About the VMN Program
What is a Master Naturalist?
It is a program that cultivates volunteers by providing training to get the participants started, and then helping them find opportunities to use their knowledge and skills to benefit Virginia’s natural resources. It is a program that’s about community partnerships. Our Virginia Master Naturalist chapters become a way for many partners involved in natural resource education and conservation to work together to cultivate and engage a group of motivated and trained volunteers. The program was launched in 2006, and continues to grow!
What is the Mission?
Our official mission is to be a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.
Image courtesy of Tim Anderson, Chapter member
How Big is the Organization?
At the end of 2013, more than 3,100 people had graduated from a Virginia Master Naturalist training course. In 2013, more than 1300 individuals reported doing volunteer service as a Virginia Master Naturalist. More than 750 volunteers have achieved the title of Certified Virginia Master Naturalist. More than 175 volunteers have completed 250 hours of service, and in 2010, we had our first volunteer achieve the milestone of 2,500 hours of service!
Image courtesy of Lili Tabada, Chapter member