St. Joseph, 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 volunteer program.
According to an MDC press release, the Loess Hills Master Naturalist Chapter will hold a Master Naturalist volunteer training orientation 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, at the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) office in St. Joseph, 701 James McCarthy Drive on the Missouri Western State University campus.
This volunteer program mixes science with service in partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and University of Missouri Extension.
Retired MDC Agent Kyle Carroll said the program has been around for awhile.
“This is hands-on with experts in each one of those different fields,” Carroll said. “You might talk about identifying different kinds of native grasses or, when you talk about quail and wildlife management, you might talk about winter cover. You start learning more specific things and it’s a little bit like a college class. It’s a good class, good training if somebody had the time and wanted to go through it, I’d recommend it.”
Master Naturalists are given training regarding nature in the region where chapters are based. 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. Master Naturalists may go afield to work on natural habitat improvement projects or help educate the public at special events hosted by MDC and conservation partners.
Attendance at the Jan. 8 orientation event is required to take part in the upcoming Loess Hills Master Naturalist training. The training classes will be held 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays from Feb. 26 to May 21 at the MDC office in St. Joseph. There are also five Saturday field sessions. Registration for the training closes Jan. 22. Class size is limited, so early registration is encouraged. The enrollment fee is $100, which pays for books and education materials. Participants must be 18 years or older.
For more information about the Loess Hills chapter’s training, contact TJ Peacher, MDC Outreach & Education Supervisor, at [email protected] or (816) 271-3111, ext. 1435.
Information about the Master Naturalist program is available at extension.missouri.edu/