Upper Snake Chapter of Idaho Master Naturalists Looking for New Members
IDAHO FALLS -The Upper Snake Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists (IMN) will begin the core education classes for new master naturalists on Monday, March 6, 2017. The classes will continue on Monday evenings through June 19, 2017. Most of the classes are held in the Centennial room of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) office, 4279 Commerce Circle in Idaho Falls. A few of the classes in May or June will be field trips. The classes start at 7 p.m. and usually end at 10 p.m.
The website, idahomasternaturalist.org, provides information on the program, including past newsletters which describe some of the many activities in our program. On the left side of the home page, click on Idaho Falls, ID. This will take you to the Upper Snake Chapter page. On the left side of the Upper Snake Chapter page is the selection of “Reading Resources: Curriculum Chapters”. Click on this link and you will see a list of the curriculum chapters which are the reading material for the core education classes. You can look through these to get an idea of what the classes cover.
You can also check out their Facebook page for photos and descriptions of recent Master Naturalist activities. Search Upper Snake Chapter, Idaho Master Naturalists.
To be certified as a master naturalist, each student must complete 40 hours of education classes in the first year. The scheduled classes will total about 45 hours, so a student can miss one or two and still complete enough education hours. In addition, each student must complete 40 hours of volunteer work on any of the many IMN projects with the IDFG, National Forest Service, National Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM and other agencies.
Registration for the 2017 classes opens on January 9, 2017 and closes on February 20. The cost is $60 per person, if you choose to access the reading assignments on the website (see above) or $100 per person, if you wish a printed binder of the curriculum chapters.
Registration forms are available at the IDFG office or by contacting Pegge Steele the 2017 Core Education Coordinator at 208-523-1187 or by e-mail dylis@q.com. The completed forms and a check for the fees must be delivered in-person to the IDFG office located at 4279 Commerce Drive in Idaho Falls The office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.
##