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Become a Master Naturalist

Master Naturalist Certification

The process for becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist typically takes 6 to 12 months and requires the following:

  • 40 hours of basic training, including classroom sessions and field trips
  • 8 hours of advanced training
  • 40 hours of volunteer service

Visit www.virginiamasternaturalist.org for more information about the program. Download a flyer about Old Rag Chapter projects.

The Old Rag Chapter has completed two courses of basic training and will have its third session beginning August 2009.

Topics Covered in the Course

Courses offered in the chapter’s training cover the core knowledge and skills that every naturalist needs to have:

  •  
    American Redstart
     
    American Redstart.
    Photo by Tom Bentley, www.fnal.gov.
    Introduction to the Virginia Master Naturalist Program
  • Biodiversity
  • Botany
  • Climate and Weather
  • Ecology
  • Entomology
  • Forests
  • Geology and Hydrology
  • Herpetology
  • Ichthyology
  • Mammalogy
  • Ornithology
  • Research Methodology
  • Water and Wetlands

Location of Classes

2010 Classes will be held on Thursday evenings, 6–9:30 p.m. at the Brightwood Ruritan Club clubhouse in Madison.  Generally. classes are held in Madison (possibly at the County Extension office) and in Rappahannock County (possibly at the County Library); field trip locations vary. Class members will be notified about locations.

Instructors

Our instructors are knowledgeable professionals from diverse backgrounds in natural history. Their affiliations include Virginia Departments of Game and Inland Fisheries, Forestry, and Conservation and Recreation; Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech); the University of Virginia; and James Madison University.

 
Misty morning in Virginia's piedmont
 
Misty morning in Virginia's Piedmont.
Photo by Richard Lykes.

Cost

For the 2010 session, the cost is $125. Costs may change for future class sessions.

Applying

A course is planned for Fall 2010. Click here for more information on applying to the course. The application period for the 2010 session will open June 26, 2010, and go through July 23, 2010.

Program Policy Guidelines

Please see the Virginia Master Naturalist website for documents about the program policies. Under "Program Policy Guidelines" you will find:

  • Volunteer Policy Handbook
  • Chapter Chartering Guidelines
  • Guidelines for Basic Training

 

Old Rag panorama part 6

Chapter Events

Master Naturalist Training. July 23, 2010, Application Deadline. — (Click title for details.) The next training course is Aug. 12 through Nov. 18, 2010. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings, 6–9:30 p.m. at the Brightwood Ruritan Club clubhouse in Madison.  

Articles

The Bluebird Trail. 2010-07-29 — One of our favorite projects for ORMN has been our Bluebird Trail at The Greene Hills Club.  Learn about how we set it up and monitor it.   

Denali National Park. 2010-07-29 — Denali National Park, created in 1917, has maintained its natural beauty with minimal human impact.    

Bald-Faced Hornets Feeding on Hummingbird Nectar. 2010-07-27 — A chapter member shares a close-up view. 

Chapter Begins Stewardship Project at Montpelier. 2008-05-23 — Old Rag Chapter began a long-term stewardship commitment to James Madison's Montpelier with an inaugural garlic mustard pull in the Old Growth forest. 

Photo Gallery

Botany Field Trip to the Jones' Farm

Old Rag Chapter Classroom Training

Learning About Stream Assessment

Forestry Field Trip to Conway River Tract

Website design by
Kathy Poush
Hosting & applications by
Mary Graham
 
Panorama photo © Carl Zitzmann