Outdoor Recreation Alliance

Description

The Outdoor Recreation Alliance (ORA Trails) is excited to bring the Master Naturalist program to La Crosse. The majority of the training will be held at the Community Trail Farm, a 290 acre sustainable recreation project just a few miles from downtown. Participants will explore the bluffs, streams, and prairies of this unique area, and experience firsthand what it takes to work toward ecological balance. Through the lens of land stewardship and sustainable recreation, ORA will connect with local and regional guest experts, modeling the interconnected sections of the Master Naturalist training. Using place-based experiential education, activities include best practice in trout stream restoration, rewilding of forests and prairies, sustainable trail design, and the power of storytelling. Accessibility and inclusion are pillars of the Community Trail Farm project, though there will be several 1-4 mile hikes on uneven terrain. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and/or coordinating ride shares to field locations. Come join us during a beautiful time of year in the Driftless and become a Master Naturalist!

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.