ELKINS – The Tygart Valley Master Naturalist is sponsoring a program and informational meeting beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 30 at the DNR Elkins Operation Center on Ward Road in Elkins. The program is free and open to the public.
A presentation of the West Virginia elk reintroduction will kick-off the evening events at 7 p.m. and the guest speaker is West Virginia DNR Biologist Keith Krantz. The elk reintroduction project leader is Randy Kelly.
Following the elk program, information will be available for nature enthusiasts and those who want to learn more about the natural world through the Tygart Valley Master Naturalists. Tommy Zeitz, local master naturalist and coordinator of the group will provide information about the Master Naturalist Program, answer questions and obtain applications for the upcoming season’s classes.
Master Naturalist training is offered in a range of specialties in natural history and environmental education. Class topics include mushrooms, wildflowers, insects, snakes, birds, mammals, weather, geology and fossils, all from a West Virginia perspective.
Certification as a Master Naturalist requires 64 hours of classroom and field training and 30 hours of volunteer work. Each year, Master Naturalists must complete eight hours of continuing education and 16 hours of volunteer time to maintain their certification. Certification usually requires about two years to complete and most classes are offered locally.
Additional information about the Master Naturalist program and upcoming questions is available by contacting Zeitz at 304-866-7418.
