Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer the Iowa Master Conservationist Program starting May 6. The program will take place at different locations within Hamilton, Humboldt, Webster and Pocahontas counties, providing participants with hands-on interaction showing the diversity of the state’s natural resources.

The program teaches about Iowa’s natural ecosystems and the diversity of conservation challenges and opportunities within the region. Graduates of the course learn to make informed choices for leading and educating others to improve conservation in Iowa.

The program consists of approximately 12 hours of online curriculum and seven weekly three-hour face-to-face meetings. The online modules will include lessons and resources by Iowa State University subject-matter experts to be reviewed at the participants’ own pace at home or at the ISU Extension and Outreach County office. Module topics include conservation history and science, understanding Iowa ecosystems, implementing conservation practices in human dominated landscapes and developing skills to help educate others about conservation practices.

The face-to-face meetings held on Tuesday evenings will build on the online lessons. The program schedule is as follows:

May 6: Introduction — Matt Cosgrove River’s Edge Discovery Center, Fort Dodge;

May 13: Putting it together in the Watershed — Webster City;

May 20: Understanding Iowa’s Ecosystems: Prairies — Brushy Creek;

May 27: Understanding Iowa’s Ecosystems: Forests — Gotch Park, Humboldt;

June 3: Understanding Iowa’s Ecosystems: Aquatic Environments, Smeltzer Farm, Webster County;

June 10: Setting the Stage: Land, Water and Conservation in Iowa, Pocahontas County;

June 17: Planting the seeds of Conservation: Graduation, Pocahontas County;

All of these programs are from 6 to 9 p.m. Each face-to-face meeting will be led by local subject-matter experts to demonstrate how the principles covered in the online curriculum play out locally.

Registration for the course is $125 and includes all materials and refreshments and is due at the time of registration. Please register online by May 1 at: https://go.iastate.edu/UTOH9Y

If you have questions, contact Sue Schmitz at the Hamilton County Extension 515-832-9597 or sschmitz@iastate.edu.

Note: Master Conservationist Program participants are now able to earn AEA license renewal credits for participation in the program. Licensed teachers that are in need of renewal credits can earn two credits for going through the MCP. Registration through AEA and an additional $100 fee to AEA are required. A short reflection on your experience in MCP and what you learned will be used to grade your participation.