Photo Credit © Friends of Pheasant Branch
Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy
This training has passed
Training Dates
August 6 - August 28, 2021
Instructors
Colleen Robinson
Tom Bernthal
Janet Kane
Deb Weitzel
Description
The training will include some classroom time, but will focus mostly on outdoor experiences in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and field trips to other exceptional sites for learning in our topic areas. Experts will share their knowledge, research, tips, tricks and inspiration as they lead or present parts of the training. The Conservancy includes 500 acres of remnant and seeded prairie, oak savanna, woodlands, springs, wetlands, and stream corridors. The training will look within the Conservancy and other places in the Pheasant Branch Watershed and beyond to explore geologic history, ecology, water, animal and plant resources, and the connections between humans and the landscape. The training will have two focal points from which to cover the topics above: one is water, water resources and the relationships between water and all of the above. The other is learning through restoration and management activities – a service-learning approach. The target audience includes individuals who are interested in teaching using the outdoors as a classroom as well as folks interested in volunteering for restoration and management of natural areas all while gaining an environmental knowledge base. Plan to arrange your own transportation to outdoor sites.
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 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. Due to COVID-19, we anticipate the training to be held mostly in outdoor settings. 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.
Schedule
Friday, August 6th: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, August 7th: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday, August 13th: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, August 14th: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday, August 27th: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, August 28th: 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Class Size
15
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.
- 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 training.
Financial Hardship
The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program believes that finances should not be a barrier to learning. Reduced registration fees are available for those who indicate the fee is a hardship. Reduced fees will be available during the registration process at a self-selected rate of either $200, $150, or $100. Our hope is that by participating in the Master Naturalist program you are able to give back your time to organizations that need your help. And if your financial situation changes in the future that you’ll consider a donation back to our program.
COVID Considerations
Keeping the health of everyone in our community in mind, we’re approaching our programming with intentional steps. These steps follow CDC, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and UW–Madison guidance. These requirements are in place to limit the spread of COVID-19.
During our upcoming training:
- We will concentrate our learning outdoors, as much as possible.
- Individuals who are not vaccinated should wear a face covering.
- Proof of vaccination is not required for participation.
- All individuals are welcome to continue protected practices, such as face coverings and distancing, regardless of vaccination status.
Host sites and field locations may have more stringent requirements. Please follow the guidance that they provide at that time. We recommend bringing a face covering with you each day to be prepared for those situations. Participants should stay at home if they feel ill, show signs of COVID-19, or have been in contact with someone diagnosed with COVID19.
As we continue to move forward, we expect the guidance from the CDC, Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and UW–Madison to evolve and therefore these COVID considerations for Master Naturalist Trainings may change.
This training has passed