Virginia Master Naturalist Program: Educators and Stewards for Conservation

1. Volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginians conserve and manage natural resources and public lands

2. Introductory Class Objectives • Describe what a Master Naturalist volunteer is • Identify and communicate the mission and goals of the Master Naturalist program and what makes it unique from other volunteer programs in Virginia • Identify and communicate the requirements and responsibilities of a Virginia Master Naturalist • Be familiar with the expected standards of conduct for Master Naturalists and the applicable laws and ethical issues relating to wildlife educators and researchers • Understand the role of learning as a lifelong pursuit • Understand the many possible options for volunteer service projects, including citizen science, education/interpretation, and stewardship projects

9. Mission: 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.

10. 5,500 trainees

11. 2,000 active volunteers

12. >1.1 M hours ($28.3 M) of service

15. Virginia Master Naturalist Sponsors Sponsored by 7 agencies: Also supported by:

16. VA Department of Forestry Protects 15.8 million acres of forest land from fire, insects and disease. Manages 17 State Forests and other state lands totaling 47,899 acres for timber, recreation, water, research, wildlife and biodiversity. Assists non-industrial private forest landowners through professional forestry advice and technical management programs. http://www.dof.virginia.gov

17. VA Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Manages Virginia's wildlife and inland fish to maintain optimum populations of all species to serve the needs of the Commonwealth Provides opportunity for all to enjoy wildlife, inland fish, boating and related outdoor recreation; to promote safety for persons and property in connection with boating, hunting and fishing. http://www.dgif.virginia.gov

18. VA Department of Conservation and Recreation • Works with Virginians to conserve, protect, and enhance their lands and improve the quality of the Chesapeake Bay and our rivers and streams, promotes the stewardship and enjoyment of natural, cultural and outdoor recreational resources, and insures the safety of Virginia's dams. • State Parks • Soil and Water Conservation • Natural Heritage Program • Dam safety and floodplain management • Land conservation • Recreation planning • Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance http://www.dcr.virginia.gov

19. Virginia Department of Environmental Quality • Protects and improves the environment for the well-being of all Virginians. • Administers state and federal laws and regulations for air quality, water quality, water supply and waste management. • DEQ issues permits, conducts inspections and monitoring, and enforces regulations and permits • Organizes citizen water quality monitoring

20. Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences:Center for Coastal Resources Management The Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM) develops and supports integrated and adaptive management of coastal zone resources. To fulfill this mission, the Center undertakes research, provides advisory service, and conducts outreach education. ccrm.vims.edu

21. Virginia Museum of Natural History • Interprets Virginia's natural heritage within a global context in ways that are relevant to all citizens of the Commonwealth. • Maintains a state museum to provide a repository of the state’s natural heritage • Investigates natural history of Virginia and the world http://www.vmnh.net

22. Virginia Cooperative Extension • Enables people to improve their lives through an educational process that uses scientific knowledge focused on issues and needs. • A joint program among: • Virginia’s land grant universities (Virginia Tech and Virginia State) • United States Department of Agriculture • State and local governments • Program Areas: • agriculture and natural resources • 4-H youth development • family and consumer sciences • community viability http://www.ext.vt.edu

23. ChaptersLed by volunteer officers and committee chairs Made up of certified Virginia Master Naturalists and individuals working towards certification State Office (Director, ½ time Project Assistant, ½ time Volunteer Coordinator) Leads program development, supports operations of program, provides a central source for program information Local Partners Providing training and volunteer opportunities Executive Committee Represents the sponsoring agencies and makes final decisions about policy, personnel, and budget. Steering Committee Develops program policies and advises program operations. Approves chapter activities. Program Structure Chapter Advisor Local representative of one of the 7 sponsoring agencies

24. Virginia Master Naturalist Chapters

25. Program Structure • Master Naturalists are part of a local team, or “chapter” that is volunteer-run. • Participating in chapter governance, organization, and activities is an important part of being a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer. • Master Naturalists are also part of a larger statewide structure. They must adhere to statewide policies and keep records of their service to report back to the state. Volunteers and chapter advisors meet together at the 2006 New Chapter Coordinators’ Training

26. Certification Process Basic Training40 hoursClassroom and field experiencesNatural history, conservation and management, teaching and research skillsLed by local experts + Continuing Education8 hoursSpecialized topics that build on basic trainingRequired annually to maintain certification + Volunteer Service40 hoursEducation, citizen science, or stewardshipRequired annually to maintain certification = Certified Virginia Master Naturalist

27. Mission, objectives, and guidelines of the program Significance of naturalists and natural history Biogeography of Virginia Ecology (basic concepts) Geology (basic concepts) Resource management (basic principles) Some native flora and fauna in the region Process of science Roles of Virginia state agencies in the management and conservation of natural resources A Virginia Master Naturalist Knows…

28. Use a key to identify organisms Use a field guide Share knowledge with others 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 A Virginia Master Naturalist Can…

29. Continuing Education-Objectives • Promotes continued learning and development of naturalist skills • Provides knowledge and skills necessary to work in local volunteer efforts • Provides an opportunity to focus interests • Builds on the core curriculum initially provided • Provides information on natural resources and resource management applicable to VA • May be 8 hours of one training, or a series of shorter trainings

30. Continuing Education-Examples • Short courses and workshops offered by state or local partners on specialized topics such as forest management or public speaking skills • Training specific to a planned service project such as invasive plant ID or stream monitoring • Public lectures on natural history topics if they meet the continuing education objectives and pertain to local natural resources

31. Education Citizen Science Stewardship

32. Minimum of 40 hours to maintain certification Must be dedicated to the beneficial management of the natural resources within the local community Must be for public benefit, not personal gain May be a series of short, unrelated experiences, a long-term commitment to single project, or a mix Can be conducted independently or as a team Can be part of an existing partner project, a new project developed by the volunteer, or a class project Volunteer Service Project Guidelines

33. For volunteers spending time on chapter organization! Volunteer Service: Administrative • Examples: • planning and supervising VMN training classes, • serving as a board or committee member, • working on a chapter newsletter, • communication efforts, • other activities that support the effectiveness of the chapter and statewide program Note: Local Chapters, at their discretion, may limit the number of such hours credited to an individual’s annual volunteer requirement.

34. For volunteers who enjoy public speaking or working with youth! Volunteer Service: Education • Examples: • Being a volunteer interpreter at a state or local park • Developing an interpretive trail • Being a guest presenter on a natural resource topic in a classroom

35. For volunteers who enjoy helping with scientific research! Volunteer Service: Citizen Science • Examples: • Recording data for the VA Wildlife Mapping program • Participating in a Christmas Bird Count • Conducting water quality monitoring • Organizing biodiversity inventory of a local park

36. For volunteers who just want to get their hands dirty! Volunteer Service: Stewardship • Examples: • Maintaining trails at a state park • Pulling out exotic invasive plants and planting natives at a nature center • Restoring bird-friendly habitat at a local park

37. Young Naturalist 4-H Camp at Bear Creek Lake State Park Habitat Education at the Williamsburg Farmers Market

38. Bat monitoring at Pocahontas State Park Stream monitoring in the New River Valley

40. I have always enjoyed working together with my mom on VMN projects. Sharing experiences, going to new places, and learning new things together always makes me happy. Also, if we’re out doing a project or program, and one of us forgets a fact or location, the other usually remembers. (Elena Swick, Central Rappahannock Chapter)

41. I can't tell you how much I have enjoyed the Master Naturalist program.  It has opened new  interests, provided education, and new friendships.  It truly has changed the way I look at the world. The VMN program continues to be one of the highlights of my life. (Temple Moore, Northern Neck Chapter)   

42. The Virginia Master Naturalist program transforms lives:  our own, and those of the people and other beings that we serve under VMN. (Kim Scudera, Fairfax Chapter)

43. The Master Naturalist class was my first retirement project, a home run of a choice. I learned so much. The first project my husband and I did -- a trail guide for Menokin -- pulled information from every class topic. It was a great final exam for me, the writer on the project. And my husband, who did 14 original watercolors to illustrate the trail guide (and also designed the brochure), said he enjoyed painting for a purpose, instead of just for a class or for himself. (Jann Steele, Northern Neck Chapter)

44. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Master Naturalist class on Tuesday. They are a sharp, curious, and attentive group; and I could only wish my undergraduate students had their zest for learning! (Scott Eaton, guest instructor for Old Rag Chapter)

45. I am learning so much from this class , one of the best things I have ever done ! And it is only starting… (John Holden, Rivanna Chapter)

46. I was given the opportunity to be a seasonal educator for the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association…Had I not taken this path of the Master Naturalist, I never would have had the confidence to do it. (Bunny Medeiros, Holston Rivers Chapter)

47. I want to say a big “THANK YOU” to you and all of the Old Rag, Rivanna and Shenandoah Master Naturalists who came out to Montpelier and labored over two days to pull so much garlic mustard out. Your group was certainly a breath of fresh air . . . I love it that all of you actually enjoy doing this! (Sandra Mudrinich, horticulturist at Montpelier)

48. Stay in touch with the Virginia Master Naturalist Program! www.VirginiaMasterNaturalist.org www.virginiamasternaturalist.smugmug.com www.facebook.com/VirginiaMasterNaturalist twitter.com/VA_Naturalists

49. Virginia Master Naturalist Program masternaturalist@vt.edu 434-872-4587 www.VirginiaMasterNaturalist.org