About Us & Contact Us

Old Rag Master Naturalists
contact@oldragmasternaturalists.org
General Delivery
Syria, VA 22743

The Area We Serve

The Old Rag Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program is based in Madison, Virginia, and serves the Rapidan–Upper Rappahannock Watershed. The service area includes the counties of Culpeper, Rappahannock, Madison, Greene, and the western portions of Fauquier and Orange. The large geographic area of these counties, rural in nature, includes major natural resources rich in biodiversity. Among these are the headwaters and tributaries of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers, Shenandoah National Park, and two Virginia Wildlife Management Areas.

Corp of Volunteers

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. For more information on the Virginia program, visit www.virginiamasternaturalist.org.

Stewardship

We at the Old Rag Chapter value the role and the beauty of nature and wish to play a part in the stewardship of our natural resources. State employees can only do so much in support of our wildlife, our forests, our flowers, our water, our soil, and air. As a knowledgeable group of volunteer educators and citizen scientists, we can add depth and breadth to the conservation and management of Virginia’s natural environments. What we learn through our training, we give back through volunteer service to Virginia and our local communities.

	Our first class at graduation.

Our Chapter

The Old Rag Chapter was formed in 2007. As of July 2010, three class groups have completed basic training. The first class (pictured) celebrated graduation on December 3, 2007, with 25 graduates.

Class members go on to start service projects and attend advanced training. Individuals become certified Virginia Master Naturalists when all their requirements for certification are met.

On December 3, 2007, the graduates and other members of the Chapter elected the Old Rag Master Naturalists Chapter's first Board of Directors; on January 7, 2008, the first chapter officers were selected.

The current Board includes:

President: Edward Dorsey
Vice President: Cathy Mayes
Secretary: Mary Frances leMat
Treasurer: Alfred E. Goossens

Adele Baker
Edward Dorsey
Jenny L. Fitzhugh
Alfred E. Goossens
Joyce Harman
Elizabeth Johns
Mary Frances leMat
Cathy Mayes
T. Jack Price
Dana Squire
Roger Temples
Robin K. Williams

Virginia Master Naturalists

Visit the Virginia Master Naturalists website for information about the state-wide program and other chapters, and to download documents about the state program.