 The Emmet Conservation District is excited to announce its second year bringing the nationwide Master Naturalist program to the Tip of the Mitt. This program is open to anyone who has an interest in the great out of doors. Participants in the “Master Naturalist” program will gain a greater understanding of the natural environment and conservation techniques while learning the flora and fauna native to Northern Lower Michigan. Throughout the program and subsequent volunteer opportunities, participants can take an active role in implementing what they have learned throughout their neighborhoods and in their own backyards.
The seven sessions will be taught in both indoor and outdoor settings. The outdoor sessions will be led on foot in a wide variety of locations including well known (or somewhat secretive) parks, native preserves and wetlands throughout the Tip of the Mitt area.
 Students will be provided with a training notebook, materials and resources appropriate for study. Students should wear appropriate clothing such as boots, hat, long pants, etc. A camera, hand lens, field guides and binoculars may also prove helpful on lab walks.
Classes will meet once a month, for seven months on a Saturday morning from 9am to 1pm. Topics include, conservation theory and practice, Michigan Raptors, Waterfowl and the Migration Hawk Count, Michigan’s native trees and shrubs, Wetlands Ecology, Dune Ecology, Invasive Species, and Fishing 101 conservation, ethics and practice. All classes will be led by trained educators and/or conservation professionals.
Cost for the class is $210 per person and includes a training manual and all hand out materials. Additional family members can register for $110 each and share the manual and handouts. Master Gardeners are can receive educational credits for these classes.
 Anyone wanting to be certified as a Master Naturalist will have to complete a take home final exam and 25 hours of conservation related volunteer work. For more information or to receive a registration brochure, please email Cydney Steeb at or call (231) 439-8977.
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