The 2022 Indiana Master Naturalist program

​Along with 23 peers, I have completed the 2022 Indiana Master Naturalist program in Allen County. Each county has their own program. This reflects the resources, the speakers, and the unique history and geography of each county. Lucky for us in Allen County that includes two county parks, a university, a downtown full of history, and a geological history that is pretty remarkable.

Almost every state has a Master Naturalist program. The exceptions, at this time, are North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Wyoming. The first state to initiate a Master Naturalist program was Texas in 1998. Since then Texas has created 37 local chapters and trained over 5000 volunteers. While there is a national alliance of Master Naturalist programs it is important that each state have their own program. Each state has unique geological and biological histories. Each state has their own indigenous history as well as immigration, urbanization, and industrial and agricultural development.  Their overall goals however are similar. The states aim to bring together natural resource specialists and resources to educate a cadre of trained volunteers who can educate the public and promote the natural history of their state. The programs provide economic value to their communities. This may be in the caring for environments, the removal of invasive species, educating citizens across of the lifespan, or the promotion of local sites and resources. Volunteer hours increase what sites and programs can offer the public. The Master naturalists continue with ongoing education, and some take additional training thus earning the title “Advanced Master Naturalist.” 

Not every county has the resources Allen County is able to provide. Our instructors were professors, experienced naturalists, and specialists. Our classes met at Metea County Park, Fox Island County Park, and Purdue Fort Wayne University’s Environmental Resource Center.  Field experiences included birding, identifying wildflowers, trees, forest and wetland ecologies, and understanding the impact of geology on biodiversity. Our historical field experience integrated local Native American history, immigrant history, changing industries and economies, and the impact all of this had on ecology and the impact of the ecology of human behavior. 

The program had a class limit of 25 students. All but one student completed the program. The student who had to drop out hopes to come back and complete the training. There were 12 classes, readings, and weekly exams. To become Master Naturalists the students also had to complete 24 volunteer hours in the community at approved sites and activities. 

The topics were varied and kept our attention. Some were focused on how to volunteer and educate. That included a talk on tick protection, as well as presentations on trail-guiding, and hands-on teaching and interpretation. We studied Native American history and the interplay of the geology with how humans and other species live on the land. We learned about wetland ecologies , prairieland environments, and forests, and we learned about succession. Some of the topics required both a class and a field experience. This included learning how to use our field guides. So we identified wildflowers, trees, and birds. 

Perhaps my favorite classes focused on animal life. We had courses on arthropods, amphibians and reptiles, birds, mammals, and bats. We all need to discover what our driving interests are. At this time, I imagine myself monitoring turtles, bats, beaver, and monarch butterflies at Eagle Marsh.  
Many of the students were volunteering as they were taking the classes. This included volunteering at Earth Day, Ecofest, Fox Island and Metea Parks, LC Nature Center, and community gardens. The instructors were gifted, the sites inspiring, but I suspect I will miss my peers the most. This is an eclectic and exciting group of Master Naturalists. So, now I have a massive notebook, field guides, PowerPoints and videos, and a lot of great memories. It is time to start contributing because I am an Indiana Master Naturalist! 
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