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). The application period for the 2026 Training Class has ended. If you are interested in applying for the 2027 class, you may send an email to getmoreriverineinfo@riverinemn.org, and we will keep it and send you a reminder before the next application period in September, 2026.
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 within their communities.
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.
