Virginia Master Naturalists is enrolling students for the 2012 Basic Training Class. The thirteen-week course offers diverse classes on all aspects of Southwest Virginia ecology. Local experts will teach subjects such as local geology and karst systems, groundwater systems, aquatic biology, native animals, ornithology, forestry, wildflowers, and more. Related field trips visit interesting sites such as Pinnacle Natural Reserve, the Appalachian Trail, Buller Fish Hatchery, and the Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally.
The $100 tuition fee covers registration fees, field trips, books and other resources, and Holston Rivers VMN chapter dues for 2012. Classes start on Thursday, February 16, 2012, and run through Thursday, May 10. Classes meet from 6:30-9:30 p.m. on Thursdays at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center in Abingdon. Field trips are scheduled on Saturdays.
The training class is open to all Virginia residents. No prior experience in the sciences is necessary, merely an interest in the natural world. Tennessee residents are welcome to participate. The class is great for teachers.
After completing basic training, class members can choose to be a member of the Holston Rivers Chapter and pursue certification as a Virginia Master Naturalist.
To become a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist, a trainee must:
- Complete 40 hours of basic training, which includes a minimum of 25% time in the field;
- Pass the open-book training assessment with a score of 70% or higher;
- Complete 8 hours of approved advanced training designed to focus volunteer efforts on one or more specific topics of interest; and
- Complete a minimum of 40 hours of service in an approved project within 12 months of the completion of the basic training program.
To maintain certification, a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist must complete an additional 8 hours of advanced training and 40 hours of service annually.
The Virginia Master Naturalist program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service.
FAQ, information about chapter activities, and an application for the 2012 Basic Training Course can be found on their website. For more information and an application, contact: Monica Hoel or Shauna Russell.