2026 Course Schedule
The Shenandoah Chapter is running a Virginia Master Naturalists' Basic Training Class from March 14 to May 20, 2026. This class is now full for 2026. Most of the classes will be held at Blandy Experimental Farm and State Arboretum of Virginia.
The Virginia Master Naturalists Program is intended to prepare you to become a volunteer as a certified Virginia Master Naturalist. The basic training course covers the background knowledge and skills that every naturalist should have. This includes a wide range of topics relating to the natural sciences: birds, botany, climate, ecology, geology, insects, mammals, weather, and more.
Who is it for? Adults or high school students 14 years or older, accompanied by an adult who must also become a member. Participants need not have previous experience in the natural sciences.
Once you enroll in the class, you become a part of the Shenandoah Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalists. The chapter is composed of individuals who share a love of nature and a desire to help study, educate others about it, to protect and preserve it. The chapter hosts events where you will meet our members, attend informative presentations, and participate in volunteer activities.
Within a year following completion of your basic training course, you must complete 40 hours of volunteer service and eight hours of advanced training (Continuing Education) to become a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist. You can complete your volunteer service in any of four key areas: citizen science, stewardship, environmental education, and chapter administration. Following your initial certification, you can become re-certified every year by completing 40 additional hours of service and participating in 8 hours of continuing education.
If you are interested in attending the Spring 2027 training class, please contact us at [email protected]. You will receive an application for the class, when it is available, along with instructions on how to apply. Typically, applications are accepted from October 2026 and will end with the first 30 applications, or December 1, 2026, whichever comes first. The tuition fee, including all classroom books, supplies, and materials, is $200.
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