Nancy Norton with Bluebird Boxes
Download the 2025 Nature Camp Scholarship
Note Deadline: October 31, 2024
Nancy Norton was a Virginia Master Naturalist with the Historic Rivers Chapter. She was active in so many aspects of VMN. From culling invasive species Jamestown Island to building prothonatory bird houses, she loved nature. Always ebullient and joyful when she was out in the field, she was also a pleasure to work with on committees and at board meetings. And, of course, she was lost to us too soon due to cancer. Her love of nature and her dynamic involvement in so many aspects of the Historic Rivers Chapter made her a well-loved member of our group. Upon her death in November of 2012, the leadership of HRC decided that they would gather the money to award a scholarship to Nature Camp, a private, non-profit, residential, co-ed summer camp specializing in natural history and environmental science education in Vesuvius, Virginia, in Nancy’s name.
Hoping for enough money for one, they began to ask for donations. An amazing $3000 poured in, allowing the chapter to grant 2 full scholarships and 2 half scholarships to four amazing young women in February of 2013. It seemed fitting that these four, one elementary, two middle, and one a high school student, were all female and seemed to match Nancy’s love of nature and involvement in projects to protect the environment. The four came to meet our chapter and then, after their summer experience, came back and reported to us through power points, posters, and a photo display, of their activities and what they had learned. It was truly a healing moment for many of us as we saw that Nancy’s love of nature is a legacy that can be passed on to a new generation of nature lovers. We are proud of our scholarship program for the difference it makes in our community and in the lives of its members, just as Nancy made a difference in our community and in our lives.
Nancy Norton at the Christmas Bird Count 2010
As of 2017, 13 students, ranging in age from 12 to 18, have attended Nature Camp, thanks to the generous contributions from Historic Rivers Chapter Master Naturalists. The deadline for applications for the 2025 Nancy Norton scholarships is October 31, 2024, and a committee will go through the applications to choose three young men and women in our community who exemplify the ideals of both Virginia Master Naturalists and our own Nancy Norton.
Our goal is to provide 3-4 scholarships each year.
Nancy Norton Nature Camp Scholarship recipients, May 2016.