Volunteer Opportunities
Volunteering with VMN
Virginia Master Naturalists are involved in hundreds of volunteer service activities throughout the state. These projects fall within four key areas: participatory science, stewardship, education and outreach, and chapter leadership. All volunteer service projects must be approved prior to participation. This ensures projects meet the mission of our program and have followed the appropriate risk management procedures.
Ongoing Opportunities
Vernal Pools Cooperative of Virginia
This project engages Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers in monitoring, providing educational programs about, and stewarding vernal pools in Virginia.
Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail
DWR Bird and Wildlife Trail Projects About the Projects | Birdability Project | Education & Outreach Project | Site Visits Project About the Projects The Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail (VBWT) is a statewide driving trail composed of 65 loops connecting the best sites in…
Virginia Master Naturalist Educators Bureau
We created the VMN Educators Bureau so that we could more easily link people and organizations looking for presenters on natural resource topics to VMN volunteers willing to present.
At-Home Activities and Projects
This is a list of potential projects that a Virginia Master Naturalist might do from their own home or yard. Some projects listed might require a specific habitat or feature on the property, such as milkweed plants, oak trees, or a…
Acoustic Monitoring of Bat Populations
Project Overview and Purpose In 2018, there are several different bat monitoring projects happening within our VMN chapters. Volunteers may choose to participate in some or all of these activities, depending on which are the best fit for them. In…
Local Opportunities
You can see a list of your chapters’ s approved volunteer activities by visiting Better Impact or your chapter’s website. If you would like to start a new activity, please complete the activity proposal form (see links below) and submit it to your chapter’s Board of Directors for approval.
Statewide Projects with Our Sponsoring Agencies
We collaborate with our sponsoring agencies to develop statewide volunteer projects designed especially for VMN volunteers to contribute to our sponsors’ needs and missions. If your chapter has adopted any of these projects, they will be listed in Better Impact under opportunities. Examples include the Virginia Bird and Wildlife Trail Site Visits, Living with Black Bears project, Diamondback Dash project, and others.
For Sponsoring Agencies and Partnering Organizations
If you need volunteer assistance with a project that fits the mission of our program, please contact a chapter to start a local project or the statewide VMN Program office to start a regional project.
Connect with Us
For general inquiries about the Virginia Master Naturalist program, please contact:
masternaturalist@vt.edu540-231-0790