The Central Blue Ridge chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist program is offering training for becoming a Master Naturalist. The first class will be Wednesday, January 24th. Registration is required by January 19th.

Volunteers in this program engage in local, state, regional, and national projects that promote conservation and wise management of natural resources. We encourage our members to volunteer with The Nature Foundation at Wintergreen, which is one of our local partners.

The Virginia Master Naturalist program is based in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation within the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech.

Participating state agencies include the Virginia Cooperative Extension, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Virginia's Department of Forestry, the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Museum of Natural History and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science's Center for Coastal Resources Management.

Training classes (at the Nelson Center, 8445 Thomas Nelson Highway, Lovingston, Va.) and field trips will be held on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons and will cover ecology, soils, insects, birds, trees, streams, and many other topics.

Those completing the training will be provided a wide variety of opportunities to put their knowledge and skills to work and become eligible for on-going education.

Cost of the training is $75/person. To register, contact the Virginia Extension Office in Lovingston, phone 434-263-4035 or email lmacrae@vt.edu.

Learn more at VirginiaMasterNaturalist.org.

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