Basic Training

The Basic Training Course offers fun and interactive instruction about our local environment taught by recognized experts, most of whom have extensive post-graduate training in their fields.

Instructor and trainees examining insect

Training session at Huntley Meadows

Basic Training covers basic background knowledge and skills:

  • What a naturalist is and does
  • Significance of naturalists and natural history
  • Biogeography of Virginia, including the physiographic regions and their geological and ecological distinctions
  • Ecological concepts, including forest ecology, aquatic ecology, and urban ecology
  • Basic concepts of geology and soils
  • Fundamental principles of weather and climate
  • Basic resource management principles
  • Native flora and fauna, including botany, dendrology, mammalogy, herpetology, ornithology, entomology, and icthyology
  • Citizen science and research skills
  • Basic education and interpretation skills

And includes:

  • Both field and classroom experiences, with a minimum of 25% of the course time spent in the field
  • Information from unbiased, research-based sources

A Virginia Master Naturalist will be able to:

Adults, standing in marsh, looking through binoculars at something

Something interesting is out there!

  • Use a key to identify organisms
  • Use a field guide
  • Share knowledge with others (verbally and/or in writing)
  • Make and record observations in nature
  • Recognize when he or she does not know the answer to a question, and be able to seek out answers from people, books, or other reliable resources

The Basic Training Course typically last fourteen weeks.  In the past, ARMN has offered both daytime and evening classes, in order to accommodate a wide variety of participants and schedules:
In the Fall – Both Classroom Instruction (morning) and Field Work (afternoon) is completed during the day on a weekday
In the Spring – Classroom Instruction is completed during a weekday evening and Field Work on a weekend day

Attendance at classes and field trips is mandatory for certification.  Trainees should not miss more than two classes, and any classes or field trips missed must be made-up.  Make-up opportunities may be available during the next training cycle, by special arrangements with neighboring chapters, or, for certain cases, by viewing videotaped class.

Evaluation  Trainees will be evaluated with take-home mid-term and final exams and will be required to do a short presentation on a natural resource topic at the end of the training course.

Note:  Field Trips involve walking on woodland trails, which may include some hills and rock-scrambling.  Alternate field training can be arranged to accommodate disabilities.

Sample Spring Syllabus:

Class                        Topic
1                                Intro/American Naturalists/Risk Management
2                                Ecology
3                                Dendrology/Invasives
9am-3pm                  FIELD TRIP:  Barcroft Park
“                                 Forest Ecology/Natural History/Invasive Plants & Pull
4                                Taxonomy/Botany
5                                Geology/Soils
6                                Hands on Experience/NRMP
9am-3:30pm             FIELD TRIP:  Riverbend Park
“                                 Botany/Dendrology/Geology/Soils
7                                Forest Ecology & Management (mid-term available)
8                                Aquatic Ecology (mid-term due)
9                                Ornithology/Citizen Science
9am-3 pm                 FIELD TRIP:  Potomac Overlook/Donaldson Run
“                                Ornithology/Citizen Science
10                              Entomology
11                              Herpetology
7:30am-2pm             FIELD TRIP:  Huntley Meadows
“                                 Wetlands Ecology/Ornithology/Entomology/Herpetology
12                              Interpretation/Weather & Climate
13                              Mammalogy (final available)
8am-12pm                OPTIONAL FIELD TRIP:  Pohick Bay Canoe Trip
“                                Fee $20/person
14                              Class Presentations (final due)
“                                 Graduation Party