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The process for becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist typically
takes 6 to 12 months. One starts by completing a
40-hour basic
training course offered by a
local chapter
of the program. An additional 8 hours of advanced training are also required. An
important part of the certification process is the required 40 hours of
volunteer
service.
The basic training course covers the background knowledge and skills that
every naturalist needs to have. Each chapter tailors the course to fit its local
environment and community, so no two courses are exactly the same. All the
courses will meet the following objectives and guidelines.
A Virginia Master Naturalist will know…
- All aspects of their role as a Virginia Master Naturalist,
the mission and objectives of the program, and the guidelines for
participation
- What a naturalist is and does and the significance of
naturalists and natural history
- The biogeography of Virginia, including the physiographic
regions and the geological and ecological aspects that make them distinct
- Basic concepts of ecology
- Basic concepts of geology
- Basic resource management principles
- Some native flora and fauna in the region
- The general process of science
- The roles of Virginia state agencies in the management and
conservation of natural resources
A Virginia Master Naturalist will be able to…
- Use a key to identify organisms
- Use a field guide
- Share knowledge with others (verbally and/or in writing)
- Make and record observations in nature
- Recognize when he or she does not know the answer to a
question, but be able to seek out answers from people, books, or other
reliable resources
Every Virginia Master Naturalist training will include…
- Both field and classroom experiences, with a minimum of 25%
of the course time spent in the field
- Information from unbiased, research-based sources
- Material on the following topics:
- Introduction to the Virginia Master Naturalist program
- American Naturalists
- Basic Ecology
- Biogeography
- Geology
- Nature of Naming
- Education and Interpretation Skills
- Citizen Science and Research Skills
- Ecology and Management of the systems occurring in the
region
- Overview of vertebrates, invertebrates, trees and other
plants (biology, ecology, identification, conservation and management)
Background Readings
Links to each section of our Virginia Master Naturalist training manual will be posted here as they are completed. This manual provides background readings on the natural history and natural resource management topics covered in the basic training course. The readings are in-depth, typically covering much more material and more details than can be covered during class. Chapters may choose to print and copy the readings for their volunteers, or download them and provide them on a CD, or just point the trainees to the URLs. The files are in PDF format, so you will need to download Adobe Reader to view them.
Virginia Master Naturalist Volunteer Training Manual Sections
Forest Ecology and Management
Ichthyology
Mammalogy
There are also some additional links to readings that are not park of the training manual, but are written by our sponsoring agencies and highly suitable for Master Naturalists. These are all PDF files unless otherwise indicated.
Virginia Biogeography and Geology
Overview of the Physiography and Vegetation of Virginia
The Geology of Virginia (website)
Sustaining America's Aquatic Biodiversity Series
Other Topics
Educators and Virginia's Wildlife Laws
Managing Wildlife Damage: Snakes (including basic biology of snakes and safe, humane, and legal methods for excluding and removing them from buildings.)
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