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Created: Feb 20, 2008
Updated: Nov 19, 2009
Membership: Open
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List of State Naturalist and Master Naturalist Programs
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About
Many states have, or are starting, state naturalist or master
naturalist programs. These programs provide an excellent opportunity to
participate in conserving, preserving and restoring your state’s
natural resources. The training is often provided by University
faculty. The volunteer work can often be accomplished in your local
area working on a project important to your local ecosystem.
There is a national level organization that many of the states
participate in - the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach &
Service Programs (ANROSP). If your state hasn’t started a state
naturalist program, they may be able to help you get one started.
Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach & Service Programs
Quote:
| Welcome to the website of the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach & Service Programs- a national organization formed to support the development and maintenance of adult- natural resource education and stewardship programs such as Master Naturalists- Watershed Stewards- and Conservation Stewards. |
ANROSP Resources
Resources
From the FAQ’s on the Resources page:
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What type of training do member programs provide? There is no single hard-and-fast model of how to establish a curriculum; diversity and adaptability are program hallmarks. In general, "basic" training in a variety of natural resource concepts is given across a 10-14 week period. Participants usually receive 40 hours of training, although this can vary from 30 to 120 hours, depending on the specific program. Training covers a broad range of natural science topics; main themes include an overview of basic ecology; terrestrial & aquatic ecosystems and their associated flora, fauna, and conservation issues; interpreting for the public; invasive species; watersheds & streams; and management issues. Each program tailors training to fit the local ecosystems and program goals (i.e. some programs have a greater focus on volunteer stewardship, others are targeted more towards environmental education, or professional development). Courses have a classroom and field component, so participants experience and practice what they learn immediately. Several programs also require a final project or “capstone” that allows trainees to synthesize and apply what they learned. Following training, volunteers may be expected to provide a set number of hours of service annually on approved projects, generally to equal the number of hours of basic training. Because “basic” training covers a huge amount of information in a relatively short period, most programs require some form of advanced training or continuing education, to explore particular topics or concepts in greater depth. State-level conferences for program participants are often a venue to deliver a variety of advanced training opportunities. http://nralliance.org/admin_tool/fck...es/faqlist.pdf |
Arizona
Quote:
| Our mission is creating a corps of well-informed volunteers to deliver quality environmental education programs and to promote stewardship of Arizona's watersheds and natural environment. |
Arizona Master Naturalist News Web Log ("Blog")
Arkansas
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| To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. |
http://www.armasternaturalist.org/
California
Quote:
| The UC Master Naturalist is a science based environmental education and outreach program designed to increase environmental stewardship and citizen participation in resource conservation throughout California. |
Master Naturalists - Home Page
Colorado
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Fort Collins Master Naturalists are volunteer educators with the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Program. |
Quote:
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Gore Range By completing this coursework, you’ll gain an understanding of the natural history in our valley and discover exciting opportunities to get involved in caring for our natural world. |
Gore Range Natural Science School - Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Quote:
| The program's mission is to educate and train citizens throughout the state to serve as volunteers in environmental education; monitoring, restoration, conservation and protection of Delaware's natural resources. Volunteer opportunities include aquatic education, wildlife surveys, tree planting, native seed collection and more! |
How can you help to conserve our Green Infrastructure?
Florida
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| The mission of the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is to promote awareness, understanding, and respect of Florida's natural world among Florida's citizens and visitors. |
Florida Master Naturalist Program Homepage
Georgia
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| The Georgia Master Naturalist program is a series of weekly programs with specific environmental topics. This program is a hands-on environmental education that explores habitats and ecosystems in Georgia and human impacts on those environments. The sessions are customized to local habitats such as swamps, ponds, rivers, wetlands, mountains, forests, farms, urban landscapes and the issues affecting them. This program is a combination of lectures and outside hands-on learning through field studies and relevant resources. |
Hawaii
Idaho
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| The Idaho Master Naturalist Program aims to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to actively work toward stewardship of Idaho’s natural environment. |
Idaho Master Naturalist Program
Illinois
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| The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist program provides science-based educational opportunities that connect people with nature and help them become engaged environmental stewards. |
Illinois Master Naturalist Program - Current Flagship Progams - University of Illinois Extension
Indiana
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| The Indiana Master Naturalist program can provide you with many hands-on opportunities to learn about our Hoosier natural resources. It also provides a way for you to share that knowledge, along with your life experiences, through volunteer service. |
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Maryland
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| This program is in the developmental stage and will be released the fall of 2009. It teaches science based concepts and principles in biology, zoology, ecology, forestry, geology, and many other science disciplines. |
Maryland Master Naturalist Program - Maryland Cooperative Extension
Massachusetts
Michigan
Quote:
| The Master Naturalist program, is similar to the Master Gardener program with a focus on conservation and the environment. The program consists of 25 hours of Education and then there is a 30-hour volunteer requirement to complete Master Naturalist certification. |
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| Michigan Conservation Stewards Program - "Conservation Stewards gives people the chance to learn from local and statewide experts about local natural resources and efforts to protect them," says Shari Dann, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension conservation specialist. |
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program
Minnesota
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| The Minnesota Master Naturalist Program is designed to teach adult participants about natural and cultural history of the three major biomes of Minnesota. |
Minnesota Master Naturalist Home
Mississippi
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| A Master Naturalist will receive 40 hours of in-depth training in natural resource and wildlife management. This information will be taught by regional experts at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research and Extension Center with field trips to discover and learn more about south Mississippi’s wildlife and natural habitats. Master Naturalist volunteers will promote environmental stewardship within their community through conducting educational activities, projects, and demonstrations. An additional 40 hours of volunteer service is required to obtain certification in the program. |
Missouri
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| The Missouri Master Naturalist™ program is an adult community-based natural resource education and volunteer service program sponsored jointly by the Missouri Department of Conservation and the University of Missouri Extension. Our mission is to engage Missourians in the stewardship of our state's natural resources through science-based education and volunteer community service. Missouri Master Naturalist volunteers support conservation efforts and natural resource education in their local communities. |
Montana
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| The Montana Master Naturalist Basic Course consists of 40 hours of in-classroom training. The training includes lectures, in-class laboratories, and outdoor field trips. You’ll learn naturalist skills such as Montana rock, plant, and animal identification; how to identify mammal skulls by their teeth, natural history interpretation skills, keeping a journal, drawing from nature; collecting insects, and much, much more. The course is designed to be a general overview of the local ecology and focuses on the richest sites to study Montana’s landscapes and native species. |
Montana Natural History Center The Montana Master Naturalist Course
Nebraska
Quote:
| A Master Naturalist Program is a volunteer recruitment, management and training program designed to train "master volunteers" to conduct conservation education, outreach, and service in their community. |
http://snr5.unl.edu/invasives/images/Outreach/NMNflier.pdf
Nevada
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| The Nevada Naturalist Program is a new, adult, environmental education program created to develop a corps of education naturalist volunteers to serve in southern Nevada. |
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension - Nevada Naturalist
New Hampshire
Quote:
| The New Hampshire Coverts Project trains volunteers to promote wildlife habitat conservation and forest stewardship. |
UNH Cooperative Extension - Wildlife - Coverts Volunteers
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
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4. Master Naturalist Program (Kristi Sullivan, Steve Morreale, Gary Goff) The first statewide Master Naturalist Program, held at Cornell’s Arnot Forest, was a huge success. Because of the overwhelming interest in the program, we limited participation to 31 people from across the state, with an additional 12 people on a waiting list hoping to attend future programs. During the 2-day pilot program, we addressed these issues and more, covering a variety of topics from three main categories: ecosystems, contemporary conservation issues, and organism identification. |
http://www.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/forestconnect/ForestConnect%20summary%202008.pdf
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
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| The mission of the OCVN program is to promote awareness and citizen stewardship of Ohio's natural resources through science-based education and community service. |
Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist - About OCVN
Oklahoma
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| Do you love the sound of bird songs and want to know who's singing? Do you want to know how to identify native plants and use them in your landscape to attract birds and butterflies? Do you love nature and want to learn more about natural resources right here in Oklahoma? Then join us as a member of the Oklahoma Master Naturalists! We are a group of volunteers dedicated to learning about and preserving Oklahoma's rich biological diversity and sharing this knowledge through education, outreach, and service within our communities. |
Oklahoma Master Naturalists | Home
Oregon
Quote:
| The Master Watershed Stewardship program (MWS) is a statewide program within the Oregon State University Extension Service (Forestry and Agriculture programs) and Oregon Sea Grant. MWSP offers educational sessions and materials to help watershed groups and individuals understand how their watersheds work and apply this knowledge to watershed stewardship on their own land or in their community. |
Pennsylvania
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| The Master Naturalist training program is a national initiative that aims to connect people with their local ecosystems through intensive natural science training and local conservation service work. It is a venture directed toward developing local corps of “master volunteers and service providers” to offer education, outreach and service dedicated to the understanding and management of natural areas within their communities. |
Pennsylvania Institute for Conservation Education
Rhode Island
South Carolina
Quote:
| The South Carolina Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested South Carolinians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. |
SC Master Naturalist : Public Service : Clemson University : South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Environmental Education in Tennessee - Tennessee Master Naturalist Survey
Texas
Quote:
| The Mission: To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. |
Texas Master Naturalist - Home
Utah
Quote:
| Each Utah Master Naturalist Program module will consist of 40 hours of instruction, 40-50% of which is spent in the field. Classroom and field activities will include instructor presentations, guest presentations on relevant resource issues, small group presentations, final project presentations, take-home assignments, and open discussions. |
Utah Master Naturalist Program - Utah Botanical Center - utahbotanicalcenter.org
Vermont
Virginia
Quote:
| The Virginia Master Naturalist Program is a statewide corps of volunteers providing education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Interested Virginians become Master Naturalists through training and volunteer service. |
Virginia Master Naturalist Program Home
Washington
West Virginia
Quote:
| The mission of the West Virginia Master Naturalist Programtm is to train interested people in the fundamentals of natural history, nature interpretation and teaching, and to instill in them an appreciation of the importance of responsible environmental stewardship. |
West Virginia DNR - Wildlife Resources
Wisconsin
Quote:
| Any adult (18 or older) can participate and no previous experience or training is necessary. The courses are taught by university professors and customized to focus on the native ecosystems in our area. After recieving training Wisconsin Naturalists help to preserve our natural resources by participating in a variety of projects from working as educators at natural areas to helping scientists conduct research projects at natural areas. |
Cofrin Center for Biodiversity
Wyoming