More education on nature

Janet F. Reeder

Sat, May 17 2008

— Oklahoma’s teachers will be glad to know a popular statewide naturalist program is thinking of them and their needs for more nature education and resources. The Oklahoma Master Naturalist Program is extending required membership training sessions to better fit their schedule by including an additional summer session.
Both of Oklahoma’s chapters are currently signing up applicants for spring and summer workshop training. Each four-session workshop will consist of basic training in ecology, forest ecosystems of Oklahoma, aquatic and wetland ecosystems and prairie ecosystems.
Oklahoma Master Naturalist Coordinator Marley Beem, assistant Extension aquaculture specialist at Oklahoma State University, said the organization is making a special effort to involve teachers this year by offering workshop sessions in early June.
“The ideas and contacts enjoyed by participants will be beneficial for any teacher trying to include more nature oriented content in their classes,” Beem said.
“School teachers are in a unique position to instill an interest in outdoor pursuits in the next generation,” Beem said.
“Without that interest many of our resources will decline as fewer and fewer people use and enjoy them. We tend to focus on problems in tropical rain forests or the oceans when we should be learning about what we have right here at home first,” he said.
Becoming a Master Naturalist has many rewards. One includes monthly chapter meetings that always include a lecture by an experienced naturalist on a topic of wide interest. In addition to the enjoyable camaraderie of being with others who share your interests, other opportunities for working with nature and learning from experts are part of the program.
Master Naturalists are required to complete four core workshops and then choose from a number of advanced training sessions for 16 more hours of training. After 30 hours of volunteer work, members can gain Master Naturalist certification.
Oklahoma City’s Central Master Naturalist chapter will offer core training on April 1, 9, 15 and 22. A summer session of core workshops will be offered in Norman on June 2, 5, 9 and 12.
Tulsa’s Northeast Master Naturalist chapter core workshops are set for April 3, 10, 17 and 24. Summer core workshops in Tulsa will be held on June 4, 6, 9 and 12.
“The workshop content is intended to be interesting and understandable to people of all backgrounds. The only prerequisite is a healthy interest in learning more about nature,” he said.
“Most participants do not realize how biologically diverse Oklahoma is until they go through the workshops. Master Naturalist volunteers are active in a variety of activities like monitoring restored wetlands, establishing bluebird trails, butterfly tagging and songbird nest box monitoring. No experience is required. We offer on-the-job training,” Beem said.
The Master Naturalist Program, active in 20 states, is modeled after the popular Master Gardener Program and has two Oklahoma chapters.
Developed by and in cooperation with the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, the Oklahoma Master Naturalist Program training is provided by Extension specialists who work in wildlife and natural resources conservation and management, and personnel from other agencies involved in protecting the state’s wildlife and natural resources.
Opportunities for volunteers have included presentations at schools and community groups, assisting in building and maintaining trails or setting up displays and manning booths for various outdoor oriented events.
Volunteers have also participated in Oklahoma Youth Forestry and Wildlife Camp and monitored specific wildlife in selected locations. Planned events for advanced training include a May trip to The Nature Conservancy’s Tall Grass Prairie near Bartlesville. Groups have also been to sites such as the Selman Bat Caves near Freedom and the Wichita Mountain Wildlife Refuge to participate in an Elk bugling project for advanced training.
Those interested in the Master Naturalist Program can contact Beem at 744-3854 or by e-mail at beem@okstate.edu.
The Web site for the program, http://www.okmasternaturalist.org, also has current information about workshops, volunteer opportunities, chapter meetings and activities.

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