Celebrating Our 2025 Virginia Master Naturalist Program Award Winners
We aim to recognize the impressive conservation work of our thousands of volunteers in lots of ways, and one of those ways is with annual statewide awards to highlight especially noteworthy impacts. Thank you to the many individuals who took the time to write a nomination to recognize one of their fellow Virginia Master Naturalists. Thank you as well to our 2025 award reviewers. They had some difficult decisions!
2025 Award Reviewers:
- Ellen Powell, Conservation Education Coordinator, Virginia Department of Forestry
- Christina Ruszczyk-Murray, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, Virginia Cooperative Extension
- Courtney Hallacher, Wildlife Education Coordinator, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
- and, as a tie-breaker for some of the very close decisions, Tiffany Brown, Virginia Master Naturalist Program Assistant, Virginia Tech
Video Announcement
View the video (17 minutes) in which we describe all the awards and winners, or read on for a text version! You can also watch the video at video.vt.edu.
New Volunteer of the Year Award:
Dan Foster, Historic Rivers Chapter
This award recognizes a new VMN volunteer who graduated from basic training within the last year and who has had extraordinary impacts during their short time in the program.
Dan became involved in more than ten projects while still a trainee. His most substantial impact has been in stewardship, especially as a trail steward for the Bassett Trace Trail and a co-leader for the Paspahegh Town project at Jamestown Settlement, restoring gardens in the native village to better reflect plants historically used by Native Americans. His stewardship also extends to oyster gardening, litter pickups, and work on gardens and trails throughout the community. Dan has also jumped in to co-lead the chapter’s next basic training course committee. With over 600 volunteer hours contributed in 2025 and his willingness to take on leadership roles, Dan’s devotion to the program and the environment is clear.
Chapter Advisor of the Year Award:
Daniel Brooks, Virginia Department of Forestry and Historic Rivers Chapter
This award recognizes an outstanding chapter advisor from one of our seven state sponsoring agencies.
Despite having been with the Historic Rivers Master Naturalists for only a little more than a year, Daniel’s positive attitude and welcoming presence have had a significant impact on the group, and his friendly smile and kind demeanor are recognized and appreciated by the members. He generously shares his expertise and time to enhancing volunteers’ knowledge through presentations and field sessions. Daniel is an outstanding educator, but his efforts extend well beyond that. His involvement is evident in his hands-on participation, working alongside volunteers to plant trees, remove invasive species, and maintain multiple sites throughout the county. His willingness to pitch in and help sets a strong example for others. Dan’s leadership and generosity set a standard for others to follow.
Chapter Leader of the Year Award:
Chris Sokol, New River Valley Chapter
This award recognizes a volunteer serving in a chapter leadership role who has made noteworthy impacts.
Chris, the current Chapter President, brings a welcoming spirit to all, while promoting her passion for the local ecology. She has assisted with every training class since her own training in 2015, acting as a mentor to new students, helping with class organization, and working to ensure all new members feel accepted, regardless of where they come from or what differences they bring to the group.
Chris brings a steady hand and a gentle, open-minded guidance to the chapter board. All board members are respected and heard, discussions are always welcome, and through Chris’ leadership, major decisions on chapter priorities and activities are decided, usually with consensus. Under her leadership, the chapter has dramatically increased its number of projects and participation. Chris also serves as a project leader. For example, she organizes the Giles Christmas Bird Count every year.
Most Impactful Project Award:
Brickyard Landing Riparian Buffer and Demonstration Garden, Historic Rivers Chapter
Many environmental education and conservation projects in Virginia are happening because a VMN volunteer envisioned them and made them a reality. This VMN Most Impactful Project of the Year award recognizes a project with significant leadership by VMN volunteers that had noteworthy impacts.
The Brickyard Landing project originally started in 2024 as a riparian buffer demonstration garden. Thanks to the combined efforts of many partners and hundreds of hours of work, the Brickyard Landing area was transformed in 2025 into a beautiful and educational setting. Judy Kinshaw-Ellis and Donna Benson, both Extension Master Gardeners as well as Virginia Master Naturalists, led the project. Hands-on work was provided by other master naturalists, master gardeners, James City County Parks and Recreation staff, and community volunteers. Funding was provided by a Wetlands Watch/Coastal Resilience and Trees Fund Grant, Virginia Department of Forestry, Colonial Soil and Water District, and Ford’s Colony Garden Club.
In addition to seeding the meadow, volunteers planted more than 200 trees and shrubs, 250 seedlings, and nearly 2000 grasses and perennials. The large once-open area now has several well-defined gardens, walking paths, dry riverbed swales to improve drainage, a meadow habitat for pollinators, a food forest planted in native plants that produce edible berries and nuts, and interpretive signs about riparian buffers and native plant habitats featuring text and photography by Historic Rivers Master Naturalist volunteers.
Impacts of this project include
- Enhanced riparian zones with reduced erosion and improved water drainage
- Transformation of the area into a beautiful park to encourage increased public usage and enjoyment
- Expanded education about native plants, riparian buffers, and pollinators through interpretive signage and guided plant walks led by local groups
- New habitat for insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals
- Strengthened collaboration among James City County Parks & Recreation, Extension Master Gardeners, and Historic Rivers Master Naturalists, fostering shared stewardship and coordinated efforts
- and a food forest to educate the community on plants they could grow
Go visit Brickyard Landing to see the amazing work of these volunteers!
VMN Volunteer of the Year Nominees
Each year, we invite everyone in the program to nominate a Virginia Master Naturalist Volunteer of the Year, someone whose story of volunteer service and impact really stands out. And, each year, we recognize ALL the nominees, because we think being nominated by one of your fellow volunteers is very special.
- Alicia Washburn, Southern Piedmont Chapter
- Sheryl Smith, Riverine Chapter
- Luann Johnson, Middle Peninsula Chapter
- Neal Grandy, Rivanna Chapter
Each of these individuals has made incredible contributions to their chapter and to Virginia’s natural resources through their volunteer service!
VMN Volunteer of the Year:
Alicia Washburn, Southern Piedmont Chapter
Alicia Washburn exemplifies the spirit of service, leadership, and passion that the Virginia Master Naturalist program strives to cultivate. Her dedication to natural resource education, citizen science, and stewardship has had an extraordinary impact on the Southern Piedmont Chapter and the broader community.
This year, Alicia’s leadership as Chair of the Basic Training Committee set the tone for excellence. She guided new trainees with clarity, enthusiasm, and a deep commitment to high-quality instruction, inspiring both new and seasoned volunteers. Her ability to bring people together and foster confidence in new naturalists has strengthened the foundation of our chapter.
Alicia has been instrumental in expanding community outreach. She coordinated volunteer engagement for events such as Blackstone Family Farm Day, ensuring that visitors of all ages experienced meaningful, hands-on environmental education. Her forward-thinking impactful approach led to the creation of the Wild About Nature program at the Bailey Center, bringing accessible nature learning opportunities to special needs children and their families.
Alicia also played a key role in delivering engaging programs and activities for the local 4-H Junior Naturalist program, sparking curiosity and environmental awareness among young participants. Her creativity also shines through her launch of the Poetry in Nature hikes—unique outings that blend art, mindfulness, and environmental appreciation.
Alicia has significantly elevated the chapter’s visibility and communication through its website, newsletter, and social media ensuring effective internal communications and that the chapter’s work reaches a wide audience.
Through her initiative, collaboration, and unwavering dedication, Alicia embodies the values of the Virginia Master Naturalists and has truly made an outstanding contribution.
Nature for All Award:
Blind Birder Walk, Old Rag Chapter
This award recognizes efforts by VMN chapters to reduce barriers for spending time in nature, facilitate learning experiences accessible to all, and foster an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere.
Over the last few years Old Rag Master Naturalists (ORMN) has actively worked to make their activities and events accessible to people who have physical challenges, including mobility and visual disabilities. All their approved activities identify the level of accessibility that each activity has, to increase the accessibility of as many projects as possible. The chapter participated in the first nationwide Blind Birder Bird-a-Thon on May 18th. This walk was sponsored by Birdability, a non-profit organization dedicated to making the birding community and the outdoors welcoming, inclusive, safe, and accessible for everybody.
Old Rag Master Naturalist volunteers collaborated with both Birdability and the Federation for the Blind of Virginia to get training for their members on the most respectful ways to offer assistance to blind participants on a bird walk, to advertise the opportunity to their members, and to choose a location with good accessibility features and good bird watching potential. With a one-to-one ratio of VMN volunteers to guests, they were able to guide participants as needed and get to know each other. They heard 17 bird species and used the Merlin app. The President of the Federation of the Blind of Virginia, who helped recruit participants and joined in the walk, said it made him realize that “birds are all around us” and he will pay much more attention to their presence and their songs.
Best Tabling/Outreach Display:
Oakley, the Treemendous Display, Merrimac Farm Chapter
This award recognizes a VMN chapter with an especially engaging and effective outreach booth or display.
For our program’s year-long tree and forest service theme celebrating our Treemendous20th anniversary, Merrimac Farm Master Naturalist volunteer Joy Green built a 6 foot tall White Oak tree on wheels. This tree was made out of wire and plaster, with fake leaves cut by hand to make sure they were truly shaped like white oak leaves. During community outreach events, the tree served as the centerpiece for the tabling display, with plenty of information to talk about! It hosted a number of stuffed animals, such as a blue jay, a raccoon, and a spider. VMN trainees were able to practice their tabling skills while teaching people all about the importance of the white oak as a keystone species that many other species rely on.
People of all ages were drawn in by this inviting tree. One adult actually hugged the tree and said “I’ve always wanted to do this”! Children were especially excited to identify the stuffed animals they recognized that “lived” on it, and to learn how important the tree is for food and shelter.
This tree was an important talking point for the chapter’s first Latino Conservation tabling event as well. It provided such great visuals, that it made bridging potential language gaps easy. Volunteers were able to communicate with participants and learn new vocabulary. Now that’s a versatile display!
As if this wasn’t enough, Joy adapted the tree again for the fall season. Volunteers began to focus on “leave the leaves” messaging during fall tabling events, and so Joy created a blanket of brown fallen oak leaves and placed them on the base of the tree. She added small critters like caterpillars, and kids loved hunting for them as they learned about the importance of fallen leaves! This display was truly unique and effective.
Congratulations again to all of our nominees and award winners! Thank you for your outstanding service.