host chapters.