Indiana Master Naturalist

1
Indiana Master Naturalist

• Presented by
• Sycamore Trails
• Resource Conservation Development Council
• Greencastle, IN

2
It all started in the Sycamore Trails RCD
Education Committee

• Inspired in 2001 by Ed Committee member Todd
  Hutson, a Purdue Cooperative Extension Educator
• Enthusiastically embraced by our other Education
  committee members
• First workshop held in 2002

3
The Need

• Offer adult education on a broad variety of
  natural resource topics
• Put that knowledge to good use in local
  communities

4
The Plan

• Purdue Extensions Master Gardener Program would
  supply the template for the Master Naturalist
  Program
• Training for adults, with a Volunteer Service
  component

5
The Initial Partners

• Sycamore Trails RCD
• Purdue Cooperative Extension
• Local Soil Water Conservation Districts

Representatives from these groups decided on the
curriculum for the first class, and recruited
trainers with expertise in those areas
6
The Popularity

• This course was a hit from the beginning
• It was soon copied by other RCDs in the state
• Demand for the course was growing, and new
  partners wanted to sponsor courses

7
Current Partners

• Indiana RCD Councils
• Purdue Cooperative Extension
• Local Soil Water Conservation Districts
• Indiana Dept. of Natural Resources

8
State Advisory Council

• These four organizations formed a State
  Advisory Council to establish uniform guidelines
  in Indiana for the Indiana Master Naturalist
  program

Members of the initial Advisory Council Todd
Hutson, Angie Williams, Jim Spence, Ginger
Murphy, Liz Androskaut
9
State Coordinator

• Indiana Dept of Natural Resources has provided a
  Coordinator
• Maintains Website
• Clearinghouse for forms, applications to host a
  course, certificates pins for graduates,
  newsletter for graduates, volunteer opportunities
• Program maintenance funded by a 10 / person fee
  from registration cost

10
TYPICAL TOPICS

• Required core curriculum topics (8 3-hour
  sessions)
• 1 Geology/Soils
• 1 Water
• 2 Botany
• 2 Zoology
• 1 People and Natural Resources
• 1 Miscellaneous (suggestions provided)

11
Class Session Photos
Pond Critters
Native plants
12
Class Session Photos
Mark Booth presenting on Raptors
Making bird feeders
13
Typical Topics (contd)

• People and Natural Resources examples
• Land Use Planning
• Native Americans
• Wabash River Heritage/History
• Wilderness Survival

14
Typical Topics (contd)

• Miscellaneous examples
• Astronomy
• Invasive Species (plants, insects, animals)
• Hands-On field days, focused on a single or
  multiple topics

15
Exams

• Usually a short 10-question exam after each
  session
• A Final open book exam must be completed to
  receive certificate pin

16
Volunteer Service

• One hour of volunteer service is required for
  every hour of instruction in order to receive
  certificate pin
• Tracked by host organization when completed,
  State Coordinator is notified
• Local opportunities are suggested by host and on
  web site
• Parks, School outdoor labs, Conservation
  Organizations, Youth education, etc.

17
Costs for Host Sponsors

• Registration fees collected by host, range from
  50-80 per person budget determined by host
  (couples who share materials often get a price
  break)
• Cost of binder and resource materials provided by
  host are covered by fee
• Presenters often donate service some request fee
  or mileage reimbursement
• Meeting room usually free
• 10 of fee goes to State Coordinator Office for
  program maintenance

18
Results

• Since 2002, over 20 programs held around the
  state, hosted by a variety of sponsors
• Over 450 people trained in natural resources
• Over 4000 hours of volunteer service
• Great public relations results for sponsors

19
The Future

• Still high demand for courses around the state
• Several other states have similar programs
• There is an effort to organize at the National
  level

20
Questions Answers
Indiana Master Naturalist
Thanks for your attention!