Rockbridge Master Naturalists

A new Rockbridge Chapter of Master Naturalists will offer its first training course to certify Virginia Master Naturalists beginning February 24.

Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. The statewide program is sponsored jointly by five natural resource agencies. In November, a local steering committee received approval from the VMN Program to form a Rockbridge chapter co-sponsored by the Rockbridge Cooperative Extension and the Virginia Department of Forestry/Western Region.

To be certified as a Virginia Master Naturalist, volunteers must complete a basic training course that includes a minimum of 40 hours of combined classroom and field experiences focused on the local natural environment. Within a year of graduating, Master Naturalists must also complete an additional eight hours of advanced training and a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service for chapter-approved environmental projects.

The Rockbridge chapter’s basic training course begins February 24 and continues through mid-October with vacation breaks, meeting for a total of 13 Wednesday evenings at Boxerwood from 5:30-8:00 (supper included) and occasional Saturdays for field studies. During June-August, classes will be suspended, but trainees can take advantage of optional field trips and volunteer opportunities until sessions resume in September. The first class of Rockbridge Master Naturalists will “graduate” in mid-October 2010.

Additional information is available at www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/rockbridge, or by contacting Karen Stanley at the Department of Forestry (463-5253 or karen.stanley@dof.virginia.gov).

Sites of interests:

Geology of Virginia:  http://web.wm.edu/geology/virginia/?svr=www

Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia:  http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/ncoverview.shtml

Physiographic Regions of Virginia:  http://www.virginiaplaces.org/regions/physio.html