The Eastern Shore Chapter of the Master Naturalists of Virginia is pleased to welcome the new Master Naturalists of the Class of 2021. The Chapter is particularly excited to welcome the first class of new Master Naturalists since the pandemic. Additionally, this is the first Class to have not only a new Chapter Advisor, Shannon Alexander, but also the long-time former Chapter Advisor, Dot Field, who served as an expert lecturer on several occasion during the classes.
The new Master Naturalists have successfully completed 10 weeks of science-based lectures including the geology, ecology, botany and fauna of the Eastern Shore. Each of the new Mater Naturalists has completed a research project and presented the results to the Class.
In addition to the lectures, the new Master Naturalists made a field trip to Wreck Island where they were able to see firsthand the importance of the barrier islands not only for the protection of our shores which are under increased pressures from climate change and sea level rise but also for the migrating and non-migratory nesting birds.
Additional field trips included a trip to Mutton Hunk Natural Area Preserve for hands-on field work and where they learned about the different soils from a USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service soil scientist and to Savage Neck Dunes Natural Area Preserve where they learned about invasive species from the Dept of Conservation and Recreation animal and plant scientists.
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