![\"Ecosystems:](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/grass-pond-forest.jpg\")
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Many states have a Master Gardner program, typically managed through the local county extension agent’s office. \u00a0These programs teach people to become better gardeners and to pass on that training to others. \u00a0A similar program is often\u00a0called Master Naturalist, but goes by different names in different places including:<\/p>\n
These programs are typically associated with County Extension Offices, but may be led by other organizations or governmental units. \u00a0There is an overarching group made up of educators that work with these programs called\u00a0the Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0They have a more complete, but not exhaustive list on the ANROSP website<\/a>.<\/p>\n The training has nothing to do with trying to create environmentalists. \u00a0Rather, \u00a0it is intended to teach people about the many forces that affect our environment and how they relate to each other. \u00a0The training is tailored to different eco-regions, because the environment varies so much from one to another and it works best if people\u00a0are trained with a focus on the area where they live.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In Oregon the coursework addresses geology, watershed functions, forests, rangelands, wildlife\u00a0and even climate change. \u00a0Training typically starts with online core material that addresses\u00a0relationships in the environment on a statewide basis. \u00a0It is basically an overview of the state’s natural history and the history of management of its natural resources that led to the conditions we see on the ground today. \u00a0The course work is offered over a twelve week period, usually once per year.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n At the local level, extension agents and those already certified as Master Naturalists put together a program where local experts on various natural resources take the students on field trips where they can see and learn while immersed in key environments. \u00a0The program that is centered in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where I live, will include visits to:<\/p>\n There are three steps to becoming certified in Oregon:<\/p>\n There may also be fees. \u00a0In our case it costs $575 to become certified, but scholarships may be available if the cost is too much of a burden. \u00a0Certification doesn’t end there either. \u00a0To keep certified you must continue volunteering 40 hours per year and get at least 8 hours of continuing education each year.<\/p>\n For those that want to volunteer as an educator or nature interpreter, a special 2-day course is also offered.<\/p>\n To get involved, check the list of these programs provided by\u00a0ANROSP<\/a>. \u00a0If you can’t find a program in your area, try a Google search using the name of your state along with “Master Naturalist.” \u00a0If that fails, \u00a0you can always call your local county extension agent. \u00a0One way to find them\u00a0is provided on a web page offered by the\u00a0National Pesticide Information Center<\/a>. \u00a0Once you connect with the right people, you will find the schedules for their coursework and the details of getting certified in your area.<\/p>\n If you like to get outdoors,\u00a0explore and stoke your interest in all things nature, programs like this are made for you. \u00a0With this kind of background, your adventures will take on deeper meaning as you use your new found knowledge to explain the many oddities you find on your journeys. \u00a0I plan to start my training this summer. \u00a0You might consider it as well!<\/p>\n Many states have a Master Gardner program, typically managed through the local county extension agent’s office. \u00a0These programs teach people to become better gardeners and to pass on that training to others. \u00a0A similar program is often\u00a0called Master Naturalist, but goes by different names in different places including: California Naturalist Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Iowa […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2205,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2198","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-featured"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2198"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2204,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2198\/revisions\/2204"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2198"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2198"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2198"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The Oregon Program<\/h1>\n
![\"Boy](\"https:\/\/explore.globalcreations.com\/theblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/boydetective.jpg\")
I recently attended an informational meeting about the Oregon Master Naturalist Program<\/a>. While it is quite similar to other programs, each has its own variations. \u00a0In Oregon the program\u00a0is managed by Oregon State University Extension. \u00a0They have divided the state into eco-regions and currently offer training in four or five of them.<\/p>\nStatewide Coursework<\/h3>\n
Eco-Region Coursework<\/h3>\n
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Becoming Certified<\/h3>\n
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Getting Involved<\/h1>\n
Getting Outdoors<\/h1>\n
Please Share<\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"