Joe Manchin III, Governor

Frank Jezioro, Director

News Release : August 29, 2006

Hoy Murphy, Public Information Officer (304) 558-3381 hoymurphy@wvdnr.gov

Contact: Kim McHenry , (304) 558-2003 ext. 363 parks@westvirginia.com

Kanawha Valley Master Naturalists Chapter to Meet on September 7

Cross Lanes, W.Va.— Interested in nature? Want to learn about and share your appreciation of West Virginia ’s natural wonders with others? The West Virginia Master Naturalist Program may be for you! The Kanawha Valley Master Naturalists chapter has scheduled an organizational meeting at 6:30 p.m. on September 7 at the Cross Lanes United Methodist Church, located at 5302 Frontier Drive.  

“This meeting is for anyone who is interested in being a student in the next round of classes for the Master Naturalist Program, which begins in September or early October,” says Kim McHenry, coordinator for the Kanawha Valley Master Naturalists chapter. “The meeting gives those interested in the program a chance to fill out forms, get enrolled in the program, ask questions, receive more detailed information about how the program works and decide on the scheduling of classes.”

A fee of $45 covers the cost of the program for the year. Individuals taking 64 hours of training and providing 30 hours of volunteer work can become a certified master naturalist.

The Master Naturalist Program is a cooperative project of the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, WVU Extension Service, Canaan Valley Institute, and Davis and Elkins College. Those interested in the natural world, want to contribute to the scientific knowledge needed to conserve our natural resources or share what they know about nature are encouraged to attend the public meeting and participate in the program.

For more information about the program or about the public meeting, please call (304) 558-2003 ext. 363.

**DNR**