Throughout 2025, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Virginia Master Naturalist program. We’ll be having special events and communications to highlight some longstanding volunteers and projects. We also…
Tim Koppenhaver at South River Preserve in the Shenandoah Valley. Image by Tim Koppenhaver. Tim Koppenhaver in a cave at Mill Creek Springs Natural Area Preserve. Photo courtesy of Tim…
Virginia-creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), drawn by VMN volunteer Rosalind “Ros” Reilly from the James River Chapter. This image was chosen to be the artwork for the 2024 VMN Recertification pin. Each…
–Contributed by Jerry Nissley, VMN-Fairfax Chapter Recently, several members of the Fairfax Chapter (FMN) collaborated with colleagues of Friends of Accotink Creek in Fairfax County to create educational outreach films…
By Meagan Thomas, Watchable Wildlife Biologist, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources If you are one of over two hundred Adopt-a-Trail (AAT) Volunteers, we at the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources…
Each year, previously certified VMN volunteers who complete another 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours of approved continuing education earn a unique recertification pin for that year. In…
By Emily Gianfortoni, VMN volunteer, Riverine ChapterRiverine Chapter VMN Establishment and the Early Years of the Chapter Beginnings: In 2006 Colleen Calderwood, Hanover County Cooperative Extension Agent at the time, recruited…
–Contributors: Cynthia Edwards and Henry McBurney (VMN-Historic Southside Chapter), Susan Crockett and Susan Walton (VMN-Middle Peninsula Chapter) Many of our Virginia Master Naturalist chapters are working to engage more diverse…
Flyer announcing the Native Plant Garden Open House organized by Sheryl Smith, VMN-Riverine Chapter. One of the native plant gardens on the tour. The tour description said, “This native plant/pollinator…
VMN volunteer Terri Mewborn. Terri started with the VMN program in the Merrimac Farm Chapter and has since led efforts to launch the new Southern Piedmont Chapter. Photo by Virginia…
