Beaver Creek Reserve

Description

Beaver Creek Reserve, located near Eau Claire in Fall Creek, WI, is partnering with the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program to offer another great training from Sunday, July 28- Friday, August 2. Beaver Creek Reserve has over 400 acres of land, which allows individuals to explore diverse ecosystems home to many native plant and animal species. Our expert staff and guest speakers will share their knowledge of environmental topics both inside and outside the classroom. Topics include plant and wildlife identification, aquatics, astronomy, and human impact on the environment.

Our training focuses on the natural landscape and all that it encompasses in the Chippewa Valley! Activities include hands-on team building exercises, daily 1-3 mile hikes on paved and rugged terrain, and standing and sitting for long periods of time. Presentations have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction, and will be led by professional educators and scientists from the local area.

For the most immersive experience, there are various optional programs offered outside the scheduled course period, such as observatory and telescope viewing, bat monitoring, and morning nature hikes. Though these are optional programs, we encourage attending to truly get the most out of the Master Naturalist experience here at Beaver Creek Reserve.

We also highly encourage participants to stay on-site during the training. This allows for easier accessibility to programs outside the scheduled course period, and continued relationship building with other Master Naturalist participants. Lodging is offered at a reasonable cost payable to Beaver Creek Reserve. For more information or to reserve lodging, contact Megan Giefer at megan@beavercreekreserve.org or call (715) 877-2212 for more information.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

Class Size

18

Participation

To be a certified Master Naturalist, you will be required to:

• Attend regularly. Only four hours of training may be missed.
• Be 18 years old or older.
• Travel in personal vehicles as necessary to reach different learning sites throughout the training, unless transportation is provided by the host.
• Complete a small training project.

^** Master Naturalist Trainings are primarily outdoor learning experiences which may include extended periods of standing, hiking on both flat paths and off-trails with inclines, and a variety of weather conditions. If you have questions about the activity level of the training, please contact the program office info@wimasternaturalist.org prior to registering.