Master Naturalist training planned for Joplin

Attendance at Jan. 4 orientation is required for participation in upcoming course.

JOPLIN, Mo. – Protecting Missouri’s natural resources is an ongoing and challenging task. The challenge is made easier when private citizen groups – as well as state agencies – can provide education, outreach information and services. That’s the idea behind Missouri’s Master Naturalist Program.

The Chert Glades Master Naturalist Chapter will hold Master Naturalist training Jan. 25 through April 18 at the Walter Woods Conservation Area in Newton County just south of Joplin. The course doesn’t start until Jan. 25, but interested people must attend an orientation that will be held 6:30 p.m. on Jan 4 at the Walter Woods Area.

After attending this orientation, participants must register by Jan. 10 for the course. The Missouri Master Naturalist program mixes science with service. Master Naturalists engage Missourians in the stewardship of our state’s natural resources through science-based education and volunteer community service. The Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the University of Missouri Extension.

“The intent of the Master Naturalist Program is to better connect people to the environment and nature,” said MDC Volunteer and Interpretive Program Coordinator Syd Hime. “There are a lot of people with an interest in nature who are looking for opportunities to develop their skills as a naturalist and use those skills in volunteer service. We provide that through a community-based natural resource volunteer and education program.”

To become a Master Naturalist, individuals must receive training and contribute volunteer services. Once individuals receive Master Naturalist certification, they will be required to give 40 hours of service and complete eight hours of additional advanced annually training to maintain their certification. Individuals must be age 18 or older to participate.

For more information, call MDC Conservation Education Consultant Jeff Cantrell at 417-629-3423 or e-mail jeff.cantrell@mdc.mo.gov Details about the Master Naturalist Program can also be found at www.chertglades.org or http://extension.missouri.edu/masternaturalist.

Missouri Master Naturalist class in Sedalia

Missouri Master Naturalists mix science with service. They are valuable volunteers who work on conservation projects and they help the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) connect people with nature.

   MDC and the Hi Lonesome Master Naturalist Chapter will offer training in Sedalia beginningSept. 3. Participants must register by Aug. 6. The classes will be held 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays from Sept. 3 to Nov. 19 at the MDC Discovery Room at the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. This training includes three Saturday field sessions at MDC conservation areas. An enrollment fee of $75 covers books and materials, which the naturalists keep.

     “The intent of the Master Naturalist program is to better connect people to the environment and nature,” said MDC Volunteer and Interpretive Program Coordinator Syd Hime.  “There are a lot of people with an interest in nature who are looking for opportunities to develop their skills as a naturalist and use those skills in volunteer service. We provide that through a community-based natural resource volunteer and education program.”

   Master Naturalists are given special training regarding nature in the region where chapters are based. Members help out MDC and conservation partners through citizen science, public events, educational programs, and stewardship projects. To become a certified Master Naturalist, participants must complete an initial training course and eight hours of advanced training. They must also contribute 40 hours of natural resource-related volunteer service through a local chapter.

   A Master Naturalist might be helping with a conservation program such as a bird count one week, and the next they might be helping to education youngsters on a field day about frogs and turtles. They work on a wide variety of projects and events through the seasons. Chapters also hold field trips and social events.

   The Master Naturalist program is a partnership between MDC, University of Missouri Extension, and volunteers in the affiliated Master Naturalist chapters.

   For information about the Hi Lonesome Chapter, contact Donnie Nichols,atnichols_donnie@yahoo.com or 660-723-3984; or Steve Cooper, MDC wildlife biologist,steve.cooper@mdc.mo.gov  or 660-530-5500, ext. 229.

   Information about the Master Naturalist program is available athttp://extension.missouri.edu/masternaturalist/. For information about all MDC volunteer opportunities, visit http://mdc.mo.gov/about-us/get-involved/volunteer-opportunities.

MDC to host Master Naturalist class orientation in Sedalia

Master Naturalists serve conservation and nature

Missouri Master Naturalists are dedicated volunteers to work on conservation projects and help at special events, such as this booth about birds at the Wings Over Weston birding festival.
Photo by Bill Graham, Missouri Department of Conservation

Sedalia, Mo. – The Hi Lonesome Chapter of Missouri Master Naturalists will hold an orientation for upcoming training classes 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 9, at the Discovery Room on the Missouri State Fairgrounds in Sedalia. The Discovery Room is at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) display area at the Fairgrounds.

   Missouri Master Naturalists are dedicated volunteers who love the outdoors and enjoy connecting people with nature. They receive special training in ecology, conservation and biology. Chapters hold field trips and social events, and members volunteer at MDC special events or research projects. They may be teaching youths about turtles one week and helping researchers collect prairie seed the next.

   The Hi Lonesome Chapter will begin registration for the next training class on Aug. 6. An enrollment fee of $75 covers costs for supplies and material such as books, which the member will keep. Master Naturalist Training classes will be held 6 to 9 p.m. on ThursdaysSept. 3 through Nov. 19.

   The orientation session on July 9 is not a mandatory requirement to taking the Master Naturalist classes. But the session is recommended as a good overview of the program and what is offered.

   Participants taking the classes will receive natural resource training from experts on topics such as ecology, soils and geology, wildlife management, agriculture and conservation, aquatic ecology, grasslands and prairie, birds, caves and more. The training will include threeSaturday field sessions.

   For more information contact Theresa Cline, chapter president, 660-22303515; or Steve Cooper, MDC wildlife management biologist, steven.cooper@mdc.mo.gov; or Connie Mefford, University of Missouri Extension in Benton County, meffordc@missouri.edu, 660-438-5012.

   The Missouri Master Naturalist program is a partnership of MDC and University of Missouri Extension.

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Love nature? Become a Master Naturalist with MDC

Missouri Master Naturalist volunteers support conservation efforts and natural resource education in their local communities.

COLUMBIA, Mo.— Missouri Master Naturalists mix science with service. They engage Missourians in the stewardship of our state's natural resources through science-based education and volunteer community service. To get started as a volunteer, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), along with the University of Missouri (MU) Extension, will be holding Master Naturalist training sessions in Columbia and Camdenton.

MDC will offer the following Master Naturalist training in Columbia:

• The Columbia Boone’s Lick Chapter is offering a training class beginning Mar. 3. Classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesday’s from Mar. 3 to May 12 at the MU Family Impact Center, 105 E. Ash St., Columbia. Individuals interested in learning more about the program should attend an orientation from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the MU Family Impact Center.
• Participants must register by Feb. 16 and the enrollment fee is $95.

MDC will offer the following Master Naturalist training in Camdenton:

• The Lake of the Ozarks Chapter is offering a training class beginning Feb. 23. Classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday’s from Feb. 23 to May 18 at the MDC Camdenton office, 783 Thunder Mountain Rd., Camdenton. Individuals interested in learning more about the program should attend an orientation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 2 at the MDC Camdenton office. 
• Participants must register by Feb. 9 and the enrollment fee is $100.

“The intent of the Master Naturalists program is to better connect people to the environment and nature,” said MDC Volunteer & Interpretive Program Coordinator Syd Hime.  “There are a lot of people with an interest in nature who are looking for opportunities to develop their skills as a naturalist and use those skills in volunteer service. We provide that through a community-based natural resource volunteer and education program.”

Master Naturalists are given special training regarding nature in the region where chapters are based. Members help out MDC and conservation partners through public events, educational demonstrations, and stewardship projects. To become a certified Master Naturalist, participants must complete an initial training course and eight hours of advanced training. They must also contribute 40 hours of natural resource-related volunteer service through a local chapter.

The Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the MDC and MU extension, and the volunteers who serve in the program.

For more information about the Columbia Boone’s Lick Chapter contact Kent Shannon, MU Extension, at shannond@missouri.edu or 573-445-9793; or Suzanne Wright,frontdesk@pwarchitects.com or 573-445-9793. For the training in Camdenton, contact Jackie Rasmussen, MU Extension, at rasmussenj@missouri.edu or 573-346-2644; or Jodi Moulder, MDC private land services specialist, Jodi.moulder@mdc.mo.gov or 573-346-2210 ext. 233.

Information about the Master Naturalist program is available at http://extension.missouri.edu/masternaturalist/.

For information about all MDC volunteer opportunities, visit mdc.mo.gov.

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