VMN Chapters
Chapters are the heart of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program. They are community-based and self-governed by an all-volunteer board made up of officers and committee chairs. Chapters recruit members, plan and produce training courses, and work with sponsors and partners to organize volunteer service projects. Although they all operate following state-level guidelines, each chapter has its own style, set of activities, and local procedures to fit with their communities and local natural resources.
Alleghany Highlands Chapter
Based in Alleghany, Bath, and Highland counties View Website
Arlington Regional Chapter
Based in Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church View Website
Banshee Reeks Chapter
Based in Loudoun County View Website
Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter
Based in Franklin and Bedford counties View Website
Central Blue Ridge Chapter
Based in Nelson County View Website
Central Piedmont Chapter
Based in Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince Edwards, and surrounding counties View Website
Central Rappahannock Chapter
Based in Fredericksburg and Stafford, King George, Spotsylvania, and Caroline counties View Website
Central Virginia Chapter
Based in Lynchburg and Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, and Appomattox counties View Website
Eastern Shore Chapter
Based on Virginia’s Eastern Shore View Website
Fairfax Chapter
Based in Fairfax County View Website
Headwaters Chapter
Based in Rockingham and Augusta counties View Website
High Knob Chapter
Based in Lee, Wise, Scott, and Dickenson counties View Website
Historic Rivers Chapter
Based in Williamsburg and James City and York counties View Website
Historic Southside Chapter
Based in Surry, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Sussex, Suffolk, and Prince George counties View Website
Holston Rivers Chapter
Based in Abingdon, Bristol, and Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and western Grayson counties View Website
James River Chapter
Based in Goochland, Powhatan, and Louisa counties View Website
Merrimac Farm Chapter
Based in Prince William County View Website
Middle Peninsula Chapter
Based in Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, King & Queen, and King William Counties View Website
New River Valley Chapter
Based in Blacksburg and Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Floyd counties View Website
Northern Neck Chapter
Based in Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lancaster, Richmond, King George, and Essex counties View Website
Old Rag Chapter
Based in Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Orange, and Fauquier counties View Website
Peninsula Chapter
Based in Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, and lower York county View Website
Pocahontas Chapter
Based in Chesterfield County and the Richmond Metro Area View Website
Rivanna Chapter
Based in Charlottesville and Albemarle and Fluvanna counties View Website
Riverine Chapter
Based in Hanover County and the Richmond Metro Area View Website
Roanoke Valley Chapter
Based in Roanoke County View Website
Shenandoah Chapter
Based in Clarke, Warren, Page, Shenandoah, and Frederick counties View Website
Southern Piedmont Chapter
Serving Brunswick, Charlotte, Halifax, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg counties View Website
Southwestern Piedmont Chapter
Serving the cities of Martinsville and Danville, and the counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania. View Website
Tidewater Chapter
Based in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Portsmouth View Website
Alleghany Highlands Chapter (new tab)
Based in Alleghany, Bath, and Highland counties
Chapter Advisors: Christine Hodges, VCEArlington Regional Chapter (new tab)
Based in Arlington, Alexandria and Falls Church
Chapter Advisors: Leslie Fillmore, VCE
Applications for the Spring 2026 class will open later this Fall.Banshee Reeks Chapter (new tab)
Based in Loudoun County
Chapter Advisors: Jordan Green, DWR and Kevin Bowman, DCR
The September 2026- April 2027 training course is currently underway.Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter (new tab)
Based in Franklin and Bedford counties
Chapter Advisors: Travis Wyman, DCR
Training course runs from February until June each year. Please contact brfal.vmn@gmail.com for more information.Central Blue Ridge Chapter (new tab)
Based in Nelson County
Chapter Advisors: Justin Barnes, DOF
The next basic training course will be in Spring 2028.Central Piedmont Chapter (new tab)
Based in Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince Edwards, and surrounding counties
Chapter Advisors: Linda Eanes, VCE, and Katie Martin, DWRCentral Rappahannock Chapter (new tab)
Based in Fredericksburg and Stafford, King George, Spotsylvania, and Caroline counties
Chapter Advisors: Gayle Powell, DCR
The 2026 course is currently underway.Central Virginia Chapter (new tab)
Based in Lynchburg and Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, and Appomattox counties
Chapter Advisors: Bill Perry, DOF and Brian Watson, DWR
Applications open October 15 through Dec 15 2026 for the 2027 training course, which begins in February.Eastern Shore Chapter (new tab)
Based on Virginia’s Eastern Shore
Chapter Advisors: Shannon Alexander, DCR
The 2026 training course is currently underway.Fairfax Chapter (new tab)
Based in Fairfax County
Chapter Advisors: Jamie Leeuwrik, DCR
Visit website fairfaxmasternaturalists.org to sign up for monthly email newsletter. Training courses are typically held twice annually in spring and fall.Headwaters Chapter (new tab)
Based in Rockingham and Augusta counties
Chapter Advisors: Jason Hallacher, DWR
Applications are due December 15 for the 2027 training course, which begins in February.High Knob Chapter (new tab)
Based in Lee, Wise, Scott, and Dickenson counties
Chapter Advisors: Phil Meeks, VCEHistoric Rivers Chapter (new tab)
Based in Williamsburg and James City and York counties
Chapter Advisors: Meagan Thomas, DWR and Daniel Brooks, DOF
The 2026-2027 training is currently underway.Historic Southside Chapter (new tab)
Based in Surry, Isle of Wight, Southampton, Sussex, Suffolk, and Prince George counties
Chapter Advisors: Livvy Preisser, VCE and Elizabeth Cooper, VCE
Applications are due November 30 for the 2027 training course which begins in January.Holston Rivers Chapter (new tab)
Based in Abingdon, Bristol, and Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and western Grayson counties
Chapter Advisors: Tanya Hall, DCRJames River Chapter (new tab)
Based in Goochland, Powhatan, and Louisa counties
Chapter Advisors: Amber Gaddis, DCR, and Hilda LeStrange, DCR
Applications for the next training course will open in June 2027.Merrimac Farm Chapter (new tab)
Based in Prince William County
Chapter Advisors: Camron Robertson, DWR and Erin Clark, VCE
Applications open soon for the 2027 training course, which begins in March.Middle Peninsula Chapter (new tab)
Based in Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, King & Queen, and King William Counties
Chapter Advisors: Frank Long, VCE, and Christine Tombleson, VIMS-CCRM
The 2026 training course is closed. The application period for the next class will be announced in 2027.New River Valley Chapter (new tab)
Based in Blacksburg and Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Floyd counties
Chapter Advisors: Karen Snape (VCE) and Ryan Stubblebine (DCR)
The 2026 training course is currently underway.Northern Neck Chapter (new tab)
Based in Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lancaster, Richmond, King George, and Essex counties
Chapter Advisors: Tara Brent and Wendy Herdman, VCE
The 2026 training course has begun and will finish in November 2026. The application period for 2027 will be announced in late 2026.Old Rag Chapter (new tab)
Based in Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Orange, and Fauquier counties
Chapter Advisors: Kinner Ingram, DOF
Applications have closed for the 2027 training course.Peninsula Chapter (new tab)
Based in Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, and lower York county
Chapter Advisors: Megan Tierney, VCE and Stephen Living, DWR
Applications open October 9 to 15 for the 2027 training course, which begins in February.Pocahontas Chapter (new tab)
Based in Chesterfield County and the Richmond Metro Area
Chapter Advisors: Rebecca Whalen, DCR
Applications are due November 15 for the 2027 training course, which begins in January.Rivanna Chapter (new tab)
Based in Charlottesville and Albemarle and Fluvanna counties
Chapter Advisors: Ellen Powell, DOF
Applications are due January 5 for the 2027 training course, which begins in February.Riverine Chapter (new tab)
Based in Hanover County and the Richmond Metro Area
Chapter Advisors: Kathleen Ogilvy, DOF
Applications are due October 15 for the 2027 training course, which begins in January.Roanoke Valley Chapter (new tab)
Based in Roanoke County
Chapter Advisors: Dennis McCarthy, DOF and Lindsay Caplan, DOF
Applications are due January 15 for the 2027 training course, which begins in February.Shenandoah Chapter (new tab)
Based in Clarke, Warren, Page, Shenandoah, and Frederick counties
Chapter Advisors: Patrick McNamara, DCR
Applications open October 12-December 1 for the 2027 training course, which begins in March.Southern Piedmont Chapter (new tab)
Serving Brunswick, Charlotte, Halifax, Lunenburg, and Mecklenburg counties
Chapter Advisors: Taylor Clarke, VCESouthwestern Piedmont Chapter (new tab)
Serving the cities of Martinsville and Danville, and the counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania.
Chapter Advisors: Christy Deatherage, VMNH
The 2026 training course is currently underway.Tidewater Chapter (new tab)
Based in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Portsmouth
Chapter Advisors: Jennifer Huggins, DCR and Rachel Harrington, DCR
Applications open November 15-January 15 for the 2027 training course, which begins in March.
Connect with Us
For general inquiries about the Virginia Master Naturalist program, please contact:
masternaturalist@vt.edu540-231-0790