The Missouri Master Naturalist program trains volunteers to support natural resource organizations. A program was started in Franklin County in 2009 that trained 40 people over 60 hours. Trainees formed a chapter called Miramiguoa Master Naturalists and began volunteering, providing over 3,300 hours of service in 2010. The training includes over 40 hours of classroom and field instruction on topics like ecology, wildlife, and land management. To become certified, volunteers must also complete 8 hours of advanced training and 40 hours of service annually.

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MISSOURI MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM BUILDS VOLUNTEERS
Herring,*M.D.1
Extension Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, Franklin County, Union, MO
Abstract Training Offered Capstone projects
The Missouri Master Naturalist program is an adult Master Naturalist training consists of at least 40 hours of Capstone projects are designed to be a first volunteer
community based natural resource education and training in natural resource systems. Sessions are held experience for Master Naturalists as they transition from
volunteer service program cooperatively developed by both in the classroom and in the field. Training offered in training to volunteering. These projects have specific
University of Missouri Extension and the Missouri East Central Missouri includes at least three field trips objectives and clear beginning and ending dates. Capstone
Department of Conservation. A program was initiated
Department of Conservation A program was initiated conducted on Saturdays. Training topics include:
conducted on Saturdays Training topics include: projects are developed by partner organizations who hope
projects are developed by partner organizations who hope
in Franklin County, Missouri in 2009 with 40 to develop a long term relationship with Master
participants completing the approximately 60 hours of Basic Ecological Concepts Naturalists. After Master Naturalists complete these
training over a three month period. Upon completing The Role of Naturalists and Naturalist Skills capstone projects they begin developing other projects
training the participants formed the Miramiguoa Soils of Missouri that may be more open ended. Partner organizations for
Master Naturalist chapter and began volunteering first Wildlife Management Practices the Miramiguoa Master Naturalist group included Missouri
using “capstone” projects and then through a variety Wetland/Stream/River Ecosystems Department of Natural Resources, the Shaw Nature
of volunteer opportunities. To become certified Forest Ecosystems and Woody Plant ID Reserve, Friends of La Barque Creek, World Bird Sanctuary,
volunteers must also complete eight hours of Cave and Karst Missouri Botanical Garden, Earth’s Classroom, Babler State
advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service. Prairie and Glade Ecosystems Park, Route 66 State Park, Castlewood State Park, Meramec
y y p g
Each year they must complete eight hours of advanced Wildlife Management, Use and Regulations
Wildlife Management, Use and Regulations State Park, Onondoga State Park and Caldwell
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training and 40 hours of volunteer service to maintain Urban Ecosystems Conservation Area.
their certification. Training was also held in 2010 in a
joint arrangement with two other counties. Fourteen Instructors include staff from the Missouri Department of
graduates from the 2010 program joined the Conservation, University of Missouri Extension, Missouri
Miramiguoa chapter. Miramiguoa Master Naturalist Department of Natural Resources and the Shaw Nature Volunteers
volunteers use the science based education they Reserve. Participants meet weekly for three hours in the
gained to provide over 3300 hours of volunteer service late afternoon at various locations. Field trips are held In 2009 40 Master Naturalist Interns were trained. In 2010
to natural resource organizations in 2010. three times on Saturdays. a joint training was held with St. Louis and St. Charles
counties and again 40 Interns were trained. Fourteen of
Upon completion of the training Master Naturalists are these graduates joined the Miramiguoa Master Naturalist
expected to complete at least 40 hours of volunteer service group in Franklin County. In 2010 Miramiguoa Master
and 8 hours of advanced training to be certified. Each year Naturalists volunteered 3377.5 hours. The chapter has 43
Background
after this they must complete the same hours to maintain members and so likely several members gave over 100
Natural resource agencies, state parks and non‐profits their certification. hours of their time during 2010. Statewide in 2010 Master
that focus on natural resources all have needs for Naturalist volunteers gave over 36,000 volunteer hours.
human hours to accomplish project that funding does Chapters are formed from the initial training. In Franklin
not cover. Missouri residents have an interest in being County, Missouri the Miramiguoa Master Naturalist
Chapter formed from trainees from the 2009 class.
good stewards of the state’s natural resources.
Leadership from this class elected officers and set about
Training provided through the Missouri Master
Naturalist program provides future volunteers with developing a system to track volunteer and advanced
the tools they need to begin their journey as stewards training hours. This leadership group runs the monthly
t i i h Thi l d hi th thl
meetings and keeps track of all records.
of our natural resources.
Figure 3. Miramiguoa Master Naturalists relax after a day of
cave restoration work. This is an example of a volunteer service
project.
Figure 2. James Trager, Restoration Biologist at the Shaw Nature
Reserve provides training on native plant restoration. This was one
Figure 1. Participants in 2009 Master Naturalist Training
of three field trips that was part of Master Naturalist training.
work through an exercise in ecological concepts.