DECATUR – The Glacier’s Edge Master Naturalists welcomed 11 new volunteers on November 19. The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist program is designed for adults who want to have a positive impact on their community as an environmental steward and naturalist.

These new Master Naturalists completed 11 weeks of training, including 32 hours of classroom instruction and eight hours of field work. They learned about Illinois’ natural history and environmental issues from University of Illinois experts.

•Nancy Dunn
•Paul Foster
•Saramanda Hall
•Elizabeth Hood
•Shanna Hull
•Charles Jarvis
•George Pourchot
•Kristen Ragusa
•LaRae Robinson
•RoxAnne Snelson
•Catherine Stanford

“Each year we have a unique group who attend our classes.” says Dena Hyde, University of Illinois Extension program coordinator for Agriculture. “I learn just as much from them as I do from our classes and I always look forward to seeing what the new class will contribute to our future programs.”

Now that they have completed their training, the Master Naturalists will work toward completing 60 hours of volunteer service over the next two years with organizations such as Scovill Zoo, the Illinois Raptor Center and the Macon County Conservation District.

To learn more about the Master Naturalist program or if you’re interested in taking the annual training in 2020, contact program coordinator Dena Hyde at (217) 877-6042.

Contact

Dena Hyde
Program Coordinator, Agriculture
Macon Extension Office
3351 N. President Howard Brown Blvd., Decatur, IL 62521
(217) 877-6042
denahyde@illinois.edu