Iowa Master Conservationist Program to begin in April for Buena Vista & Cherokee County

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will offer the Iowa Master Conservationist Program on Thursdays starting April 17 at 5:30 p.m. The program will take place throughout Buena Vista and Cherokee Counties, providing participants with hands-on interaction with the diversity of the state’s natural resources. The program teaches about Iowa’s natural ecosystems and the diversity of conservation challenges and opportunities that exist in 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 six face-to-face meetings. The online modules will include lessons and resources by Iowa State subject-matter experts to be reviewed at the participants’ own pace at home or at the ISU Extension and Outreach Buena Vista or Cherokee County offices. 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.

Six face-to-face meetings will build on the online lessons and be held at various Buena Vista and Cherokee County locations from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. starting April 17 through May 22. Each face-to-face meeting will be led by local subject-matter experts to demonstrate how the principles covered in the online curriculum and play out locally. Instructors for this program are Adam Janke, ISU Extension Wildlife Specialist, Mark Anderson, Archeologist at Sanford Museum, Ben Wallace at Iowa DNR, Katie Struss, Naturalist with Buena Vista County Conservation, Larrette Kolbe, District Conservationist with NRCS, and Jeff Reichter, Area Soil Health Specialist with NRCS.

Registration for the course is $50 and is due at the time of registration. To register contact the Buena Vista County office at 712-732-5056 or shewett@iastate.edu or Cherokee County office at 712-225-6196 or gaydo@iastate.edu. The deadline to register is April 14 at 4:30 p.m.