Master Naturalist Program receives NE Environmental Trust grant
The Nebraska Master Naturalist program has received $91,947 as the third installment of a three-year Nebraska Environmental Trust grant to continue helping to protect and preserve the state’s natural resources.
Conservation agencies and organizations preserve, restore and manage tens of thousands of acres of land across Nebraska, creating a need for specialized, dedicated volunteers to help manage the natural resources. The Master Naturalist Program, a science-based, nonprofit, adult-volunteer education program, does just that.
Since its inception in 2010, the program has trained 308 people, 279 of which have maintained their membership and receive regular notices of volunteer and continuing education opportunities. Members contribute at least 20 hours a year to volunteer conservation efforts with more than 30 partnering agencies and organizations.
Over the last six years, Master Naturalists have invested more than 34,000 hours of conservation service, an estimated value of about $799,000.
The grant will help fund the Master Naturalist general program efforts and expenses. More training sessions are planned for this year:
• June 5 to 11 at The Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve, Valentine-Ainsworth-Bassett area;
• July 7 to 9 at Panhandle Research and Extension Center, Scottsbluff, Gering area;
• and Sept. 30 to Oct. 1 and Oct. 7 to 8, AkSarBen Aquarium at Schramm Park, Lincoln-Omaha-Gretna area. For more information or to register, visit naturalist.unl.edu.
The funding also makes possible the annual Naturalist calendar, available in September at the Nebraska Maps and More store in Hardin Hall.
The Master Naturalist Program benefits from matching support through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources and Nebraska Extension.
The Trust is funded by proceeds from the Nebraska Lottery and has awarded more than $250 million to more than 1,900 conservation projects in Nebraska since 1994.
— Shawna Richter-Ryerson, Natural Resources
More details at: http://go.unl.edu/o8w5