List of State Naturalist and Master Naturalist Programs

[Carole]

I, too, was very disappointed in the Windstar programs. They are written on about a third grade level. They are not well researched. They persist in recommending many invasive plants. They give a lot of misinformation. They have not been updated since they were released. In other words, save your money. There is much better information here in this forum than you get from Windstar.

[TheLorax]

Shame on Windstar. Their articles are laced with misinformation and photos of invasive species being recommended. This organization is part of the problem not the solution.

[Equilibrium]

The problem with the Windstars is that they're in it for the money or else they would have poured their heart and soul into their end product... but that costs money and that would cut into profits and like it or lump it it's what they're going to offer.

[Cirsium]

The list in Post #1 has been updated to add New Jersey's program.

[Cirsium]

Just bringing this thread up to make some of our newer members aware of these programs.

[jack]

Originally Posted by Cirsium

Just bringing this thread up to make some of our newer members aware of these programs.

Thanks, Cirsium, glad you did. I'e bookmarked many of these sites and will have a good source in the future!

[tineckbone]

Both Mary (bridget1964) and I are Master Naturalists. We were in the first class of the program for the state of NJ. We are also CIG (Certified Interpretive Guide). That class was given after the VMNP class. That was 3 years ago. We learned a great deal in that class and I have to tell you that the CIG program is a VERY intense short program. I think it was only about 4 days long, but they were very, very long days. It was the VMNP that opened my eyes to the role that invasives play in our ecosystem and it was Dr Tallamy's book that sealed my fate forever. I cannot speak for the course of any other state, but if you can take it in NJ, I fully recommend it. You never know, you just might be seeing Mary and me around since the course is conducted at the NWR that I spend a lot of time at! Mary actually spoke to the last graduating class at their graduation. I was supposed to be there too but was a bit under the weather and bowed out.

[ButterflyLinda]

I was in the 7th class in the San Antonio area. Heard about it from a lady in a college class I took. I'm no longer active in the organization because of other obligations, but it was great!

[bridget1964]

I learned so much from the MN class we took at the Forsythe Wildlife Refuge in Oceanville, NJ. We both continue to do volunteer work there to fulfill the 40 hr. per year requirement. I will be there this afternoon, monitoring purple martin nesting houses! The babies are so tiny!

[schphgochi]

I completed the Master Naturalist Program this year in Cook County IL. I live in Will County, but the program wasn't offered there this year.

I completed my 40 hours of volunteer work even before the classes were done because I am also a steward for the local Forest Preserve here in Will County...I have been a Steward for nearly 20 years.

The program in Cook County was AWESOME! I can't say enough about it. We did classroom work and field work. The instructor we had for Geology was the most amazing teacher I have ever had. He made rocks come alive. Our Anthrapology instructor was also absolutely fantastic.

I came away from the program with a better understanding of the relationship of all things around us and the program also made me look at some things differently.

In Illinois, the Master Naturalist Classes are under the direction of the University of Illinois Extension. Sadly, with Illinois' political problems and huge budget crisis, the Extension has also suffered. I don't know what the future will bring.