A six-week Master Conservationist Program, hosted by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach in Dallas County, will explore the history and current opportunities for conservation in Iowa and highlighting Iowa’s landforms, forests, prairies, wetlands and rivers in the Dallas County area.
The program starts May 19 and pairs in-person demonstrations and discussions led by local experts and online, self-paced lessons from Iowa State University experts.
According to the course description:
The intensive, blended, online and in-person curriculum is developed to equip Iowans interested in natural resource conservation with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about natural resources and to become local leaders and educators.
Master Conservationists are individuals that share an interest in the sustainability of Iowa’s natural resources and in becoming better stewards of those resources.
The curriculum is structured into four modules that combine technical information presented and curated by Iowa State University researchers and educators with in-person sessions led by local conservation leaders, practitioners and experts.
Module 1 ‘sets the stage’ for the course, exploring the history and current structure of conservation in Iowa and also exploring the landforms and waterways that make up the state’s land area.
Module 2 digs deep into the structure, function, and challenges facing Iowa’s natural prairie, forest and aquatic ecosystems.
Module 3 explores the wide range of conservation practices developed and implemented to address conservation challenges in Iowa.
The final and fourth module then examines the human elements of conservation and explores how to communicate the importance of conservation to Iowa and Iowans.
Course graduates are awarded a certificate and encouraged to get engaged locally to apply the information they learn and continue to build their local connections to conservation professionals and other passionate conservationists.
The cost for this program is $100 and includes all materials and refreshments. Fees for the program are used to offset direct expenses for the program, according to ISU Extension.
Please register online by May 15. For more information, call the Dallas County Extension office at 515-993-4281.
