Chapter Social Event - November 15, 2009

Join your fellow Master Naturalists for a relaxing hike in the woods of Fredericksburg. We'll meet at 9 am where the gravel canal path and Fall Hill Avenue meet - just behind the Friends of the Rappahannock headquarters on Fall Hill Avenue. The group will decide whether to hike the riverside trail, the ridge trail, or make a loop. A map of the area we will hike is available at http://www.gpstrailsource.com/Maps.aspx?MapID=62

Following the hike, at lunch time, we'll have a potluck lunch at the Friends of the Rappahannock's riverside pavilion. Bring a dish to share and whatever you'll be drinking (no alcoholic beverages please). The chapter will provide plates, cutlery, and ice - but feel free to bring your own reusable dishes to cut down on waste!

We hope to see you there! Remember - you're welcome just to come for lunch if you aren't interested in the hike.

Chapter Social Event - November 15, 2009

Join your fellow Master Naturalists for a relaxing hike in the woods of Fredericksburg. We'll meet at 9 am where the gravel canal path and Fall Hill Avenue meet - just behind the Friends of the Rappahannock headquarters on Fall Hill Avenue. The group will decide whether to hike the riverside trail, the ridge trail, or make a loop. A map of the area we will hike is available at http://www.gpstrailsource.com/Maps.aspx?MapID=62

Following the hike, at lunch time, we'll have a potluck lunch at the Friends of the Rappahannock's riverside pavilion. Bring a dish to share and whatever you'll be drinking (no alcoholic beverages please). The chapter will provide plates, cutlery, and ice - but feel free to bring your own reusable dishes to cut down on waste!

We hope to see you there! Remember - you're welcome just to come for lunch if you aren't interested in the hike.

Approved Projects for Volunteer Service Hours

The purpose of the training is to prepare participants for volunteering as Master Naturalists in our community. Though it is an excellent training opportunity, our purpose is for establishing a base of natural resource volunteers.

A list of pre-approved projects is available at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/centralrappahannock.html

We welcome and encourage members to create new projects and seek chapter approval before beginning any work. To get your proposed project approved, fill out the “Project Approval” form.
Submit the form to Brooke Melville at: masternaturalistcrc@gmail.com
Project requests will be reviewed and approved by the Chapter board and officers.

Approved Projects for Volunteer Service Hours

The purpose of the training is to prepare participants for volunteering as Master Naturalists in our community. Though it is an excellent training opportunity, our purpose is for establishing a base of natural resource volunteers.

A list of pre-approved projects is available at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org/centralrappahannock.html

We welcome and encourage members to create new projects and seek chapter approval before beginning any work. To get your proposed project approved, fill out the “Project Approval” form.
Submit the form to Brooke Melville at: masternaturalistcrc@gmail.com
Project requests will be reviewed and approved by the Chapter board and officers.

Certification Requirements

Master Naturalist training takes approximately 1 year to complete and requires the participant to complete a volunteer and educational commitment.

To become a Certified Master Naturalist, a trainee must:
- complete the 40 hours basic training course with a minimum of 25% time in the field,
- pass the post-training assessment with a score of 70% or higher,
- complete a minimum of 8 hours of advanced training, approved by the Central Rappahannock Chapter, and
-complete a minimum of 40 hours of service, approved by the Central Rappahannock Chapter.

Each volunteer has a maximum of 12 months from the last day of basic training to complete the remaining requirements for certification. Certification is valid through the calendar year following the year in which the requirements were completed. To maintain certification, volunteers complete an additional 8 hours of advanced training and 40 hours of service annually.

Due to statewide regulations, applicants must be 18 years old by the start of the training session (August 24, 2009) in order to be considered. However, youth aged 14-17 are welcome to participate along with an adult who is responsible for them, as long as they are both registered participants in the class.

Certification Requirements

Master Naturalist training takes approximately 1 year to complete and requires the participant to complete a volunteer and educational commitment.

To become a Certified Master Naturalist, a trainee must:
- complete the 40 hours basic training course with a minimum of 25% time in the field,
- pass the post-training assessment with a score of 70% or higher,
- complete a minimum of 8 hours of advanced training, approved by the Central Rappahannock Chapter, and
-complete a minimum of 40 hours of service, approved by the Central Rappahannock Chapter.

Each volunteer has a maximum of 12 months from the last day of basic training to complete the remaining requirements for certification. Certification is valid through the calendar year following the year in which the requirements were completed. To maintain certification, volunteers complete an additional 8 hours of advanced training and 40 hours of service annually.

Due to statewide regulations, applicants must be 18 years old by the start of the training session (August 24, 2009) in order to be considered. However, youth aged 14-17 are welcome to participate along with an adult who is responsible for them, as long as they are both registered participants in the class.

Advanced Training

The following are on-going and pre-approved opportunities for advanced training hours.

Virginia Master Naturalist-Central Rappahannock Chapter Meetings
Most 3rd Tuesdays of each month
Contact: masternaturalistcrc@gmail.com

Virginia Native Plant Society Meetings
4th Tuesday of each month
Snow Library, Spotsylvania, VA
Contact: Linda Chaney lbc289@aol.com

If you would like to propose any other workshop or educational opportunity to be considered for advanced training credit, submit the following information to the Chapter for approval:
List Seminar/workshop Title, date, place, subject(s), speaker(s) and contact person.
Attach seminar/workshop brochure, flyer or link to Web site, if possible.
Submit requests for approval for advanced training seminars or workshops to:
masternaturalistcrc@gmail.com Or mail to:Master Naturalist ProgramVirginia Department of Forestry11617 Caledon RoadKing George, Virginia 22485

Please submit request as soon as possible so we have time to pass along the information on to other Master Naturalists.

Advanced Training

The following are on-going and pre-approved opportunities for advanced training hours.

Virginia Master Naturalist-Central Rappahannock Chapter Meetings
Most 3rd Tuesdays of each month
Contact: masternaturalistcrc@gmail.com

Virginia Native Plant Society Meetings
4th Tuesday of each month
Snow Library, Spotsylvania, VA
Contact: Linda Chaney lbc289@aol.com

If you would like to propose any other workshop or educational opportunity to be considered for advanced training credit, submit the following information to the Chapter for approval:
List Seminar/workshop Title, date, place, subject(s), speaker(s) and contact person.
Attach seminar/workshop brochure, flyer or link to Web site, if possible.
Submit requests for approval for advanced training seminars or workshops to:
masternaturalistcrc@gmail.com Or mail to:Master Naturalist ProgramVirginia Department of Forestry11617 Caledon RoadKing George, Virginia 22485

Please submit request as soon as possible so we have time to pass along the information on to other Master Naturalists.

2009 Basic Training Course

Dowload the 2009 Applicant Letter for the Central Rappahannock Master Naturalist Chapter
The purpose of the training is to prepare participants for volunteering as Master Naturalists in our community. Though it is an excellent training opportunity, our purpose is for establishing a base of natural resource volunteers.

Training Class Schedule and Location:
Classes will be held Monday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. at Motts Run Nature Center in Fredericksburg starting with an Orientation/Information session on August 10. Regular classes will then resume on August 24.

Master Naturalist guidelines require 25% of the training to take place outdoors. Four required Saturday sessions are scheduled. Saturday classes usually last four hours and will be held at Motts Run, the Friends of the Rappahannock facility on Falls Hill Avenue or other location within the CRC chapter’s region. See schedule below.

Trainees may not miss more than 2 classes, and all missed sessions must be made up by attending the appropriate class(es) within 12 months of the completion of the training or other approved make-up activities.

Additional information on the Virginia Master Naturalist Program can be found at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org

Master Naturalist Program
Virginia Department of Forestry
11617 Caledon RoadKing George, Virginia 22485

Master Naturalist Training Schedule - 2009*
Aug. 10 Orientation/Intro to Virginia Master Naturalist Program
Aug. 24 Administrative Info./American Naturalists/Risk Management
Aug. 31 Ecological Concepts
Sept. 14 Botany
Sept. 21 Forest Ecology and Management
Sept. 26 Plant Walks
Sept. 28 Ornithology
Oct. 3 Bird Walk
Oct. 5 Geology/Biogeography
Oct. 12 Weather and Climate/Soil Science
Oct. 19 Interpretation and Teaching Skills
Oct. 24 Wetlands and Coastal Ecology
Oct. 26 Land Use/ Urban systems
Nov. 2 Citizen Science and Presentations
Nov. 7 Biological and Chemical Water Monitoring and Icthyology
Nov. 9 Mammalogy
Nov. 16 Herpetology
Nov. 30 Entomology – Tests Distributed
Dec. 14 TESTS DUE BACK to VCE-King George (Regina’s Office) by 5 PM
Dec. 15 Graduation and Chapter Meeting
*Planned Schedule – Order subject to change pending speaker availability.

2009 Basic Training Course

Dowload the 2009 Applicant Letter for the Central Rappahannock Master Naturalist Chapter
The purpose of the training is to prepare participants for volunteering as Master Naturalists in our community. Though it is an excellent training opportunity, our purpose is for establishing a base of natural resource volunteers.

Training Class Schedule and Location:
Classes will be held Monday evenings from 7 to 9:15 p.m. at Motts Run Nature Center in Fredericksburg starting with an Orientation/Information session on August 10. Regular classes will then resume on August 24.

Master Naturalist guidelines require 25% of the training to take place outdoors. Four required Saturday sessions are scheduled. Saturday classes usually last four hours and will be held at Motts Run, the Friends of the Rappahannock facility on Falls Hill Avenue or other location within the CRC chapter’s region. See schedule below.

Trainees may not miss more than 2 classes, and all missed sessions must be made up by attending the appropriate class(es) within 12 months of the completion of the training or other approved make-up activities.

Additional information on the Virginia Master Naturalist Program can be found at http://www.virginiamasternaturalist.org

Master Naturalist Program
Virginia Department of Forestry
11617 Caledon RoadKing George, Virginia 22485

Master Naturalist Training Schedule - 2009*
Aug. 10 Orientation/Intro to Virginia Master Naturalist Program
Aug. 24 Administrative Info./American Naturalists/Risk Management
Aug. 31 Ecological Concepts
Sept. 14 Botany
Sept. 21 Forest Ecology and Management
Sept. 26 Plant Walks
Sept. 28 Ornithology
Oct. 3 Bird Walk
Oct. 5 Geology/Biogeography
Oct. 12 Weather and Climate/Soil Science
Oct. 19 Interpretation and Teaching Skills
Oct. 24 Wetlands and Coastal Ecology
Oct. 26 Land Use/ Urban systems
Nov. 2 Citizen Science and Presentations
Nov. 7 Biological and Chemical Water Monitoring and Icthyology
Nov. 9 Mammalogy
Nov. 16 Herpetology
Nov. 30 Entomology – Tests Distributed
Dec. 14 TESTS DUE BACK to VCE-King George (Regina’s Office) by 5 PM
Dec. 15 Graduation and Chapter Meeting
*Planned Schedule – Order subject to change pending speaker availability.