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Have you ever wanted to know more about the animals, plants and geology of the Alleghany Highlands? Are you willing to provide volunteer service to manage, protect or preserve these natural resources, and help others learn about them? If so, the Virginia Master Naturalist Training Program was designed for you.
The next Virginia Master Naturalist basic training course available to Rockbridge area residents will be held from September through May 2025, with a break from December through February. Classes will meet on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 at Millboro Elementary School in Millboro. In addition to the evening classes, there will be required Saturday field trips. The application is only available online and must be completed by July 15.
This training is offered by the Virginia Master Naturalists Alleghany Highlands Chapter. Topics in the curriculum include ecological concepts, biogeography, geology. soil science, wildflowers, weather, climate, trees, shrubs, birds, mammals, insects, amphibians, reptiles, fish and stream biology.
To become certified a Virginia Master Naturalist, a student must attend the required classes and field sessions, pass final written and practical exams, and, within a year, accumulate eight hours of advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service work.
Current Alleghany Highlands Chapter members participate in a wide range of volunteer service and citizen science activities. These include providing environmental education in local schools; identifying and removing invasive species; monitoring stream water quality; bird nest monitoring; measuring and reporting daily precipitation; counting and reporting birds; public trail stewardship; and reporting raptor observations.
For more information and to download an application for the training program, go to the website at https://bttr.im/mvrf8. For more information, contact Christine Hodges at (540) 862-0369 or [email protected]
