Virginia Master Naturalist
Back in February, while walking past a message board at Valley Health’s Wellness Center, I spotted a sign that made me think of Ted… In 2016, while on sabbatical in Arizona I met a Master Naturalist rock star. Ted Mouras, a docent at Ramsey Canyon Nature Preserve, led our small group on a hike into the canyon pointing out dozens of amazing facts about the flora, fauna, and history of the unique environment through which we were traveling. His delivery, and the confidence in which he presented the material, was astounding. It was a first exposure to the world of Master Naturalists, of which Ted is one of the very best. The sign on the message board was an advertisement for the State of Virginia’s Master Naturalist program. The Shenandoah chapter’s annual training program was slated to begin in March, and interested candidates needed to have their applications, references, and other paper work completed within a few weeks. After reviewing th...