WELCOME

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

Members of the Northern Neck Chapter serve the counties of Lancaster, Northumberland, Westmoreland, Richmond, King George and parts of Essex.

Virginia Master Naturalist
Statewide Conference and
Volunteer Training 2024

Connections:
Humans, Nature, and their Mutual Impacts

The Virginia Master Naturalist 2024 Statewide Conference and Volunteer Training will be virtual! The event will be held September 27-29, 2024. As with our in-person conferences, this event aims to provide high-quality continuing education for VMN volunteers and to promote networking amongst volunteers and program partners.

Our 2024 Virginia Master Naturalist conference theme focuses on the role that VMN volunteers can play in building positive connections between people and the rest of the natural world in which we exist. Research shows that time spent in nature has positive benefits for human physical, mental, and social well-being. Unfortunately, individuals often face barriers to spending more time in nature or do not have correct information about natural resources. And, humans’ impacts on species, ecosystems, and natural resources can be positive or negative, depending on our actions.
 
Virginia Master Naturalist volunteers are well-positioned to help people build more positive connections to nature. They can provide safe and enjoyable experiences in nature along with research-based information through their educational programs. They can also steward publicly accessible natural areas so that they are better spaces for both humans and native flora and fauna. In addition, VMNs can help increase our understanding of natural resources through science.

Sessions in this conference may be focused on a particular species or ecological system, a natural resource issue or management strategy, a volunteer project, or a skill, but all of them will relate in some way to connections between humans and the natural world.

Mark your calendar: NNMN “Day of Service”

Wilderness Inquiry and Blue Star Families Outdoor Community Event
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2024, Westmoreland State Park