Skip to main content

How Master Naturalist Programs Work in Different States: Part II




I have had the pleasure of living and working in several states across the country, and wanted to share a bit about how the Master Naturalist program works in different states. For this post, I wrote about my experience with the Master Naturalist program in Missouri and Idaho. Read on to learn more! 

Missouri

The Missouri Master Naturalist program is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the University of Missouri Extension. There are twelve chapters across the state, and the program welcomes those who do not have a chapter nearby to start a new chapter. The basic training course is at the chapter level and involves 40 hours of basic training. After the basic training course is completed, students are considered Master Naturalist "trainees" and must complete eight hours of advancing training and 40 hours of volunteer service each year to be a certified Master Naturalist. MDC and MU Extension Staff serve as advisors to each chapter.

I had a very positive experience in this program. My chapter conducted the basic training course once per week over the course of four months, and classes were taught at night so that those who worked could also participate. In addition to weekly classes, we also had several weekend all-day field trips to different conservation areas. These field trips helped us solidify what we were learning in the classroom through wildflower identification, geology lesson, wetland bird treks, and more. All of the classroom and field-based sessions were led by extremely knowledgeable and professional MDC employees, Master Naturalist volunteers who had already completed the initial training, and other community experts. Learn more about the Missouri Master Naturalist program here. 

Idaho 

The Idaho Master Naturalist program is sponsored by Idaho Department of Fish and Game. There are nine chapters statewide in eight different locations (including two chapters in Boise). There are five areas of conservation that the program's training and volunteer efforts focus on: Citizen Science, Conservation Education, Administration, Habitat Stewardship, and Chapter Formation & Maintenance). This program requires 40 hours of basic education followed by 40 hours of volunteer service per year. Each chapter provides specific guidance on what organizations Master Naturalists can work with to gain volunteer service hours. Learn more about the Idaho Master Naturalist program here. 




I hope this description of the Master Naturalist program in different states inspires you to research educational opportunities in your home state! 

Labels

Labels:
Location: Boise, ID, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey Driving Tour

Driving tour of Birds of Prey National Conservation Area - click here to see the brochure and map A couple of weeks ago, I took a driving tour of the Birds of Prey National Conservation Area. The driving route outlines some notable geographic features of the area, as well as bringing birds to great spots above the Snake River for catching glimpses of birds of prey. Read more about the history of this unique area here .  View of Initial Point Snake River at Celebration Park Helpful bird identification sign at Dedication Point This sign at the Kuna Visitors Center has great ideas for stops along the Western Heritage Historic Byway View from Dedication Point
Post a Comment
Read more

Backpacking in the Sawtooth Wilderness

Sawtooth Wilderness boundary Looking toward the far side of Farley Lake - the first campsite  This past weekend, I went backpacking on an iconic loop in the Sawtooth Mountains of central Idaho. The Sawtooths are beloved and renowned for their dramatic sharp, rocky peaks that resemble the teeth on a saw. I had only been to the Sawtooths once before (six years ago when I was working a seasonal position in McCall), so I was looking forward to exploring more.  I hiked the Toxaway Lake to Alice Lake Loop , and spent two nights in the backcountry. This was the perfect amount of time to spend backpacking, since it's been several years since I've hit the trail and done backcountry camping. My back and legs were achy and tired by the end of the weekend, but this trip itinerary allowed  The fire smoke that has been looming over Boise was present in Stanley (a small river town close to the Sawtooths) and the views of the mountains took on a dreamlike, mystical quality w...
2 comments
Read more

Quarantine Driving Tour of Boise

Map of the Boise Driving Tour to go along with this guide. Find the map here . We're all still under the statewide Stay at Home order here in Idaho, but many of us are itching to get out and enjoy the beautiful spring weather we've been having. Luckily, outdoor recreation is still permissible and encouraged, as long as social distancing guidelines are followed.  Another great way to shake things up and enjoy the beauty of this time to year is to take a scenic drive around Boise. I put together a guide of some significant parts of Boise  Here is a map with directions between each stop on the driving tour: Boise Driving Tour Map 1. Start at the  Idaho State Capitol Building in downtown Boise. Did you know it's the only capitol building in the U.S. that is heated with geothermal water?   check out this online tour of the Capitol and this fact page on the Capitol .  2. Cruise through downtown and stretch your legs at Freak Alley Gallery ,  an a...
1 comment
Read more