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MDC hosting orientation on July 13 for Missouri Master Naturalist program in Kansas City area
Kansas City, Mo. – The Osage Trails Chapter of Missouri Master Naturalists will hold an orientation session for people interested in the volunteer-driven conservation program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, at the Anita B. Gorman Discovery Center in Kansas City. Master Naturalists are people interested in nature, conservation, and outdoor skills. They take special training to assist with programs and research conducted by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).
Missouri Master Naturalists are a community-based natural resource education and volunteer program. Members hold social events and meetings. They assist with MDC research or habitat improvement projects. They often serve alongside MDC staff at education or special event programs.
To be a Master Naturalist, members must complete a minimum of 40 hours of training about Missouri ecosystems. Members find a comradeship with others interested in volunteer work in conservation. They serve people and nature in their community. A $110 fee pays for materials that participants will keep.
At the orientation session, MDC’s statewide coordinator and local chapter members will share their experiences with the program, discuss partnerships, and highlight how the program benefits conservation in Missouri. The Master Naturalist program is sponsored by MDC and University of Missouri Extension. Participants will receive an application form at the orientation.
For information about Master Naturalist activities in the Kansas City area, visit the Osage Trails Chapter’s website at http://osagetrails.com/. Training classes will begin Aug. 17 and graduation is Nov. 23. Field trips are included in the training.
To learn more about the program, contact Wendy Parrett, MDC curriculum coordinator, at (816) 759-7305 ext. 1133, or Wendy.Parrett@mdc.mo.gov. Information about MDC programs and partnerships is at http://mdc.mo.gov.