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Contact: Richard Schroyer, 507-825-5464
On August 21-25, Pipestone National Monument will be hosting a Minnesota Master Naturalist course in partnership with the University of Minnesota Extension Office. Biological Science Technician Richard Schroyer will be offering “Prairies and Potholes,” a class covering the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. The morning sessions will be held on the Minnesota West Pipestone Campus and feature lecture and discussion about the tall grass prairie, its fauna and flora, and the geology of the area. Afternoons will consist of field trips to the Monument. In addition to these activities, participants will create a Capstone Project related to the park.
Schroyer is a certified course trainer and has tailored the content to relate to Pipestone National Monument. Schroyer has over 30 years of experience teaching biological sciences in public schools and 3 years of experience in prairie restoration at the Monument.
The mission of the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program is to promote awareness, understanding, and stewardship of Minnesota’s natural environment by developing a corps of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities. Any adult who is curious and enjoys learning about the natural world, shares that knowledge with others, and supports conservation can be a Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer.
The course will run from August 21-25 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and meet in the mornings at Minnesota West. Good hiking shoes and water are a necessity. Long pants are preferred as we will be venturing out into the tallgrass prairie.
The course fee charged by the University of Minnesota Extension Office is $295 to cover program administration and materials. Participants will receive a textbook on Prairies and Potholes written by the Minnesota Extension Office. Upon completion of the course and Capstone Project, participants will be Minnesota Master Naturalists. To maintain that credential, Minnesota Master Naturalists are required to log 40 hours of volunteer service and participate in 8 hours of advanced training annually.
Interested participants can access information and register at the following website: Minnesota Master Naturalist (https://www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org).
About the National Park Service: More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 425 national parks and work with communities across the nation to preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities.
Last updated: August 1, 2023