The Potomac Valley Master Naturalist Program kicked off its ninth year of instruction the weekend of March 20-21 with a full weekend of classes at Cacapon State Park outside Berkeley Springs.

Established in 2007, the Program is sponsored by the Potomac Valley Audubon Society and is a chapter of the State of West Virginia Master Naturalist Program.

It offers weekend classes monthly at various locations in West Virginia’s Eastern Panhandle from March through October.

Enrollment is limited to about 20 persons each year, and those who wish to participate must apply before the end of January.

The Master Naturalist program is patterned after the long-established Master Gardener program.

It trains individuals in the fundamentals of natural history and nature interpretation as a way of promoting responsible stewardship of natural resources.

Graduates of the program become part of a corps of highly qualified volunteers who assist government agencies, schools, and non-government organizations with research, outdoor recreation development, and environmental education and protection.

To remain certified they must take 8 hours of training and participate in 16 hours of volunteer activity annually.

More information is available on the Potomac Valley Audubon web page at www.potomacaudubon.org.