An Introduction to the Idaho Master Naturalist Program

Logo from: idfg.idaho.gov

This past week, I started the Idaho Master Naturalist program! This is a program that is very near and dear to my heart, and is a shining example of meaningful partnerships, collaboration, and citizen science. When I lived in Missouri, I completed the Missouri Master Naturalist Program, and found every class to be fascinating. The method of breaking natural history into specific lessons--like geology, birds, plants, and agriculture--gave me a deeper understanding of the natural world around me, which, in turn, gave me stronger ties to my community and a better sense of place. 

I'm looking forward to documenting all that I learn throughout my Idaho Master Naturalist class, which will run from February through October 2020, with semimonthly classes and additional community service hour requirements. 

Here are a few tidbits I learned from the first class, which was an introduction and orientation to the Idaho Master Naturalist Program:

• The Idaho Master Naturalist program is statewide and has three chapters within the Treasure Valley.
• The City of Trees Chapter has the following chapter partners: Boise Parks, Boise WaterShed, and Boise Open Space Division (made up of Boise Urban Garden School, Jim Hall Foothills Learning Center, Restoration, and Ride to Rivers Conservancy), and Zoo Boise. 
• Boise WaterShed is about water treatment, restoration, and education. The water treatment plant serves Boise, Eagle, and Garden City and has about 275,000 sewer rate payers. It is the only water education center in Idaho. Sewer rates help fund the facility. Mission is to promote water stewardship. Boise has the 7th largest geothermal system in the world. Boise WaterShed is also the largest collection of public art in the state thanks to Boise City Council's 2001 vote for "Percent for Art". They host education nights, family days, and have tons of school visits. 
• Open Space Division is in charge of 12 open spaces in Boise that total over 50,000 acres (including Camel's Back, Military Reserve, etc). These open spaces have ecological, historical, recreational, or cultural value.
• Ridge to Rivers is a partnership between BLM, City of Boise, Boise National Forest, IDFG, and Ada County. City of Boise serves as the lead agency.
•  Restoration: goal to remove invasive plants. Invasive plants can increase frequency and intensity of wildfires. 
• Foothills Learning Center serves over 10,000 students per year and has a regular preschool. One of the only organizations in the area that teaches geology, so they have a lot of school groups come in second and fourth grades, when geology is part of the curriculum. All lessons/camps align with Boise School District science standards. The Foothills Learning Center opened in 2005.
• Boise Urban Garden School (BUGS): last year the gardens produced 2,500 lbs of food which was used in Title 1 schools and community centers. Have 11,000-12,000 kids per year either visit the gardens on field trips or classroom visits or camps. BUGS focus is on urban agriculture, evening cooking classes (integrated with local hospitals' obesity education programs), and environmental education. They even offer a beekeeping camp for kids! There is a 20 acre property that is a future farmstead with pilot programming slated to start in 2022. There will be a fully restored historic home and working farm!
• Zoo Boise: The zoo is 104 years old and was started when a chimpanzee escaped from a traveling circus in Mountain Home! The zoo has donated $2.9 million for conservation and was the first zoo in the country to create a conservation fund. Their goal is to turn the act of visiting the zoo into a conservation action. They give out conservation grants and are very active partners to Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. They also committed to donating $50,000/year for five years for foothills restoration after wildfires a few years ago.
• Boise Parks: the only City of Trees Idaho Master Naturalist partner that isn't facility based. Engaging people in the parks on a volunteer basis. Community education programs, ongoing volunteer programs, Pollinator Posse, Tree Stewards, citizen science, Youth Engaged in Environmental Stewardship program. 

Wonderful Boise view from the Boise Depot, where the first Master Naturalist class was held