Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Description

The US Fish & Wildlife Service, Friends of the Refuge – Mississippi River Pools 7 & 8, and Mississippi Valley Conservancy are partnering with the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program to offer a new opportunity for volunteers in 2019 in Onalaska.  This six day program will be presented among the scenic blufflands of the Driftless Area of southwest Wisconsin. Three Wisconsin rivers meet in this region: the Black, Trempealeau and La Crosse Rivers flow into the Mississippi River watershed. The program will be led by many local experts from UW La Crosse, UW Stevens Point, Wisconsin DNR, and US Fish and Wildlife staff. All will share information about the Driftless Area and Mississippi watershed. Participants will learn through instructor-led discussions in excellent outdoor settings.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within Wisconsin communities.  The Master Naturalist Volunteer Training provides 40 hours of coursework in natural history, interpretation, and conservation stewardship.  Trainings combine classroom instruction with field experiences and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists.  Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists provide 40 hours of service and take 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain their 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.
• Participate in field trips, even in inclement weather.
• Travel in personal vehicles as necessary to reach field trip locations.
• Experience moderate activity on uneven terrain. Please consult with the program office info@wimasternaturalist.org before registering if you have you have questions about accessibility.
• Complete a capstone project during the course.