Overview
The Georgia Master Naturalist program is a series of weekly programs with specific environmental topics. This program is a hands-on environmental education program that explores habitats and ecosystems in Georgia. The sessions are customized to local habitats such as swamps, sand ridges, ponds, rivers, wetlands, mountains, forests, urban landscapes and the issues affecting them.
This program is combination of lectures and outside hands-on learning through field studies and relevant resource materials. The program subject matter can be adjusted to meet the needs of participants and local expertise. This course can also provide SDU,s for teachers and others. An informed person can help make changes in their lives as well as their community and safeguard our environment. After completing this fun and interactive program, the Georgia Master Naturalists are encouraged to share their knowledge with their communities by volunteering in local schools or nature centers.
Purpose
The Georgia Master Naturalist program is an Adult Environmental Education course developed by the UGA Cooperative Extension Service and the Warnell School of Forest Resources for people who wish to be more informed about habitats, ecosystems, and the natural environments of our state.
Mission
The mission of the Georgia Master Naturalist Program is to provide unbiased, scientifically based information about environmental issues for adults.
Areas of Discovery
Introduction
- Program Overview
- Resource materials
- Geology
- Hydrology
- Natural Environments of GA
Basic Ecological Principles
- Habitats
- Succession
- Ecological Cycles
- Energy flow
Water Quality
- Water cycles
- TMDLs
- Water Quality
- Water Conservation
Native Plants
- ID and use of plant keys
- Plant structure
- Habitat
- Role of plants in ecosystem
- Threatened/Endangered plants
Forestry
- Habitats
- Value to community
- Value to State
- Economics
- Tree Identification
- Forest Management
- Prescribed Burning
- Landowner Assisance Programs
Wildlife
- ID including tracks and sign
- Wildlife management
- Nuisance wildlife control
- Landscaping for wildlife
- Habitat relationships
- Threatened/Endangered species
Birding
- ID by sight and sound
- Habitat
- Migration
- Ecology and Conservation
Agriculture
- Overview of agriculture
- Pesticide use
- Agriculture economics and marketing
- BMPs
- Integrated pest management
- Soils
- Water management and irrigation
- Waste disposal
- Composting
- Environmental Impacts
Urban Forestry & Environmental Awareness
- Importance of urban forests
- Backyard wildlife
- Costs of maintaining urban forests
- Proper planting techniques
- Proper waste disposal
- Recycling methods and costs
Tentative Schedule for Athens Area Program. Outline for other areas of Georga may different
Master Naturalist Training Schedule
*Note: Bird, Wildlife, Plant and Rock identification are integrated throughout the program
- Week 1, Mengak; Location: Whitehall Forest Athens
- Program Overview
- Trail Maps and Global Positioning Systems
- Ecology
- Introduction to birding
- Tour of Whitehall - with WSFR
- Week 2, West; Location: North Georgia, Tallulah Gorge State Park & Dahlonega
- Geology
- Hydrology
- Natural History
- Natural Environments
- Mining and Mineralogy
- Week 3, Henning; Location: Athens
- Water treatment and conservation - Bear Creek Reservoir
- Waste water treatment, septic systems & municipal compost - AC Treatment Plant
- Stream Water Quality/ Macroinvertebrate assessment - Sandy Creek Nature Center
- Week 4, Osorio; Location: State Botanical Garden
- Native Plants with Anne Schenk
- Endangered Plants
- Butterfly Gardening
- Medicinal Plants and Edible Plants
- Week 5, Henning/West; Location: Braselton Area
- Tree Identification - Arboretum in Braselton with Bill Lott
- Production forestry Techniques
- GFC/GFLA
- Land Taxes/Zoning with Coleman Dangerfield and others
- Week 6, Mengak; Location: Athens
- Jeff Jackson Wildlife
- Mike Mengak Wildlife
- Doug Hall Nuisance Wildlife
- Week 7 - Henning/West; Location: Madison
- Agriculture, Jacks Creek Farm
- Cotton Gin in Bostwick
- Dairy near Madison
- Fish Hatchery in Social Circle
- Week 8 - Henning; Location: Athens
- Urban Forestry
- AC Landfill - Solid Waste Management and Composting
- AC Recycling Center - Recycling
- Final Dinner and Graduation
For Further Information Contact:
- Dr. Michael T. Mengak
- State Coordinator, GaMNP
- Warnell School of Forest Resources
- 706.583.8096
- mmengak@forestry.uga.edu
Or your local Cooperative Extension Service County Agent
Sponsors in addition to the Warnell School of Forest Resources include:
