Master naturalists contribute time in different ways, including education and outreach, science activities (such as data collection or monitoring), stewardship (such as invasive plant removal and habitat restoration), and chapter leadership.

Some of our current projects include:

• James Madison University Campus Tree Data and Inventory
• Invasive plant removal and native habitat restoration at Natural Chimneys Park
• Tracking the migration of Northern Saw-Whet owls
• Monitoring local stream health through benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring
• Annual Christmas and Great Backyard Bird Counts
• Living With Black Bears in Virginia outreach with the Department of Wildlife Resources
• Native nut collection for injured wildlife and for Augusta Forestry Center, the Virginia Department of Forestry nursery in Crimora
• Staffing community compost drop-offs in Harrisonburg and Staunton
• Assisting with trail maintenance and habitat restoration at Lake Shenandoah, Bessie Weller Elementary School, and more
• Educational outreach at community events and assisting with school programming
• Bumble Bee Watch
• Tree and shrub planting to create riparian buffers
• Removal of litter from streams and public lands
• Assisting in chapter development through activity on the board and various committees

A few past projects include:

• Adoption of a Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail loop site and seasonally monitoring it
• Assisting in our annual spring Shenandoah Mountain Wildflower Walks for the public
• eMammal Camera Trapping project with the Smithsonian Institution
• Creating and installing Pollinator Waystations in the valley

Some past continuing education opportunities include:

• Grand Caverns tours
• Mushroom walks at the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum at JMU and the George Washington National Forest
• Lesesne State Forest Tour about Saving the American Chestnut
• Quarry Gardens tour
• presentation about Wildlife Corridors in Virginia
• Peregrine Falcon population restoration program at Shenandoah National Park
• forest management at the McCormick Farm
• evening herp “hunting” at Hone Quarry
• tours of the Black Bear Composting facility in Crimora
• night sky observations
• Science Talks at Wayne Theatre and other local venues

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