Become a Master Naturalist
Master Naturalists explore the plants that grow in wetlands, forests, and more--like these cattails in a bog.
Most of us have heard of the volunteer training program that allows you to become a Master Gardener here in Georgia. Administered through county offices by the UGA Cooperative Extension Service, it’s a wonderful educational opportunity. Once you’re certified in horticulture and other areas, you pass on your knowledge by helping to train others. Since its launch in 1979, the Master Gardener Program has certified thousands of Georgia gardeners and spread to 100 counties.
But did you know about the Master Naturalist Program (MNP)? It’s new to me, but it sounds like a terrific next-step for Master Gardeners who are ready to expand their expertise.
The MNP is hands-on training about the environment. Students might explore swamps, wetlands, bogs, forests, mountains, urban landscapes, or whatever natural features surround them.
Weekly classes are offered by the UGA Cooperative Extension Service and the Warnell School of Forest Resources. Birding, agriculture, forestry, wildlife, and native plants are just a few of the topics covered.
If you’d like to learn more about the MNP, please visit http://warnell.forestry.uga.edu/faculty/html/mengak/gmnp.html or contact Dr. Michael T. Mengak, State Coordinator for the Georgia Master Naturalist Program, at 706-583-8096 or mmengak@forestry.uga.edu.
Butterflies, medicinal plants, tree identification: the Master Naturalist leaders are ready to ignite your passion, just as we are here at the flower show!
cheers,
Lynn
P.S.–if you’re in the Douglasville area tomorrow, Saturday, Dec. 6, stop by Borders Books in Arbor Place Mall and say hello. I’ll be signing my new book, Mustard Seeds: Thoughts on the Nature of God and Faith, as well as my first book, Gardening with Heirloom Seeds.
Tags: Master Gardener, Master Naturalist