Who is your audience?
Due to the burgeoning nature of the program and the EPA grant that partially funds it, this is intended to be an education program for Washington State residents living in or near Kitsap, Mason, Chelan, and Spokane counties.
The grant-funded track of the program (Track 1) intends to demonstrate how the certified Naturalists can help environmental organizations by volunteering in their youth education programs. All the youth education programs will focus on water quality and quantity. Participants will only be accepted to the program that can commit to 25 hours of volunteering with Wenatchee River Institute in Leavenworth or Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group in Belfair.
The tuition-based track of the program (Track 2) intends to demonstrate how the certified Naturalists can help environmental organizations by volunteering in stewardship, participatory science, and all educational programs. Therefore, participants in this track have a little more flexibility in the volunteering they can partake in that applies toward their Naturalist certification. Participants will only be accepted to the program that can commit to 20 hours of volunteering with Great Peninsula Conservancy in Kitsap, Spokane County Water Resources in Spokane, and Dishman Hills Conservancy in Spokane.
What is the program scope?
The core modules will provide an overview of Washington state ecosystems, general ecology, and engage you in scientific literacy and principles. Four of the advanced modules focus on water, and we are developing a Forestry module.
What relationship does your curriculum have with similar existing courses? (e. g., Beach Naturalists, Master Gardeners etc.)
This program and curriculum are intended to be used statewide with more breadth and depth of information than the Beach Naturalists and Master Gardener training. There is a focus on water and water ecology like the Beach Naturalist programs, but with an emphasis on the diverse biogeography of Washington. This program is also centered around completing self-paced, online modules across several months, as well as a required field component.
Could you please provide more information about how the online course modules work and the time commitment for them?
We estimate that the shorter modules will take approximately 3 to 4 hours to complete. The modules that are over 70 pages may take 8 to 9 hours to complete. Time commitment is expected 50 to 60 hours for the online modules.
You typically have 2 weeks to complete each module. Some modules we provide 3-4 weeks due to them opening during the holidays. After the scheduled time for a module is completed, you will meet with others in the program on Zoom for a 1-hour discussion section. It is recommended to complete the modules during the scheduled time to stay on track with your fellow participants and be able to participate in discussion section fully.
When you complete a module within the scheduled time, you cannot advance onto the next module until its scheduled release date. If you don’t complete a module until after the release date of the next module, you will need to wait for an instructor to grade your end-of-module assignment to advance.
How many hours of online lectures would we be watching?
Many of the videos and lectures are only a few minutes. Some of them are 20 to 30 minutes. It varies from module to module.
Is it a lecture-based Zoom class where we all gather?
No, these are online modules that are completed during your own time. We will meet every other week to discuss the modules, ask questions, and get to know the other Naturalist apprentices.
Do we complete the modules on our own time?
Yes, you will have at least two weeks to complete each module.
Is there a way to do this program during nights and weekends?
Yes, because these are online modules you will be able to complete when best fits your schedule. We will have a Zoom discussion section options for evenings and during a weekday.
Can you share any additional information about when this would start?
Everyone will meet on Zoom and the online learning modules will launch on October 20th. The modules should be completed by the week of March 16th.
Is a background in science needed?
No, a background in science is not required. We want you to learn about the ecology and natural resources in our beautiful state.
How much travel would be expected for us as volunteers on projects? Might the projects be within our own county?
Because there is a 20- or 25-hour volunteer commitment (depending on the track you’re on) to one of six specific partner organizations in Washington, you will need to be able to travel consistently to these organizations. They are in four counties: Great Peninsula Conservancy in Kitsap, Wenatchee River Institute in western Chelan, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group in western Kitsap/north Mason, and Dishman Hills Conservancy, Spokane County Water Resources, and Spokane Conservation District in Spokane.
When reviewing applications, priority is given to applicants that reside in the same counties as the partner organizations.