The Alleghany Highlands Chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist, which includes Alleghany, Bath, Highland, and Rockbridge counties, will be offering a 12-week basic training course beginning in February 2026 in Lexington.
The Virginia Master Naturalist program is a corps of well-trained volunteers providing education and outreach, citizen science, and stewardship to benefit natural resources and natural areas across Virginia.
The basic training course is the entryway into the program for everyone, regardless of their background in natural resources or prior experience. The course covers a broad range of topics including ecology, botany, dendrology, ornithology, geology, and more, all specifically related to the Valley and Ridge portion of the Virginia.
Classes are taught by professionals from various state organizations, as well as experts from local colleges and universities. In addition to the weekly class meetings, participants will also engage in several field trips and four hours of volunteer service work.
An information session is scheduled for today, Wednesday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. in Room 2010 of Wilson Hall on the Washington and Lee University campus.
For further information, send an email to alleghany. [email protected] or visit https://bttr.im/mvrf8 to apply.
Applications will be accepted Oct. 15 through Nov. 15 and reviewed on a firstcome, first-serve basis. Space is limited.
