Silhouettes of dried wildflowers and grasses against a pastel sky at sunset.

Stewards of Virginia’s Wild Spaces

The Old Rag Master Naturalists unite citizen scientists, educators, and volunteers to study, protect, and share the natural wonders of the Piedmont Region.

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Our Mission

Old Rag Master Naturalists are dedicated stewards of the natural world across the northern Piedmont and Blue Ridge foothills of Virginia. Our members are the hands, eyes, and voices of conservation in this region—observing, documenting, teaching, and restoring the natural resources that make our area so extraordinary. While we keep the chapter running through meetings, committees, mentoring, and training new volunteers, our true impact shows up when we step into the field.

Citizen Science

Citizen science is at the heart of ORMN service. Our volunteers collect meaningful data for partners such as the Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Clifton Institute, Shenandoah National Park, Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute, and others. We monitor birds, butterflies, frogs, rainfall, stream health, and even light pollution. ORMN members participate in annual bird and butterfly counts, monarch larva monitoring, bio-blitzes, trail camera projects, and species surveys across farms, forests, parks, and waterways. Every observation contributes to a bigger scientific picture—one that drives conservation decisions in Virginia and beyond.

Education

Education is another major piece of who we are. ORMN members lead guided nature walks, forest tours, library programs, school field trips, and hands-on learning experiences for students of all ages. We staff visitor centers in Shenandoah National Park, speak at local events, teach the public about pollinators, watersheds, poisonous species, native plants, and sustainable practices. Through articles, presentations, workshops, and outreach tables, we help our neighbors understand and appreciate the natural world right outside their doors.

Stewardship

Stewardship is where ORMN members literally get their hands dirty. We restore wildlife habitat, plant trees, remove invasive species, maintain trails, collect native seeds, and care for natural areas across Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties. From maintaining bluebird trails and improving school outdoor classrooms, to restoring meadows, protecting chestnut groves, supporting American kestrels, and maintaining restoration sites on Old Rag’s summit, ORMN members are constantly working to improve and protect local ecosystems.

In short, Old Rag Master Naturalists study, teach, serve, and restore—strengthening the bond between our community and the incredible natural landscapes of the Old Rag region. Whether collecting data, sharing knowledge, or caring for the land, ORMN volunteers make a real difference, one project at a time.

A bird perched on a tree branch with autumn leaves in the background.

Serving the Heart of Virginia

The Old Rag Chapter serves Culpeper, Fauquier, Greene, Madison, Orange, and Rappahannock counties.

From mountain summits to riverbanks, our members help monitor species, restore habitats, and lead community education programs that strengthen conservation efforts close to home.

Young deer in a green forest with yellow flowers in the background.

Rooted in Service Since 2007

Founded in 2007, ORMN began as a small group of nature enthusiasts dedicated to protecting the Piedmont Region’s biodiversity. The first training class graduated with 25 members, launching a tradition of learning and service that continues to grow.

Today, more than a dozen classes later, ORMN volunteers lead hundreds of conservation projects from stream monitoring and bluebird trails to pollinator plantings and school outreach.

What we gain through education, we return through service to Virginia’s natural heritage.

Guided by Passionate Volunteers

  • Officers

    • President:  Alan Edmunds

    • Vice President: Charlene Uhl

    • Secretary : Cindy Colson

    • Treasurer:  Brendan Toner

    Elected Board Members

    • Bill Bynum

    • Linda Bueno

    • Lynda Davis

    • Jere Willis

    • Deirdre Clark

    Ex-Officio Members

    • Alex Bueno
      VMN-Better Impact Coordinator
      Culpeper

    • Tom Dreier
      Immediate Past President
      Culpeper

    • Kinner Ingram, Chapter Advisor
      VA Department of Forestry
      Madison       

  • Basic Training Committee

    Judy Lycke & Scott Jenkins, Co-Chairs

    Communications Committee

    Cindy Curtis, Chair 

    Continuing Education and Logistics Committee

    Judy Edmunds &  Linda Bueno, Co-Chairs

    Projects Committee

    Carolyn Smith, Chair

    Member Recruitment and Services Committee

    Lynda Davis & Charlene Uhl, Co-Chairs

    Nominations Committee

    Jere Willis, Chair

    VMN-Better Impact Committee

    Alex Bueno, Coordinator

  • Stream Monitoring Coordinator

    Jere Willis

    Blue Bird Trail Coordinator

    Barry Buschow

    Butterfly Coordinator

    Sue Weis

    Volunteer Projects

    Carolyn Smith

  • Virginia Cooperative Extension

    Virginia Cooperative Extension helps lead the engagement mission of Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, the commonwealth’s land-grant universities. Building local relationships and collaborative partnerships, VCE helps people put scientific knowledge to work through learning experiences that improve economic, environmental, and social well-being.

    VCE also is part of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture. Extension programs are delivered through a network of faculty at two universities, 107 county and city offices, 11 agricultural research and Extension centers, and six 4-H educational centers.

    Virginia Cooperative Extension is the lead sponsoring agency and administrative home for the Virginia Master Naturalist program.

    Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation

    The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is the state’s lead natural resource conservation agency. DCR protects what Virginians care about – natural habitat, parks, clean water, dams, open space and access to the outdoors.

    • DCR enables and encourages people to enjoy and benefit from Virginia’s natural and cultural resources

    • DCR values diversity of nature, culture and communities to ensure a sustainable and equitable future for recreational access and a healthy environment for all Virginians to enjoy.

    • DCR accomplishes its mission through funding, expertise, education, acquisition and improved access.

    The VMN program works most closely with two parts of DCR – Virginia State Parks and the Virginia Natural Heritage Program.

    Virginia Department of Environmental Quality

    DEQ’s mission is to protect and enhance the environment of Virginia in order to promote the health and well-being of the Commonwealth’s citizens, residents, and visitors in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Responsible for administering laws and regulations related to air quality, water quality, water supply, renewable energy and land protection, DEQ is the primary environmental permitting agency in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

    Virginia Department of Forestry

    The mission of the Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF) is to protect and develop healthy, sustainable forest resources for Virginians.

    DOF agency priorities include managing and conserving Virginia’s forest resources, managing state lands and nurseries, protecting Virginia’s forests from wildfire, and protecting Virginia’s waters. 

    Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources

    The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) is responsible for the management of inland fisheries, wildlife, and recreational boating for the Commonwealth of Virginia.

    Their mission is to:

    • Conserve and manage wildlife populations and habitat for the benefit of present and future generations.

    • Connect people to Virginia’s outdoors through boating, education, fishing, hunting, trapping, wildlife viewing, and other wildlife-related activities.

    • Protect people and property by promoting safe outdoor experiences and managing human-wildlife conflicts.

    Virginia Museum of Natural History

    The Virginia Museum of Natural History interprets Virginia’s natural heritage within a global context in ways that are relevant to all citizens of the Commonwealth. As the state museum of natural history, the Virginia Museum of Natural History has award-winning exhibits, ground-breaking scientific research and collections, and transformational educational programs for all ages, as well as statewide outreach education and distance learning programs, online resources, and traveling exhibits and displays.

    Virginia Institute of Marine Science – Center for Coastal Resources Management

    The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) develops and supports integrated and adaptive management of coastal zone resources. To fulfill this mission, the Center undertakes research, provides advisory service, and conducts outreach education.

Two people standing on a mountain road during sunset, one person with a camera on a tripod looking at the horizon, and the other person taking a photograph with a phone, with colorful sky and bare trees in the background.

Your Curiosity Can Make a Difference

Whether you’re a lifelong naturalist or just beginning to explore the outdoors, there’s a place for you in the Old Rag Chapter.


Learn, serve, and connect with others who share your passion for protecting Virginia’s wild places.

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