Become a Virginia Master Naturalist

CURIOUS? BECOME A VIRGINIA MASTER NATURALIST

Learning about wetlands. Photo by Jennifer Trevino.

People who are curious about nature, enjoy the outdoors, and want to volunteer in stewardship, outreach, and citizen science projects supporting natural resource management and conservation in Virginia are perfect candidates to become Virginia Master Naturalists.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

April 20, 2026

Our next Basic Training class begins September 8, 2026, and continues through March 10, 2027, with graduation. Here is a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document in PDF that is intended to answer many of your questions about the upcoming Basic Training session.

We encourage you to carefully review this FAQ document to decide if this program is for you and if you want to apply.

The Application process for the 2026-27 Basic Training class will begin on June 1, with acceptance being on a first come, first served return of fully completed applications. Please continue to check this page for additional information regarding the training schedule and other related matters.

If you want to be on the list of interested people for the 2026-2027 Basic Training Class, send your name and phone number to Bill Weldon, Basic Training Committee, billweldonhrc@gmail.com.

Polyphemus Moth. Photo by Mike Powell

HISTORIC RIVERS BASIC TRAINING

Basic training covers the background knowledge and skills that every naturalist needs to have. We tailor our course to fit our local environment and community.

The Historic Rivers Chapter Virginia Master Naturalist’s training includes:

  • Introduction to Virginia Master Naturalist Program
  • Risk Management
  • Building Master Naturalist Skills
  • Biodiversity and Evolution
  • Virginia Geology and Biogeography
  • Ecology Concepts
  • Climate & Weather
  • Forest Conservation
  • American Naturalists
  • Dendrology
  • Botany and Native Plants
  • Wetlands Ecology
  • Entomology
  • Freshwater Ecology and Macroinvertebrates
  • Butterflies
  • Ichthyology
  • Herpetology
  • Ornithology
  • Mammalogy

Io Moth Caterpillar. Photo by Susan Powell

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and local governments, and is an equal opportunity employer. For the full non-discrimination statement, please visit ext.vt.edu/accessibility.