Master Naturalists provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.   Volunteers from all walks of life are welcomed to accomplish these goals. 

The Peninsula Chapter, directed by a coordinating committee, is recruiting volunteers for the first basic training class, which is scheduled to begin February 17, 2009. In order to become a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, volunteers are required to attend a basic training class (a minimum of 40 hours of classroom and field instruction), advanced training (a minimum of 8 hours annually) and provide at least 40 hours of approved volunteer service to the community per year.  A second training will be held in Fall 2009. 

Cost for the training will be $135, which includes materials.  Additional costs for field trips and supplemental materials may be incurred. 

The Virginia Cooperative Extension-Hampton Office is sponsoring the Virginia Master Naturalist Peninsula Chapter, which is part of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program.  Partners in the Peninsula Chapter include the Virginia Living Museum, Sandy Bottom Nature Park, Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism, and the Hampton Clean City Commission.

Statewide, the Virginia Master Naturalist Program is sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Virginia Department of Forestry, Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, and Virginia Museum of Natural History. 

For more information about this program, contact Hampton Cooperative Extension Agent Megan Ketchum at megank@vt.edu or visit The Peninsula Chapter’s website is http://www.vmnpeninsula.org/.  Click here for the registration form.