Photo Credit © Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy
Friends of Pheasant Branch Conservancy
This training has passed
Training Dates
June 9 - July 9, 2022
Instructors
Colleen Robinson
Tom Bernthal
Janet Kane
Deb Weitzel
Description
Pheasant Branch Conservancy includes 500 acres of remnant and seeded prairie, oak savanna, woodlands, springs, wetlands, and stream corridors. This 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 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 life, and the connections between humans and landscapes. The training will focus on water in relation to each topic area, while highlighting restoration and management activities and a service-learning approach through citizen science.
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 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.
Schedule
Thursday, June 9th: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Friday, June 10th: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 11th: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday, June 24th: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, June 25th: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday, July 8th: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday, July 9th: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
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.
- 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.
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
In response to updated CDC guidance and changing local health conditions we have updated our program guidance. During our upcoming training, we will concentrate our learning outdoors, as much as possible. The use of masks in program settings will be an individual choice. In counties with high community levels of COVID-19, it is strongly recommended that all individuals (regardless of vaccination status) wear a mask when indoors. Please check the levels prior to each training date. All individuals are welcome to continue protected practices, such as face coverings and distancing, even if it is not required or advised. Individual masking choices should not be interpreted as an indicator 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. Please continue to take measures to protect the vulnerable people in our communities. We ask all staff, volunteers, and participants to stay home when they have signs of infectious illness. Proper handwashing and respiratory etiquette are also important measures to keep individuals and our communities healthy. Everyone who is able should stay up to date on their vaccinations. As we have since the beginning of the pandemic, we will continue to monitor state and local health data. We will notify you if these guidelines change in the future.
This training has passed