BRFAL Graduating Class of 2012

Meet the 2012 Graduates of the Virginia Master Naturalists of the Blue Ridge Foothills and Lakes Chapter Basic Training

BRFAL 2012 graduating class: L-R Susan Cranson, Anne Tucker, Warren & Becky Clark, Shannon Brooks, Diane & Richard Donnelly.  Not pictured: Jim & Jerryanne Bier.

Great "Covered Dish Supper/Picnic" at the Graduation Social held at Smith Mountain Lake State Park (DCR is one of the VMN Sponsors)

A great turn out on a very warm evening

Look at that BBQ, Baked Mac n Cheese and those Green beans! You can't get more southuhn than that!

Long standing members of the BRFAL Chapter

Simon says "Hands on your hips!"

State Park guest speakers were Nate Clark, Assistant Park manager (left), and Lauri Schular, Parks Interpreter

Carl Boast shares:

On Thursday June 21st, 2012 the Blue Ridge Foothills And Lakes (BRFAL) Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists (VMN) gathered at Smith Mountain Lake State Park to recognize the completion of the 2012 Basic Training Course by 9 new members.  The course ran from March 6th to May 22nd and covered geology, stream/lake ecology, plant identification, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, forestry, weather and ichthyology.  The graduates now must complete 40 hrs of service projects related to education, citizen science and stewardship service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities in order to become Certified Master Naturalists.

The group was addressed briefly by State Park employees Lauri Schular and Nate Clark who thanked BRFAL for their volunteer participation in several recent projects including the restoration of Wood Duck nest boxes, presentations on oak trees and herpetology to school groups and support of canoe outings.  The relationship among the State Park, BRFAL & the Friends of the State park will be strengthened with the addition of these graduates.  Michelle Prysby, the State Coordinator of VMN, sent a congratulatory letter to the class.

Guy Buford, President of BRFAL, informed the group that in addition to the five original state sponsors of the VMN Program (DGIF, Dept of Forestry, DCR, VA Museum of Natural History and VA Cooperative Extension) the VA Dept of Environmental Quality now also sponsors the VMN Program.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE VIRGINIA MASTER NATURALIST CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS? CLICK HERE.