Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists

Excited and curious about the natural world? Enjoy being outside? Want to play an ACTIVE role in the management and conservation of Virginia’s natural resources? If so…the Virginia Master Naturalist program is for you!

As members of a community-based natural resources program, Virginia Master Naturalists are volunteer educators, citizen scientists, and stewards helping Virginians conserve and manage natural resources and public lands.

Ways you can help:

Education – Teach adults and youth about nature!
Citizen Science – Collect data on wildlife and plant populations, water quality, and more!
Stewardship – Restore wildlife habitat, clean up a local stream, or build a trail!

Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. Click here to learn more.

For more information and to be added to the mailing list for the next available class, email Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists on our Contact page.

Master Naturalists in Action:

Meet our 2023 Officers

Members of the Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists Chapter met recently at Virginia Institute of Marine Science at Gloucester Point to celebrate the success of their many environmental activities that had taken place in the five Middle Peninsula counties throughout the year. This was a holiday happening, a monthly meeting, and the installation of the new officers for 2023. This young chapter is active and growing in membership each year.

MPMN officers 2023 — The new officers, pictured from left, are President – Luann Johnson, Secretary – Tara Hart, Treasurer – C.J. Sweet, and Vice-President – Hurricane Thompson. Photo by Susan Walton.

December 27, 2022 – Middle Peninsula Audubon Christmas Bird Count

Total Birds: 10,719

Total species identified: 87

Most numerous species: Red-Winged Blackbirds (3,046), Ruddy Ducks (1,122) and Ring-Billed Gulls (959)

Participants: 53; 30 were Virginia Master Naturalists from four local chapters.

Volunteers were in the field counting birds for 10 hours traveling in cars and walking on foot to find the birds in three counties – parts of Gloucester, Middlesex, and King and Queen counties. Public parks were visited and many, many private property owners allowed us access to count the birds. We are very appreciative of their support for this important citizen science event. The Christmas Bird Count has been organized and sponsored by the National Audubon Society for 123 years!

Red-Tailed Hawk by Mark Sopko — Red-tailed Hawk at the Glenns campus of Rappahannock Community College. Photo by Mark Sopko.

2o22 Gloucester Holiday Parade

The Bee City USA – Gloucester County Committee, which includes members of Gloucester Extension Master Gardeners and Middle Peninsula Master Naturalists, participated in the Gloucester Holiday Parade on Saturday, December 3.

2022 gloucester holiday parade — Pictured from left: Ginny Miller, Chris Conley, Alexis Powell, Sherry Kosakowski – County Liaison, Rose Sullivan, LeeAnn Rigau

2022 gloucester holiday parade by susan ammons tourism coordinator — Photo by Susan Ammons

Adopt-A-Spot

Middle Peninsula Master Naturalist volunteers Pat Anderson, Luann Johnson and Mike Grose recently worked on a new activity: Adopt-A-Spot at the Deltaville Maritime Museum & Holly Point Nature Park. They plan to maintain and beautify their adopted location by using native plants to help preserve habitat for indigenous flora and fauna.

Pictured from left, Pat Anderson and Luann Johnson planting an American Beautyberry shrub (Callicarpa americana) along a tree line at the nature park.

Mike Grose

May 14, 2022 – Basic Training Course 3 Field Day

Cold, rainy weather could not dampen the spirits of the members of Cohort 3 as they joined their instructors for a hands-on lesson in Forest Ecology, Dendrology, and Plant Ecology at Hickory Hollow Natural Area Preserve in Lancaster County.

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The program is open to all adults regardless of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. An equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.