Historic Southside Master Naturalist Launching First Class

The new Historic Southside Master Naturalist chapter is now accepting applications for its first basic training course, which will begin in August 2011.

The Historic Southside chapter plans to be active in Surry, Isle of Wight, Sussex, and Southampton counties, and the city of Franklin. This area, south of the James River, is full of public lands, including a state forest, a state park, a state wildlife management area, a National Wildlife Refuge, and more. There's also a nearby 4-H center. This chapter has already laid the foundation for some great local service projects, including a trail building project at the Isle of Wight county courthouse and a native plant demonstration garden in Smithfield.

Their first training course will include presenters from DCR, DOF, VCE, and DGIF, as well as The Nature Conservancy and other organizations. They have an amazing line-up of field trips, including a visit to the Great Dismal Swamp, a boat-based tour of the Blackwater River, and a visit to the Big Woods State Forest. I'll be teaching the first class, but I wish I could attend the whole course!

Visit www.vmnhistoricsouthside.org for more information and an application. Submitted applications must be postmarked no later than June 29. This chapter has been more than a year in the making, so we expect that there will be lots of demand for this first class!

Congratulations to the whole Historic Southside chapter coordinating committee for working so hard to get to this milestone!