The Prairie Enthusiasts

Description

All 2020 Master Naturalist Volunteer Trainings are postponed due to COVID-19. The Master Naturalist Program continues to work with host organizations to develop a 2021 training calendar, along with new training guidelines and resources to promote healthy and engaging learning environments out in nature and in the classroom. Watch for 2021 locations and dates to be announced by December 1, 2020.

The Prairie Enthusiasts (TPE) is hosting a field based course at Mounds View Grassland, a 570-acre property owned by TPE located south of Blue Mounds. The site includes remnant prairies, prairie plantings, prairie seed production beds, woodlands, streams and wetlands. Our classroom base will be the rustic Schurch-Thomson barn, a working barn for research and prairie restoration. Topics of the course will include geology, soils, groundwater, plant communities, watersheds, birds, mammals, prairie pollinators and indigenous perspectives. A wealth of guest experts will join us. In addition to exploring our site at Mounds View, we will visit nearby spectacular oak savanna, short-grass prairie and Lower Wisconsin River floodplain areas. Come join us and enjoy the gorgeous spring flowers and birds of the prairie. We will see violets and false indigo blooming and hear Upland Sandpipers and Grasshopper Sparrows singing.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning.  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

15

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.