Who We Are
Mission The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. For more information on the Virginia program, visit the VMN website. Some key aspects of our mission include: • A focus on natural resources: This focus distinguishes our program from some other programs, such as Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, which is focused on home horticulture. • A focus on volunteerism: The primary purpose of the VMN program is not to provide adult education through the Basic Training course, but rather to train, develop, and support volunteers who will participate in natural resource conservation. • A focus on local communities: Although the program is statewide, it is a chapter-based program that encourages volunteers to focus their learning and service in their own community. Some key aspects of our mission include: • A focus on natural resources: This focus distinguishes our program from some other programs, such as Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, which is focused on home horticulture. • A focus on volunteerism: The primary purpose of the VMN program is not to provide adult education through the Basic Training course, but rather to train, develop, and support volunteers who will participate in natural resource conservation. • A focus on local communities: Although the program is statewide, it is a chapter-based program that encourages volunteers to focus their learning and service in their own community. Chapter History The Old Rag Master Naturalists chapter serves the Rapidan–Upper Rappahannock Watershed. The service area includes the counties of Culpeper, Rappahannock, Madison, Greene, Orange, and Fauquier. The large geographic area of these counties, rural in nature, includes major natural resources rich in biodiversity. Among these are the headwaters and tributaries of the Rapidan and Rappahannock rivers, Shenandoah National Park, and two Virginia Wildlife Management Areas. The Old Rag Chapter was formed in 2007. As of June 2018, nine classes have completed basic training. The first class celebrated graduation on December 3, 2007, with 25 graduates. Class members go on to participate in or start service projects and attend advanced training. Individuals become certified Virginia Master Naturalists when all their requirements for certification are met. On December 3, 2007, the graduates and other members of the Chapter elected the Old Rag Master Naturalists Chapter’s first Board of Directors; and on January 7, 2008, the first chapter officers were selected.
What We Do
We at the Old Rag Chapter value the role and the beauty of nature and wish to play a part in the stewardship of our natural resources. State employees can only do so much in support of our wildlife, our forests, our flowers, our water, our soil, and air. As a knowledgeable group of volunteer stewards, educators, and citizen scientists, we can add depth and breadth to the conservation and management of Virginia’s natural environments. What we learn through our training, we give back through volunteer service to Virginia and our local communities. ORMN members are required to perform a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service in citizen science, stewardship and/or education. We identify projects in these areas from which members can choose to participate. We also require that each volunteer receive a minimum of 8 hours of continuing education so they are current on the needs of the environment, research and strategies that are effective in supporting nature.
