Dane County

Description

This training will happen over a four-month period to immerse us in southern Wisconsin phenology (nature’s calendar) firsthand. Hosted by UW Extension Dane County, participants will experience the wide diversity of natural areas Dane County has to offer through the lens of experts across a variety of disciplines. Highlights of our time together will include prairie walks, rainfall simulators, fish shocking, soil coring, nature journaling, birdwatching, monitoring for bumble bees and dragonflies, and much more. Additionally, many of the activities done by the group will be connected to volunteering opportunities from various local Dane County organizations.

Our home base at the UW-Madison Extension Dane County building on Madison’s east side includes an indoor classroom and the UW Extension Teaching Garden. The natural areas we’ll be visiting in greater Dane County include a variety of habitats such as prairies, woodlands, and aquatic sites.  Hiking conditions will vary throughout the training.

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

20

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. Accommodation requests can be made during the registration process; please allow 30 days, when possible. If you have questions about the activity level of the training, please contact the program office info@wimasternaturalist.org prior to registering.