Accomplishment Report
2004-2006
The Missouri Master
Naturalist Program
Mission: to engage Missourians in the stewardship of the state’s natural
resources through science-based education and community service
Introduction
The need for an increased number of dedicated and well-informed
volunteers and citizens is often cited as important for the success of
community-based conservation efforts. One challenge facing Missouri
communities in both rural and urban areas is sustaining the natural
resource base and the quality of life those resources provide. The Missouri
Master Naturalist program has been developed to address this need by
developing a local corps of “master volunteers” to provide education,
outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural
resources within their respective community.
The Missouri Master Naturalist program combines education and volunteer
service at the community-level and empowers citizens to become more
involved in natural resource management and education. Master Naturalist
volunteers are trained and certified at the local level through their respective
chapters and the local coordinating committee.
“Through the Master
Naturalist volunteer
program, you can help
youth and adults in
your community learn
about Missouri’s natural
resources and you can
help local conservation
partners implement a
variety of educational
projects that benefit the
natural resource base in
your area...”
Partnerships
The Missouri Master Naturalist program results from a partnership with the Missouri Department of
Conservation, University of Missouri Extension and the MU School of Natural Resources. MU Extension
and Department of Conservation personnel provide leadership for developing a coordinating committee
made up of partner organizations at the local level to conduct the volunteer education program. Ultimately,
these committees work to develop local Master Naturalist chapters to provide outreach and volunteer
service within a community.
Partnerships between chapters and local natural resource-minded organizations at the local level are an
integral part of the program. These organizations may include other state and federal agencies, as well
as private organizations whose interests are within the scope of the program. The results have been the
development of a unique organization of master volunteers.
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Program Objectives
1. Improve public understanding of natural resource
ecology and management by developing a pool of
local knowledge that can be used to enhance and
expand educational efforts within local communities.
2. Enhance existing natural resources education and
outreach activities by providing natural resources
training at the local level, thereby developing a team of
dedicated and informed volunteers.
3. Develop a self-sufficient Missouri Master Naturalist
volunteer network.
“I want to share the
diversity of natural habitats
with children and adults
so they can fully appreciate
our natural resources
and participate in future
decisions about them with
knowledge and a sense of
the importance of place.”
An increasing number of communities and organizations across the state have relied on these skilled volunteers
to implement natural resource educational programs for adults and youth audiences, for the expertise of these
volunteers in implementing a variety of conservation projects and for providing leadership in local natural
resource conservation efforts.
Becoming a Certified Master Naturalist
To become Certified Missouri Master Naturalists, participants must complete the following within 15 months
(all of which is provided through local Master Naturalist chapters):
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“I received in-depth training in
natural resource ecology and
management from real experts!”
—In return, participants
provide volunteer service in the
form of educational activities,
research projects, or ecosystem
management for local partner
organizations.
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The state committee-approved curriculum with a minimum
of 40 hours of combined field and classroom instruction.
A minimum of 8 contact hours of chapter-approved advanced
training in the subject of their choice.
A minimum of 40 hours of chapter-approved volunteer service.
The 40-hour course covers a wide variety of topics,
including basic ecological concepts, Missouri’s ecoregions
and ecosystems, wildlife population and natural community
management, rural and urban conservation issues, plant and
animal identification and much more. Special attention is
focused on local ecosystems and field sessions are an
important part of the training.
Volunteer service projects provide further educational opportunities, as well as benefiting a number of local
agencies and organizations in the communities. Local partner organizations participate and support local
chapters in a variety of ways, and in return receive the benefit of volunteer service. Once the volunteer has
completed all the requirements they shall receive a state certificate, a name tag and a color dragonfly pin as a
Certified Missouri Master Naturalist. To retain the title of Certified Missouri Master Naturalist each subsequent
year, volunteers must complete a minimum of 8 hours of approved advanced training and provide a minimum
of 40 hours of approved volunteer service.
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Program Accomplishments
In 2004, the Missouri Master Naturalist program was piloted in West Plains and Columbia. Building on these
experiences, it became a statewide “named and branded” educational program in 2005. Below are just a few of the
programming highlights that have helped make this program a success.
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A combined MU Extension In-Service Education and Department of Conservation Academy for
Leadership Excellence offering, entitled “Delivering the Missouri Master Naturalist Program,” was
conducted for Extension regional specialists and MDC natural resource professionals interested in
implementing the program in their region of the state.
A Master Naturalist Program Manual was developed
as a resource for chapter advisors (MU Extension and
MDC). The manual provides information and guidelines
for implementing and conducting a Master Naturalist
program, from the “training” phase to the chapter
development or “application” phase.
The 1st Annual Missouri Master Naturalist Conference was
conducted in 2006, with over 60 volunteers participating in
advanced training and leadership development activities.
“So far, my most
memorable experience
as a Master Naturalist
is looking into the eyes
of those people who
absolutely love sharing
their expertise.”
A graduate research project was conducted to determine the impacts of the program and assess changes
in volunteer knowledge and attitudes.
A Master Naturalist resident intern position was filled with MDC to assist in the design and development
of educational and supporting materials; these have included the development of a Chapter Officer
Manual and Missouri Master Naturalist Chapter Chartering Guidelines, coordination of advanced
training opportunities and the revision of the program’s training curriculum.
A Master Naturalist program website (www.monaturalist.org) was created to provide resources for
volunteers and general information about the program to the public.
Missouri was host for the first National Training Workshop developed for state coordinators interested
in implementing Master Naturalist programs in their respective states.
In 2007, we celebrate our fourth year as a statewide program!
“This project provided a good transition into volunteer work in the area of conservation.
The experience provided an application for the naturalist training we received. It also
provided an avenue to expand our knowledge in areas of interest.”
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Program Impacts
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Through December 2006, with combined
efforts of seven recognized local chapters,
325 participants have become trained
natural resource volunteers through the
Master Naturalist program.
“The Master Naturalists have
given our organization the
benefit of accomplishing some
tasks that would have perhaps
been otherwise unachievable.”
To date, the volunteers have continued their
education, obtaining over 3,000 hours of
advanced training.
Over 100 volunteers have become Certified
Missouri Master Naturalists.
Over 11,500 hours of volunteer service have
been donated to enhance the natural resource
base within local communities.
The economic impact of Missouri Master
Naturalist volunteer service through 2006 is
valued at $209,011.441.
More than 25 organizations have partnered
with Master Naturalist chapters to accomplish
natural resource education efforts and
service projects.
“The work of the Master
Naturalists has allowed the
refuge to get an outreach and
interpretive product to the public
in a much more efficient manner.
People are now well-informed
about the refuge and the flora
and fauna that exist here.”
The value of volunteer service calculated using Independent Sector’s $18.04 per hour. The hourly value is based on the average hourly earnings for private nonagricultural
workers as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This figure is then increased by 12 percent to estimate fringe benefits. http://www.independentsector.org
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Current Chapters
and their Local Partners
1. Ozarks Chapter (West Plains)—Bryant Creek Watershed Project
2. Boone’s Lick Chapter (Columbia)—Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of Big Muddy, Rock Bridge
Memorial State Park, Friends of Rock Bridge, Hinkson Watershed Restoration Project
3. Chert Glades Naturalists Chapter (Joplin)—Wildcat Glades Audubon and Conservation Center
4. Meramec Hills Chapter (Rolla)—Bonebrake Center of Nature and History, Rolla Audubon Center, Camp
Brimshire
5. Confluence Chapter (St. Charles)—Big Muddy National Wildlife Refuge, Shaw Nature Reserve,
St. Charles County Parks and Recreation Department
6. Springfield Plateau Naturalists (Springfield)—Watershed Community of the Ozarks, Ozark Regional Land Trust,
Greater Ozark Audubon Society
7. Osage Trails Chapter (Blue Springs)—Heartland Tree Alliance, Keep Kansas City Beautiful, Burrough’s Audubon
Society, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Blue Springs Parks and Recreation, Jackson Parks and Recreation,
Kansas City Wildlands, Powell Gardens, Lincoln University Extension
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Master Naturalist
Chapter Activities at a Glance
Chapter
(year established)
Volunteers
Trained
Advanced
Training Hours
Volunteer
Service Hours
Ozarks
(Spring 2004)
Boone’s Lick
(Fall 2004)
Chert Glades Naturalists
(Spring 2005)
Meremec Hills
(Spring 2005)
Confluence
(Fall 2005)
Springfield Plateau Naturalists
(Spring 2006)
Osage Trails
(Fall 2006)
54
880
2800
53
581
3336
25
461
1756
39
507
1754
65
456
1344
28
124
586
34
N/A
N/A
325
3,009
11,586
Total
“We are blessed to have a beautiful state,
and we need to take care of it. Now I am
a part of this process.”
“The initial training created a need
in me to find out more.”
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A Spotlight on Chapter Projects
Each chapter has worked on many notable projects in their community. Here is just a small sample of the
differences the Missouri Master Naturalist chapters have made.
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The Ozarks Chapter has monthly clean-up work days and water quality monitoring of the North Fork
River, in cooperation with the chapter sponsored Stream Team #2958.
The Confluence Chapter has developed a rain garden at the
Discovery Expedition’s Lewis and Clark Boathouse, created
on a former construction dump site. It features native plants
that Lewis and Clark might have seen in Missouri during their
expedition. Educational resources have also been developed on
the garden and for school programs conducted at the boathouse.
“I’m so excited that our
community will have a
place like this, and it has
been great helping out.”
The Meramec Hills Chapter has created a Braille nature
trail for visually impaired campers at Camp Brim Shire, a non-profit camp that serves disabled and
disadvantaged youth. In addition, the chapter hosted the first statewide Master Naturalist conference.
The Boone’s Lick Chapter created a butterfly checklist for the Overton Bottoms Unit of the Big
Muddy National Fish and Wildlife Refuge. During their butterfly census, they found Regal Fritillary
outside of its documented range. The butterfly is a species of conservation concern in Missouri.
The Chert Glades Naturalists Chapter supports the Wild Cat Glades Conservation and Audubon
Center in Joplin. When the center is completed and opened, the chapter will provide the volunteer
support for the facility. In the meantime, the chapter is conducting natural community restoration at
Wildcat Park, where the center is being constructed.
The Springfield Plateau Naturalists Chapter works with a variety of watershed groups to do water
quality monitoring and education. Several members are conducting a lichen survey at the Missouri
State University Bull Shoals Field Station.
The Osage Trails Chapter in Kansas City just graduated their first class of 34 and are looking forward
to many great projects in the coming year.
“Through my volunteer service, I’m educating the
public to preserve Missouri’s natural resources.”
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Preliminary Program Assessment
Research Results
Missouri Master Naturalists: Leading Through Community-Based Natural Resources Volunteerism
Caroline Broun, Charles Nilon and Robert Pierce II, University of Missouri-Columbia;
Ginny Wallace, Missouri Department of Conservation
During 2005, funding was obtained to conduct a research project to assess the impacts of the Missouri Master
Naturalist program and to determine whether there is an improvement in volunteer knowledge of natural resource
processes and issues after training. Surveys have been designed to identify volunteer’s motivations for participating
in the Master Naturalist program and to determine if there is a relationship between volunteer’s motivations and
any improvement in knowledge of natural resource processes and issues.
Eighty-five volunteers participated in the surveys. As a result of their Master Naturalist training and involvement,
volunteers’ knowledge increased significantly and preliminary research shows that participants are retaining this
knowledge over time. Analysis of the pre-training survey results and the post-training survey results demonstrate
a significant improvement in volunteers’ knowledge of ecological processes and conservation issues in Missouri
after completing the Missouri Master Naturalist training program. Volunteers maintained this level of knowledge
six months after training, as demonstrated by analysis of the post-training survey results and the six-month followup survey.
Analysis of volunteers’ motivations for participating in the Master Naturalist program indicate that most
volunteers identified values/altruism and knowledge as important motivations for participating, followed closely
by a desire to learn. Analysis of the relationship between volunteer motivations for participating and improvement
in knowledge scores indicate no significant relationship between any particular motivation and improvement in
knowledge at the end of the Master Naturalist training program.
Vision for the Future
Over the next few years MU Extension and MDC will continue to work with community volunteers and leaders in
the development of new Master Naturalist chapters in various locations across the state. Expectations are that the
program will continue to grow, with new volunteers becoming involved in the program each year. The Department
of Conservation’s strategic plan, The Next Generation of Conservation, includes an objective to train 3,000 new
Master Naturalists by the year 2015. To accomplish this goal we anticipate the development of three to five new
chapters each year. Combined with the ongoing training offered within the existing chapters, we envision that over
350 new volunteers would potentially be trained annually. To find out how to develop a new Master Naturalist
chapter in your area, visit www.monaturalist.org or contact the statewide program coordinators identified
in this report.
The Master Naturalist program is national in scope. In fact, Missouri is one of over 27 states developing and
implementing Master Naturalist type volunteer educational programs. The Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach
and Service Programs (ANROSP), was formed in 2006 to facilitate networking and resource development for
member programs with the goal of establishing Master Naturalist-type educational programs in each of
the 50 states. Additional information is available at the website: www.nralliance.org.
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For More Information
Visit the program website: www.monaturalist.org
Or email general inquiries to: [email protected]
Master Naturalist
Program Coordinators:
Ginny Wallace
State Program Coordinator
Missouri Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102
[email protected]
Angela Belden
Master Naturalist Specialist
Missouri Department of Conservation
P.O. Box 180
Jefferson City, MO 65102
[email protected]
Robert A. Pierce II, Ph.D.
Extension Wildlife Specialist
School of Natural Resources
University of Missouri
302 ABNR Bldg.
Columbia, MO 65211
[email protected]
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