Appalachian Headwaters is the sponsor of the Greenbrier River chapter of the WV Master Naturalist Program. New members are welcomed anytime – and no prior experience with WV ecology is necessary.
The Master Naturalist program is a fun and engaging way to learn WV ecology from a range of experts in their fields, and a community of other naturalists – and then give back to our amazing state through volunteer opportunities. There are 16 CORE classes – such as Birds, Amphibians and Geology of West Virginia – and a variety of Elective classes you can choose from to achieve certification.
From the state program website:
The mission of the West Virginia Master Naturalist Program is to train interested people in the fundamentals of natural history, nature interpretation and teaching, and to instill in them an appreciation of the importance of responsible environmental stewardship. The program will also provide a corps of highly qualified volunteers to assist government agencies, schools, and non-government organizations with research, outdoor recreation development, and environmental education and protection.
Our classes are posted on our Facebook page, and on our Events page. To get updates on these classes and other opportunities towards certification, contact Kevin at kjohnson@appheadwaters.org to be added to the email list.
No problem! You are welcome to take classes at other WV chapters. We will also repeat classes when we are able, but typically not more than once per year.
The program is self-paced. We recommend members take all classes within two years.
Master Naturalists must be a minimum of 16 years old. Younger participants are welcome at our classes, however, when accompanied by an adult.
It’s a one-time $60 fee to join. Each member receives a copy of the WV Master Naturalist Manual, a comprehensive guide to the natural history and wildlife of WV written by the WV Department of Natural Resources. Fees are used to pay for manuals, program materials and speaker costs.
There is a simple application form here. You can also sign up in person at any Headwaters-hosted Master Naturalist class.
