Becoming a Riverine Master Naturalist
The Riverine Chapter’s Basic Training Course is conducted annually. Classes are held from January through April (one meeting per week, plus some Saturday field trips). Applications for the 2026 Course will be available on-line beginning September 1, 2025. The application period will run until October 15th, 2025. Training classes will be in-person at Westminster Canterbury Richmond (1600 Westbrook Ave, Richmond, VA 23227), which is near the GRTC Westbrook and Crestwood bus stop. The cost for the class is $150 to cover books, supplies, and speaker gifts. If you are interested in joining us, please check back in September to fill out an application for next year.
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Virginia Master Naturalist (VMN) with the Riverine Chapter. The VMN training class prepares you to become a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer. The VMN Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of public natural resources and natural areas within their communities.
Please note: VMN is a volunteer training and service-based program. If you do not intend to be an active volunteer and help to support our local natural resources through your volunteer service, then this class and organization are not for you. The Riverine Chapter program is not designed to be a professionally accredited training or certification program. It prepares you to serve as a volunteer.
The basic training course covers the background knowledge and skills to prepare you for service as a VMN volunteer. This includes a wide range of topics in many areas relating to the natural sciences. Initial certification, as well as annual recertification, requires 8 hours of approved continuing education and 40 hours of approved volunteer service within a year following completion of your basic training course. You can complete your volunteer service in any of four key areas: citizen science, stewardship, education and outreach, and chapter administration.
