Wonderful Water – 2026 Service Theme

About this Project

In 2026, we encourage all Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer to do some service that relates to water resources in Virginia.

two people smiling, wearing waders and using a kick net in a rocky stream on a sunny day — Volunteers get into the creek for Save Our Streams monitoring. Photo by Jennifer Helms (VMN Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter).

How To Be Part of Our Wonderful Water #WOW Service Theme

Do an approved water-related service activity at any time in 2026.
Document your activity in Better Impact by including #WOW in the description field.
Use the impact field to add any measurable impacts (for example, bags of trash pulled out of the stream, number of sites monitored for water quality.)

Potential Service Activities

These projects or activities must be approved by your local chapter before you may begin participating as a VMN volunteer and accrue volunteer service hours.

Education/Outreach

Be a Project Wet facilitator or educator
Lead a water-themed interpretive walk
Lead an interpretive paddle (if you have the credentials and training)
Share educational materials and activities about water resources at an outreach table/booth

Science/Participatory Science/Citizen Science

Water quality monitoring (biological, chemical, bacterial) with Virginia Save Our Streams, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay, James River Association, or other organization
SaltWatch with the Izaak Walton League of America
NitrateWatch with the Izaak Walton League of America

Stewardship

Lead a stream or shoreline cleanup with Clean Virginia Waterways, Clean the Bay Day, and other organizations and events
Install/maintain riparian buffers on public lands
Install/maintain living shorelines on public lands
Install/maintain stormwater management features, like rain gardens

Do you have other ideas for activities that fit our #WOW theme? Let your chapter leaders know!