University of Minnesota Extension to offer Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer Training at Chester Woods Park and Oxbow Park

Do you enjoy learning about the animals, plants, rocks, and weather? If so, you should become a Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteer!

Two Olmsted County Parks groups, Friends of Chester Woods and Friends of Oxbow in Rochester, MN are hosting a Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer Training from April 16 through May 21, 2024.

Master Naturalist volunteers complete a 40-hour hands-on course with expert instructors and fellow learners studying natural history, environmental interpretation, and conservation stewardship. Final certification comes with the completion of 40 hours of volunteer service. The program offers three courses that correspond to Minnesota’s three major ecosystems entitled: ‘Big Woods, Big Rivers;’ ‘Prairies and Potholes;’ and ‘North Woods, Great Lakes’.

This course will cover the natural and cultural history of the Prairies and Potholes region of Minnesota. We will provide an in-depth overview of the prairie and wetlands ecosystem that are vital to the area and participants will observe and learn about the variety of plant and animal communities of the region. Through the course, participants will develop their ability to observe nature and will learn tools to improve these skills. In addition, participants will improve their communication skills by sharing knowledge with other participants and working on a group project.

The first class will be held Tuesday, April 16, 2024, at Chester Woods Park from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Classes will then be meeting alternately at Oxbow Park on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Thursday evenings at Chester Woods Park from 6 to 8:30 p.m., ending with graduation on May 21. There will not be a class on Thursday, May 16. Two Saturday field trips are scheduled, one on Saturday, April 27, and the other on Saturday, May 11. The cost for the course is $275, including materials.

Media Contact: Sue Struckmann | 507-328-7070 | sue.struckmann@olmstedcounty.gov