Training offers hands-on nature lessons

Virginia Master Naturalist chapter takes applications for next class Aug 30th - Historic Rivers Chapter

Master naturalist Patty Maloney helps harvest pine cones at the New Kent Forestry Center. (Courtesy Shirley Devan /June 25, 2011)

Patty Maloney can count frogs and toads by just listening for their calls.

"Once your ear is trained to recognize the 27 Virginia frog and toad calls, you can identify them and pinpoint their locations when they respond to each other," says the James City County resident.

She can do this because she's a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, having gone through weeks of training in nature-related topics that include the biology of birds, fish, mammals, reptiles and insects; native trees and plant biology; Virginia geology; meteorology and climate; winter botany; wetlands and freshwater ecology; and citizen science, field methods and scientific naming.

READ THIS ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE from DailyPress.com and learn more about the Virginia Master Naturalist Historic Rivers Chapter next training which begins August 30th!  To join the chapter, you should live in the city of Williamsburg or Poquoson or counties of York, New Kent and James City  

Visit the Historic Rivers Chapter website here.

BRFAL Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist wants you get outside and learn something new! Volunteer and get involved! Visit your favorite state park, don't forget to take the kids and grandkids along!