Blue Ridge Foothills & Lakes Virginia Master Naturalists: Now Accepting Applications for the Next BRFAL Master Naturalist Basic Training in Rocky Mount!

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Now Accepting Applications for the Next BRFAL Master Naturalist Basic Training in Rocky Mount!

The Blue Ridge Foothills And Lakes (BRFAL) Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists will offer a Basic Training course starting September 3rd and running until Nov 19th, 2013.

Required for certification as a Virginia Master Naturalist, the course is intended to provide the background knowledge and skills for subsequent volunteer service as Master Naturalists. Space is limited for this training course which covers topics such as: aquatic and terrestrial ecology; taxonomy of plants, mammals, fish, insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds; geology and soil science and others.

Examples of some of the projects that current BRFAL members have participated in include: stream and lake water quality monitoring, chestnut tree planting and counting, tree signage at Smith Mountain Lake State Park, bird counts and monitoring, precipitation monitoring, remote camera monitoring of mammals, emerald ash borer monitoring, ecosystem mapping, invasive species monitoring and control, erosion control landscaping, educational projects with local schools, and maintenance of wood duck and bluebird nesting boxes at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. Blue Ridge Parkway, Philpott Lake and Franklin and Bedford Counties included. More info on the VMN program here.

Registration will open July 1st and continue through Aug 14th, 2013. GET YOUR APPLICATION TODAY!

Classes will take place on Tuesday afternoons from 1:30 - 4:00 PM at The Franklin Center in Rocky Mount. (Right next door to the Franklin County Library downtown).

There will also be five Saturday morning field trips.

A course fee of $100 covers materials, faculty and space as well as the first year of BRFAL membership.

If you, or someone you know, are interested in helping Virginians conserve and manage natural resources and public lands, and you think you may want to participate in the Master Naturalist Program, contact us at: 540-365-4613, or email BRFAL.VMN@gmail.com, or send us a letter to P.O. Box 1151, Rocky Mount VA 24151 to get an application!

*Photos above from various 2012 field trips for VMN Basic Training BRFAL Chapter.

No comments:

Mission

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginias become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service.

Who Can Participate?

People who are curious about nature, enjoy the outdoors, and want to be a part of natural resource management and conservation in Virginia are perfect candidates to become Virginia Master Naturalists. It is open to all adults regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status.

Overview

The process for becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist typically takes 6 to 12 months. One starts by completing a 40 hour basic training course offered by a local chapter of the program. An additional 8 hours of advanced training are also required. An important part of the certification process is the required 40 hours of volunteer service. More information click here

Pages