In the spring of 2017, Pennsylvania Master Naturalist is partnering with the Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy in Montgomery County to prepare citizens to become volunteer leaders in their communities through natural resource conservation education, citizen science, and stewardship.

PA Master Naturalist is a citizen volunteer initiative with three key components:  an initial 55-hour volunteer training, annual volunteer service, and continuing education in the natural sciences.

Master Naturalist volunteers design and pursue a wide variety of service projects from habitat restoration and native plantings, to nature walks and interpretive displays or publications on natural history, to water quality monitoring and supporting the natural resource conservation efforts of partnering organizations.

Since 2010, PA Master Naturalist volunteers in Southeastern Pennsylvania have:

-- Engaged in more than 14,000 hours of conservation service;

-- Contributed over $330,000 in conservation value and impact to numerous regional partners

reached over 20,000 people through education and outreach initiatives; and

-- Improved 620 acres of habitat through stewardship service.

Once accepted into the PA Master Naturalist program, participants begin by attending an initial intensive training.  This natural history training includes 55 hours of classroom (weekday evenings) and field sessions (Saturday). 

Following this training, participants will engage in 30 hours of service in the first year and 8 hours of continuing education in order to become certified as a Master Naturalist Volunteer.  Participants thereafter must complete annual service and continuing education hours to maintain their status as Master Naturalist Volunteers.

Spring training with Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy will begin in March and run through June.   Spring 2017 Registration Deadline is January 1, 2017.

The finalized training schedule along with the application and information about training can be found on Pennsylvania Master Naturalist website.  Questions should be directed to Ellyn Nolt by sending email to: enolt@pamasternaturalist.org or call 717-368-4899.

For more on programs, initiatives and other upcoming events in the watershed, visit the  Perkiomen Watershed website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Perkiomen.

[Posted Nov. 28, 2016]

12/5/2016