By:
Kevin G. Bezy, PhD, Member of the Southwest Piedmont Virginia Master Naturalist chapter
Michelle Prysby, Senior Extension Specialist and Virginia Master Naturalist Program Director
As a member of the Scouting organization, I have felt that we are the premier organization for outdoor activities. We have a wide range of outdoor adventures and career exploration opportunities. Truth be told, we are not the only organization with similar goals and objectives. While I still believe that we are a step above, mainly because we adhere to the Scout Ideals (Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan), other organizations are just as devoted to the cause. We can mutually benefit from joining these organizations.
My personal focus in Scouting is community (brotherhood) and service. This translates to service in environmental protection and education, benefiting all. Working to preserve our environment for the enjoyment of everyone and for the sustainability of our home is service to our community.
Purpose
The Virginia Master Naturalist program trains and utilizes volunteers to educate and provide service to benefit the management of natural resources within their communities. The program has developed a statewide corps of dedicated and informed volunteers who contribute to the conservation and understanding of Virginia’s natural environment.
The following agencies sponsor the Virginia Master Naturalist program: the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the Virginia Museum of Natural History, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s Center for Coastal Resources Management. The program is based in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation within the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech.
Function
The Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers are involved in a wide variety of service. First, I want to stress that most of us, if not all of us, would not refer to ourselves as “master” naturalists. We are students. There are experts in the field whom we count as members, from whom we learn a great deal. The rest of us are enthusiasts eager to expand our knowledge and have a greater impact on the environment. Master Naturalists do stream health surveys in conjunction with the Isaak Walton League Save our Streams program, monitor rainfall as data collectors for the Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS), maintain trails, conduct bird population studies, take part in litter cleanup efforts, provide habitats for various species, participate in bioblitz activities to count and record particular species, among other activities. Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers also provide information booths at events, giving the public awareness about black bears, pollinator protection, invasive species and eradication efforts, butterfly migration, and other current topics. Several naturalists have been published. Other naturalists organize basic training for new naturalists and continuing education for current members. And there are administrative activities that must be conducted. Everyone’s strengths and preferences can find a home in the Virginia Master Naturalist program.
Chapters
Virginia has 30 chapters across the state. Each chapter provides support for its members, offering ideas for service, basic training for new members, continuing education, and a structure to maintain fidelity to the state program. In the Blue Ridge Mountains Council, there are six chapters: Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter, Holston Rivers Chapter, Southwestern Piedmont Chapter, New River Valley Chapter, Roanoke Valley Chapter, and Central Virginia Chapter.
Basic Training & Certification
The topics of Basic Training may intimidate some people, but the classes provided are designed to foster a better understanding of the environment among all participants and are geared toward adult learners, not experts. Some of the topics include biology and the identification of plants and animals, as well as the management and conservation of ecological systems such as forests and streams. Additionally, the program covers teaching and interpretive skills, and naturalist skills, including observation and data collection. Beyond its natural resource content, the training course aims to foster connections with people, places, and projects within the local community. Basic training consists of a minimum of 40 hours of instruction, with 10 hours conducted outdoors. For more detailed information, please visit the VMN training site. Chapters try to keep the fee for basic training as affordable as possible.
Once a trainee completes basic training, they have one year to fulfill the requirements for certification, if they choose to do so. Certification requires 40 hours of service and 8 hours of continuing education. Continuing education information can be found here. To maintain certification, the service and continuation must be completed annually. Hours of service can be for some Scouting and Scout camp activities, provided one’s chapter approves the service.
How do I start?
You begin by contacting the chapter nearest you or the chapter you wish to join. The chapter leadership will inform you about the next basic training opportunity and any additional information you may need to know. As Scout leaders, you have experience and skills related to outdoor education that could be a valuable asset to some of the conservation work that Virginia Master Naturalist chapters undertake. Likewise, as a Virginia Master Naturalist, you will gain experiences that can help you contribute more to Scouting.