Advanced Training

Training opportunities offered on this page are only available for prior graduates of the program.

In order to keep your Master Naturalist status current, you must take at least 8 hours of Advanced Training per year or 16 hours per year if you are a Statewide Master Naturalist. These hours can be deducted from your 30 required volunteer service hours. Advanced training can be taken through the Master Naturalist program or external to the program.   Please document your training hours on the Volunteer Tracker Form and send to the address listed on the form.

Advanced training opportunities will provide exposure to some aspect of natural history, natural resource management or nature interpretation, including any specific methods or skills used to study these things. In addition, the training should provide you knowledge or skills that you need to complete your volunteer service obligation. The four primary categories of volunteer service are listed below.  Potential skills include trail building, bird identification through song, GIS skills or others.

The four categories of volunteer service projects include:

  • ecological services (Exotic invasive removal, river sweeps, cleaning bluebird boxes)
  • citizen science (Hawk watch, water quality monitoring, Monarch watch)
  • education and interpretation (posters, field trips, brochures, etc.)
  • programmatic needs (assisting Host Sites or the State Office in program delivery)

Typically Advanced Training is acceptable if the focus is South Carolina-specific or southeastern as an alternative. However, additional advanced training on broad topics that might be beneficial to the state might also qualify. Examples of this include training on natural resources that transcend boundaries such as water resource issues, fire as a management tool, etc. The primary concern is demonstration of a direct benefit to the state through the participant. Additional information about qualifications can be found in the Advanced Training Guidelines. Download PDF Document (240 KB).

Advanced Training Opportunities offered through HOST SITES:

Upcountry

Upstate MN

      Piedmont

Stay tuned as opportunities become available.

      Sandhills

Sandhill MN

      Coastal Plain

Charleston MN
Lowcountry MN
Winyah MN