Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginia conserve and manage natural resources, and public lands. The Old Rag Chapter serves the counties of Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock.
Chapter NEWs
ACTION ALERT: AVIAN DISEASE
Updated - July 25, 2021 The Virginia areas affected by the mortality event include the following counties and cities: Alexandria, Arlington, Clarke, Fairfax, Falls Church, Fauquier, Frederick, Loudoun, Manassas, Prince William, Shenandoah, Warren, and Winchester. Between May 23 and June 30, DWR received over 1,400 reports of sick or dying birds from the affected areas. Approximately 450 of the reported cases described eye issues and/or neurological signs. If you do find a sick or dead bird, please report it to the VA Department of Wildlife Resources here. For more specific information about avian deaths and how to possibly prevent them, read here. And,.... VMN Announcement with further details, click here. NEW July 9th article in Science on Avian Disease - click here NEW DWR Blog on Latest Update - click here 
Bring Back Backyard Biodiversity!
Have you read Doug Tallamy’s “Bringing Nature Home” and “Nature’s Best Hope”? Would you like to put his ideas into practice and earn volunteer hours? Then you should schedule a site visit and apply to have your yard become a certified Audubon@Home Wildlife Habitat. Through this program you can promote biodiversity, contribute to solutions to fight species declines, and much more. Contact Cindy Colson to learn more about the Aububon@Home program and what you can do for Nature! Read More About It Below. 
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Next Members Meeting - Monday, August 9
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm PUBLIC WELCOME!! St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Culpeper This will be our first face-to-face meeting in over a year! Our guest speaker will be Michelle Prysby, our VMN Director. Her topic will be "Monarch Butterfly Citizen Science Projects." She will describe the amazing biology and ecology of monarchs and will also describe several citizen science projects on monarchs around the country. For Meeting Information - Click Here For Speaker Profile - Click Here Other News: Spotlight: Michelle Prysby July Newsletter: click here ORMN MadRapp Nature Column: click here 
Become A Master Naturalist: click here
Applications being accepted from August 1 through November 15 for the Spring 2022 training class 
CE Field Trips (NEW!) Click here for more information and to register. Got Ideas About Continuing Education Speakers or Events? Contact Charlene Uhl or Submit Your Ideas Here Continuing Education - A Master Naturalist Benefit Read About What the CE Committee is Doing Here The CE Committee is interested in the CE opportunities you've enjoyed during the COVID lockdown. Additional Chapter News
Board Meetings First Mondays of alternate months. Next Meeting: September 13th Member Meetings 2nd Monday. 6:30pm Next Meeting: August 9th
Committee Meetings and News Communications Committee The ORMN Communications Committee needs volunteers (this means you) for a number of outreach, public relations, and internal communications activities. Some of the activities you can get volunteer hours for include:
Check out other FUN activities here. Messages from Michelle Prysby June 4, 2021. We received revised COVID guidelines from Virginia Cooperative Extension today, and I'm passing them along to you. The most pertinent info is below, or you can find the full, up-to-date guidance for in-person programming here. Face-to-face programming is allowed in accordance with the following in-person programming guidance:
The bottom line is that from the VCE and state standpoint, you are free to hold indoor or outdoor adult programming without restrictions on the number of people or requirements for distancing, but you should always check with your particular locality and site and follow their guidelines if they are more stringent. If you are working with youth, please note the additional guidelines set by 4-H, which are in keeping with current requirements for schools. Thanks for all you have done to keep people safe while also keeping the VMN program vibrant! Michelle Prysby VMN Program Director mprysby@vt.edu CHapter photos
Shenandoah National Park video featuring ORMN's own Jack Price taking a walk up Hawksbill and pointing out the ephemerals (and lots of other stuff).
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Virginia Master Naturalist Chapters
Alleghany Highlands Chapter
Based in Alleghany, Bath, and Highland counties
Chapter Advisor: Christine Hodges, VCE
Arlington Regional Chapter
Based in Arlington
Chapter Advisor: Kirsten Ann Conrad, VCE
Banshee Reeks Chapter
Based in Loudoun County
Chapter Advisor: Jordan Green, DWR
Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter
Based in Franklin and Bedford counties
Chapter Advisor: Ryan Klopf, DCR
Central Blue Ridge Chapter
Based in Nelson County
Chapter Advisor: Corissa Vanden Hoek, VCE
Central Piedmont Chapter
Based in Buckingham, Cumberland, Prince Edwards, and surrounding counties
Chapter Advisors: Linda Eanes (VCE) and Katie Martin (DWR)
Central Rappahannock Chapter
Based in Fredericksburg and Stafford, King George, Spotsylvania, and Caroline counties
Chapter Advisor: Andrew Peal, DCR
Central Virginia Chapter
Based in Lynchburg and Amherst, Bedford, Campbell, and Appomattox counties
Chapter Advisors: Bill Perry, DOF and Brian Watson, DWR
Eastern Shore Chapter
Based on Virginia's Eastern Shore
Chapter Advisor: Dot Field, DCR
Next basic training course to begin in April 2021. See https://masternaturalistesva.com/training/.
Fairfax Chapter
Based in Fairfax County
Chapter Advisor: Jim McGlone, DOF
Visit website fairfaxmasternaturalists.org to sign up for monthly email newsletter to receive information about next training class.
Headwaters Chapter
Based in Rockingham and Augusta counties
Chapter Advisors: Jason Hallacher, DWR
High Knob Chapter
Based in Lee, Wise, Scott, and Dickenson counties
Chapter Advisor: Phil Meeks, VCE
Historic Rivers Chapter
Based in Williamsburg and James City and York counties
Chapter Advisors: John Gresham, DCR and Meagan Thomas, DWR
Historic Southside Chapter
Based in Surry, Isle of Wight, Southampton, and Sussex counties
Chapter Advisor: Livvy Preisser, VCE
Holston Rivers Chapter
Based in Abingdon, Bristol, and Smyth, Tazewell, Washington, and western Grayson counties
Chapter Advisor: Tanya Hall, DCR
James River Chapter
Based in Goochland and Powhatan counties
Chapter Advisor: Dan Gugliocciello, DCR
Merrimac Farm Chapter
Based in Prince William County
Chapter Advisor: Joe Ferdinandsen, DWR
Middle Peninsula Chapter
Based in Gloucester, Mathews, Middlesex, King & Queen, and King William Counties
Chapter Advisor Karen Duhring, VIMS-CCRM
Applications due November 6 for the next basic training course, to begin in February 2021. See https://middlepeninsulamasternaturalists.com.
New River Valley Chapter
Based in Blacksburg and Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Floyd counties
Chapter Advisor: John Copeland, DWR
Northern Neck Chapter
Based in Northumberland, Westmoreland, Lancaster, Richmond, King George, Essex, and Middlesex Counties
Chapter Advisor: Tara Brent and Wendy Herdman, VCE
Next basic training course will begin in August 2021. See https://northernneckmasternaturalists.squarespace.com/basic-training.
Old Rag Chapter
Based in Greene, Madison, Rappahannock, Culpeper, Orange, and Fauquier counties
Chapter Advisor: Jack Kauffman, DOF
Peninsula Chapter
Based in Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson, Gloucester, and lower York county
Chapter Advisors: Megan Tierney, VCE and Meghan Mulroy-Goldman, DOF
Pocahontas Chapter
Based in Chesterfield County and the Richmond Metro Area
Chapter Advisor: Rebecca Whalen, DCR
Rivanna Chapter
Based in Charlottesville and Albemarle and Fluvanna counties
Chapter Advisor: Page Hutchinson, DOF
Applications due January 5 for the next basic training course, to begin February 2021. See http://www.vmn-rivanna.org.
Riverine Chapter
Based in Hanover County and the Richmond Metro Area
Chapter Advisor: Kathleen Ogilvy, DOF
Roanoke Valley Chapter
Based in Roanoke County
Chapter Advisor: George Devlin, DEQ
Shenandoah Chapter
Based in Clarke, Warren, Page, Shenandoah, and Frederick counties
Chapter Advisor: Kevin Bowman, DCR
Southwestern Piedmont Chapter
Serving the cities of Martinsville and Danville, and the counties of Henry, Patrick and Pittsylvania.
Chapter Advisor: Christy Deatherage, VMNH
Tidewater Chapter
Based in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, and Portsmouth
Chapter Advisors: Jennifer Huggins, DCR and Jessica Ruthenberg, DWR
Other State Master Naturalist Programs
Master Naturalist Programs In Neighboring States
West Virginia Master Naturalist Program
Central Carolinas Master Naturalist Program
Maryland Master Naturalist Program
Tennessee Naturalist Program
For more information about Master Naturalist-type programs in other states, visit the
Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs or
Master Naturalist Programs in Other States
West Virginia Master Naturalist Program
Central Carolinas Master Naturalist Program
Maryland Master Naturalist Program
Tennessee Naturalist Program
For more information about Master Naturalist-type programs in other states, visit the
Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs or
Master Naturalist Programs in Other States
Virginia Master Naturalist programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age color. disability. gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.
The Old Rag Master Naturalists chapter is organized as a non-profit §501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code.
The Old Rag Master Naturalists chapter is organized as a non-profit §501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code.