We invite you to join the 2026 Roanoke Valley Master Naturalist Basic Training Class. An application link will be available on this page starting October 15, 2025.
We welcome you to explore this website and visit our booth at Go Fest in Roanoke, Virginia on October 17-19 to learn more about our activities as Master Naturalists and how we contribute to the community.
Overview of the Basic Training Course
The basic training course provides foundational knowledge and skills necessary for service as a Virginia Master Naturalist volunteer. The curriculum encompasses a broad array of topics in the natural sciences. Upon completion, volunteers may serve in one or more of the following areas: citizen science, stewardship, education and outreach, and chapter administration. To become a Certified Virginia Master Naturalist, applicants must enroll in and finish a 40+ hour basic training course, perform 40 hours of volunteer service, and complete 8 hours of continuing education.
Course subjects include Virginia Biogeography, Mammalogy, Entomology (Insects), Herpetology (amphibians – frogs, toads, snakes, etc.), Ecology, Native Plants, Invasives, and Plant Botany.
Classes are scheduled from February through May on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Meetings take place at Unity of Roanoke, 3300 Green Ridge Drive, Roanoke; sessions may shift to Zoom in cases of inclement weather. Four or five Saturday morning field trips are incorporated into the program.
It is strongly recommended that participants maintain an email address and internet access, as communications and volunteer hour reporting are conducted electronically. The program primarily serves adults aged 18 and older; youth ages 14–17 may participate if accompanied by a responsible adult who is also enrolled.
The course fee is $100, covering basic training and materials.
An application link will be available on this page on October 15, 2025, to register for the 2026 Basic Training Class. The deadline for applying is December 1st or when the available seats are filled.
For questions regarding the training, information about the scholarship program, or to request contact from our team, please email rvmasternaturalists@gmail.com.
We hope you decide to join us for the 2026 class of Roanoke Valley Master Naturalists.
Individuals with disabilities requesting accommodation for the application process should contact Chapter Advisor Lindsay Caplan at 804-356-7450 (TDD: 1-800-828-1120) prior to the application deadline.