As a chapter of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program, the Arlington Regional Master Naturalists (ARMN) provides the training and volunteer opportunities for the citizens of Arlington, and other Northern Virginia jurisdictions, to become Master Naturalists. ARMN is an all volunteer-organization with chapter members serving as officers and administering the program at the local level. The mission of the Arlington Regional Chapter is to train and certify a corps of volunteers to provide education, research, citizen science, outreach, and stewardship of Virginia’s natural resources and public lands. The Virginia Master Naturalist program is jointly sponsored by five state agencies: Virginia Cooperative Extension, Depatment of Game and Inland Fisheries, Department of Forestry, Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
The process for becoming a certified Virginia Master Naturalist typically takes 6 to 12 months. One starts by applying and completing a basic training course offered by a local chapter of the program. An additional 8 hours of advanced training are also required. An important part of the certification process is the required 40 hours of volunteer service per year.
Note: The Arlington Regional chapter accepts volunteers from any jurisdiction, even those with their own chapters, however eligible volunteer work must be completed within Virginia.
The Spring 2010 basic training course runs from March 2 through June 15, 2010. The application deadline was January 22, 2010. The class is now full and there currently is a wait list. The next class will likely be scheduled for the fall of 2010. Details about course dates and application deadlines will be posted to this site when available.. Click here for additional information about the spring training class.
