About Us

Who We Are

A Community-based, Natural Resources Volunteer Program

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Newly emerged Monarch butterfly on purple coneflower. Notice the Monarch chrysalis on the left. Photo by Mike Powell.

Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginia conserve and manage natural resources and public lands.

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.

See Virginia Master Naturalists

The Historic Rivers Chapter serves Southeastern Virginia between the Historic James and York Rivers, including James City County, York County, New Kent County, and the City of Williamsburg.

Board of Directors for the Historic Rivers Chapter

State-Guided, Locally Focused: How the VMN Program is Structured

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Prothonotary Warbler with insect larvae to feed to its young. Photo by Judy Jones.

Composed of 29 semi-independent, locally focused chapters, The Virginia Master Naturalist program is actively supported, guided, and represented by the over-arching statewide VMN program.

Through their local chapters, VMN volunteers train and serve with the variety of partner groups and institutions who are already working in locally relevant natural resources education and outreach projects.

The success of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program relies on these partnerships between chapters and organizations, state and local agencies, non-profits, and other citizen groups.

Rigorous. Fun. Meaningful:
It’s What We Do.

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Osprey. Photo by Mike Powell.

All over the state, Virginia Master Naturalists train for certifications, then maintain that certification by launching or participating in local projects as they trek through forests and fields, collect data in streams, beaches, and backyards—all while continuing to learn and sharing their enthusiasm for Virginia’s natural world.

What We Do

Citizen Science

Citizen scientists follow consistent protocols to collect data that supply scientists and policy-makers with the information they need to make informed management and policy decisions

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Collecting data on birds and other wildlife. Photo by Shirley Devan.

Citizen Projects may include:

  • Bird, butterfly, frog and toad counts
  • Wildlife and native plant mapping and surveys
  • Camera trapping
  • Stream monitoring

These data describe the lives, habits, and responsiveness to change of plant and animals.

Education/Outreach

People who enjoy teaching, public speaking, or working with youth may do education-related service projects, such as leading programs in a nearby state park.

Education/Outreach Projects may include:

  • Developing an interpretive trail
  • Being a guest presenter on a natural resource topic
  • Staffing presentations at fairs, booths, or other events
  • Other educational or outreach activities that promote environmental education

Stewardship

Stewardship brings volunteers outside, gets them dirty, and shows them tangible results of their work.

Planting Buttonbushes, a native pollinator plant

Stewardship Projects may include:

  • Planting trees
  • Protecting streams
  • Constructing concrete reef balls for placing in nearby rivers to allow oysters to grow from seeds to adulthood
  • Restoring and maintaining wildlife habitat, improving water quality.
  • Building and maintaining park trails.
  • Removing exotic or invasive plants
  • Planting native plants at a nature center

Virginia Cooperative Extension is a partnership of Virginia Tech, Virginia State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments. Its programs and employment are open to all, regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, military status, or any other basis protected by law.

Our Sponsors