The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. The Peninsula Chapter, which serves Newport News, Hampton, Poquoson and the lower half of York County, was one of four new chapters formed last year under the direction of the program's statewide committees. The presence of this program on the Peninsula will provide a new corps of volunteers for the agencies and organizations that manage our local natural resources and provide a valuable educational resource to the community.

In order to become a certified Virginia Master Naturalist, volunteers are required to attend a basic training class (a minimum of 40 hours of classroom and field instruction), advanced training (a minimum of 8 hours annually) and provide at least 40 hours of approved volunteer service to the community per year. Information on the next basic training class will be posted as soon as it is available.

The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is sponsored by five state agencies:

• Virginia Cooperative Extension
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Virginia Department of Forestry
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries
• Virginia Museum of Natural History

The Hampton Office of the Virginia Cooperative Extension has agreed to sponsor the Peninsula Chapter. The chapter's local partners include:

• Virginia Living Museum
• Newport News Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
• Hampton Clean City Commission
• Sandy Bottom Nature Park

For more information on the Peninsula Chapter, or to inquire about applying to participate in the program, call Megan Ketchum at 757-727-1401 or e-mail Carl Shirley at vmnpeninsula@gmail.com.

Virginia Master Naturalist and Virginia Cooperative Extension programs and employment are open to all, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Virginia State University, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. Mark A. McCann, Director, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg: Alma C. Hobbs, Administrator, 1890 Extension Program, Virginia State, Petersburg. If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Megan Ketchum at the Hampton Cooperative Extension Office, 757-727-1401 or *TDD 1-800-828-1120, Monday through Friday during the business hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to discuss accommodations 5 days prior to the event.

Website and content Copyright © 2008, 2009 Virginia Master Naturalist – Peninsula Chapter