Virginia Master Naturalist Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training 2024
October 1, 2024
The live event is done!
Recordings will be available in 1-2 weeks.
Registrants will receive an email with instructions on how to access and watch the recordings.
The live event is done!
Recordings will be available in 1-2 weeks.
Registrants will receive an email with instructions on how to access and watch the recordings.
Overview | Theme | Schedule At-a-Glance | Platform | Registration | Volunteering | Sessions and Instructors | ADA Accommodation
Overview
The Virginia Master Naturalist 2024 Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training will be virtual! The event will be held September 27-29, 2024. As with our in-person conferences, this event aims to provide high-quality continuing education for VMN volunteers and to promote networking amongst volunteers and program partners.
The Virginia Master Naturalist 2024 Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training will be virtual! The event will be held September 27-29, 2024. As with our in-person conferences, this event aims to provide high-quality continuing education for VMN volunteers and to promote networking amongst volunteers and program partners.
Conference Theme -
Connections: Humans, nature, and their mutual impacts
Our 2024 Virginia Master Naturalist conference theme focuses on the role that VMN volunteers can play in building positive connections between people and the rest of the natural world in which we exist. Research shows that time spent in nature has positive benefits for human physical, mental, and social well-being. Unfortunately, individuals often face barriers to spending more time in nature or do not have correct information about natural resources. And, humans’ impacts on species, ecosystems, and natural resources can be positive or negative, depending on our actions.
Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers are well-positioned to help people build more positive connections to nature. They can provide safe and enjoyable experiences in nature along with research-based information through their educational programs. They can also steward publicly accessible natural areas so that they are better spaces for both humans and native flora and fauna. In addition, VMNs can help increase our understanding of natural resources through science.
Sessions in this conference may be focused on a particular species or ecological system, a natural resource issue or management strategy, a volunteer project, or a skill, but all of them will relate in some way to connections between humans and the natural world.
Connections: Humans, nature, and their mutual impacts
Our 2024 Virginia Master Naturalist conference theme focuses on the role that VMN volunteers can play in building positive connections between people and the rest of the natural world in which we exist. Research shows that time spent in nature has positive benefits for human physical, mental, and social well-being. Unfortunately, individuals often face barriers to spending more time in nature or do not have correct information about natural resources. And, humans’ impacts on species, ecosystems, and natural resources can be positive or negative, depending on our actions.
Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers are well-positioned to help people build more positive connections to nature. They can provide safe and enjoyable experiences in nature along with research-based information through their educational programs. They can also steward publicly accessible natural areas so that they are better spaces for both humans and native flora and fauna. In addition, VMNs can help increase our understanding of natural resources through science.
Sessions in this conference may be focused on a particular species or ecological system, a natural resource issue or management strategy, a volunteer project, or a skill, but all of them will relate in some way to connections between humans and the natural world.
Conference Schedule - At-a-glance
See the conference program for more details about each session. All sessions are online unless otherwise stated.
Friday, September 27
6:00-6:55pm - Celebrating Our Connections: A Virtual Reception
7:00-8:00pm - Opening Plenary, "Ornitherapy: The Power of Mindful Birding" - Holly Merker
Saturday, September 28
8:00-8:50am - Connecting Over Coffee: Chats with VMNs
9:00-10:00am - Concurrent Sessions Block 1
10:15-11:15am - Concurrent Sessions Block 2
11:30am-12:30pm - Sponsor News
Afternoon (various times) - Local Outdoor Learning and Service Activities (Chapter organized or volunteers on their own)
7:00-8:00pm - VMN Educators Bureau Flash Talks
Sunday, September 29
8:00-8:50am - Connection Through Service
9:00-10:00am - Closing Plenary, "Considerations Towards More Inclusive Participatory Science" - Deja Perkins
10:00am onwards (various times) - Local Outdoor Learning and Service Activities (Chapter organized or volunteers on their own)
See the conference program for more details about each session. All sessions are online unless otherwise stated.
Friday, September 27
6:00-6:55pm - Celebrating Our Connections: A Virtual Reception
7:00-8:00pm - Opening Plenary, "Ornitherapy: The Power of Mindful Birding" - Holly Merker
Saturday, September 28
8:00-8:50am - Connecting Over Coffee: Chats with VMNs
9:00-10:00am - Concurrent Sessions Block 1
10:15-11:15am - Concurrent Sessions Block 2
11:30am-12:30pm - Sponsor News
Afternoon (various times) - Local Outdoor Learning and Service Activities (Chapter organized or volunteers on their own)
7:00-8:00pm - VMN Educators Bureau Flash Talks
Sunday, September 29
8:00-8:50am - Connection Through Service
9:00-10:00am - Closing Plenary, "Considerations Towards More Inclusive Participatory Science" - Deja Perkins
10:00am onwards (various times) - Local Outdoor Learning and Service Activities (Chapter organized or volunteers on their own)
Conference Platform
We will be using Zoom Events for the 2024 VMN Virtual Conference. More details will be posted here in 2024 along with information about tutorials for those that might need them.
We will be using Zoom Events for the 2024 VMN Virtual Conference. More details will be posted here in 2024 along with information about tutorials for those that might need them.
Registration
Registration Dates
Registration opens -- August 6, 2024
Registration closes -- September 16, 2024
Last day to request a refund -- September 19, 2024
Access to Zoom Events opens for attendees -- September 20, 2024
Registration Tickets and Fees
VMN in introducing a new ticket price structure for our 2024 virtual conference. Everyone who registers for the event will choose a ticket price that corresponds with their financial situation. Please read through the options so you are prepared when registration opens on August 5.
All of the conference tickets listed below include the following:
1) Access to all plenary and concurrent sessions during the live event.
2) Access to all social sessions happening during the live event.
3) Access to recordings of the plenary and concurrent sessions for 6 months after the event (until March 31, 2025)
Standard Conference Ticket - $50
This registration is our standard price for the event.
Helping Hand Conference Ticket - $80
If you are willing and able to help offset reduced registration fees for those experiencing a financial hardship, you may choose to pay this higher ticket price.
Reduced Conference Ticket - $20
If the standard conference ticket represents a financial hardship for you, you may choose to pay this lower ticket price.
Registration Dates
Registration opens -- August 6, 2024
Registration closes -- September 16, 2024
Last day to request a refund -- September 19, 2024
Access to Zoom Events opens for attendees -- September 20, 2024
Registration Tickets and Fees
VMN in introducing a new ticket price structure for our 2024 virtual conference. Everyone who registers for the event will choose a ticket price that corresponds with their financial situation. Please read through the options so you are prepared when registration opens on August 5.
All of the conference tickets listed below include the following:
1) Access to all plenary and concurrent sessions during the live event.
2) Access to all social sessions happening during the live event.
3) Access to recordings of the plenary and concurrent sessions for 6 months after the event (until March 31, 2025)
Standard Conference Ticket - $50
This registration is our standard price for the event.
Helping Hand Conference Ticket - $80
If you are willing and able to help offset reduced registration fees for those experiencing a financial hardship, you may choose to pay this higher ticket price.
Reduced Conference Ticket - $20
If the standard conference ticket represents a financial hardship for you, you may choose to pay this lower ticket price.
Conference Sessions and Instructors
For details about our conference sessions and instructors, please view our conference program.
For details about our conference sessions and instructors, please view our conference program.
Volunteering at the Conference
Volunteer information will be posted here in 2024.
Volunteer information will be posted here in 2024.
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