Attendance

The basic training course covers the background knowledge and skills to prepare you for service as a VMN volunteer. This includes a wide range of topics in many areas relating to the natural sciences. Initial certification, as well as annual recertification, requires 8 hours of approved continuing education and 40 hours of approved volunteer service within a year following completion of the Basic Training Course. You can complete your volunteer service in any of four key areas: citizen science, stewardship, education and outreach, and chapter administration.

Attendance Requirements. Attendance at all of the in-person/zoom classes, self-study classes, and at 3 of 6 field trips, 1 vernal pool field trip, and 1 participatory science field trip is mandatory for graduation and VMN membership. (Certification is described above.) Absences due to extenuating circumstances (up to 2 classes) must be made-up to be eligible to take the final exam. However, the trainee must make up the missed classes and field trips within 12 months of completion of basic training in one of the following ways: take the missing classes during the next training cycle, attend missing classes with another VMN chapter, or by making special arrangements with approval from the Basic Training Committee. Contact BTC Co-chairs with any issues.

Training Materials and Communication. It is necessary that trainees have an email address and an Internet connection, since training materials, program communications, and volunteer hour reporting are done electronically.

Class Size Limit. Class size is limited to 35 trainees.

Social Breaks. To foster more class interactions, snacks and refreshments will be brought by participants for each in-person class (not field trips.) If you would like to help with snacks during our breaks, please feel free to sign up for a few classes! We truly appreciate your willingness to bring snacks to share during our time of fellowship. Please use this sign-up to choose a date and let us know what you would like to bring! 

Allergies: Please make BTC Co-chairs aware if you have food allergies.

Trainees are encouraged to access required readings and review all materials prior to class, using the links from the Schedule or Assignment Menu. Required readings will be posted as soon as they are available. Instructor presentations will be posted immediately after the scheduled class date.

Trainees should use these materials to prepare for the final exam.

NOTE: Documents downloaded from this site or links to the instructor materials provided should not be shared with individuals outside of the Pocahontas Chapter Basic Training Class unless permission is granted from the Chapter Board or instructor, whichever is appropriate.