NNMN - Continuing Education (CE) Guidelines
The CE committee offers this newly revised application form for Continuing Ed credits that we hope is easier, clearer, and can be filled out online.
All program requests for Continuing Education (CE) Credit must be completed on the Application for Northern Neck Master Naturalist Continuing Education (CE) form.
Self-Approval:
Many programs by our Sponsoring agencies and Partner organizations are appropriate for Continuing Ed credit but they must apply to our mission as Virginia Master Naturalists and/or build on topics covered in the Basic Training Classes.
Sponsor Agencies: Most programs by our Sponsor Agencies will, by nature of their sponsorship, count toward Continuing Education Credits provided they apply directly to our mission as Virginia Master Naturalists and/or build on topics covered in the Basic Training Classes. Our Sponsors include:
Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR)
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR)
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
Virginia Department of Forestry (DOF)
USDA Cooperative Extension Service (VCE)
Virginia Museum of Natural History (VMNH)
Virginia Institute for Marine Science’s Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM)
Partner Organizations: Similarly, most programs provided by our Partner organizations will also qualify for CE credit if they apply to our mission and build on the BTC curriculum:
Northern Neck Audubon Chapter
Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society
Northern Neck Master Gardeners
Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Belle Isle State Park
Westmoreland State Park
Friends of Dragon Run
Blue Ridge Prism and others
If you have questions, please contact the Chair, or submit an application.
All Other Programs:
For CE credit approval of programs from organizations outside of Virginia or that are not from our Sponsor or Partner organizations, you will need to fill out the Application form and attach any relevant information or descriptions of the program for evaluation by the Continuing Education Committee. A link to the program description is particularly helpful in gaining approval.
Again, we will consider whether the CE opportunity meets the two stated criteria: apply directly to our mission as Virginia Master Naturalists and/or build on topics covered in the Basic Training Classes.
Review time: To provide review time, please submit the application at least two weeks before the event. We understand that this is not always possible (especially with last-minute, pop-up zoom webinars) and will do our best to evaluate all submissions in a timely manner.
Direct Questions or completed request to Leslie Fellows, NNMN Continuing Education Chair, Leslie@Bealenet.com
05/2024
VMN Mission Statement:
The Virginia Master Naturalist program is a corps of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Examples to help determine eligibility of programs:
Knowledge or experience that would directly enhance the NNMN core curriculum would be eligible. (i.e., Fishes of North America would be eligible, Fishes of the Great Lakes would not.)
Going on a bird walk (or other nature walk) with a knowledgeable leader representing an organization with particular expertise in that area would be approved (i.e., Audubon, NNMN, Ornithologist professor, sponsor agencies.); going with your neighbor would not.
A Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources,(DWR) program on Wildlife Management or Camera Trapping would be approved; a DWR program on Field Dressing a Deer would not.
A Master Gardener program on Sustainable Pest Management or Creating Wildlife Habitat in Your Garden would be approved; How to Grow Giant Tomatoes would not.
