About the Program
In 2008, the Mississippi Master Naturalist Program started on the coast and expanded to create the Coastal and Central Mississippi Chapters. This Coastal Chapter consists of 130 Master Naturalist participants that have volunteered thousands of hours to service and environmental education projects within their local communities. Naturalists are helping to monitor our beaches, forests, and wetlands through conducting bird, amphibian, and terrapin surveys, water quality monitoring, and other citizen science activities.
Program Objectives
Improve public understanding of Mississippi’s natural resources and management by developing a pool of local knowledge that can enhance education efforts within local communities.
To develop a trained volunteer network.
To expand the educational capabilities of Extension by the dissemination of natural resource management information to individuals and groups in Mississippi’s communities.
Who is a Master Naturalist?
An adult interested in nature.
An adult who wants to learn more about Mississippi’s fish,
wildlife, & ecosystems.
A person who has passion to give back to their community.
Become a Master Naturalist
The Coastal Chapter course is held in the fall (September – October).
The Master Naturalist Program provides natural resource training to individuals in exchange for outreach and service educational efforts in natural resources and environmental awareness programs in your community.
- Register for a Basic Course nearest to you
- Complete 40 hour Basic Course (Field and classroom instruction)
- Complete 8 advanced training hours annually
- Complete 40 hours of volunteer service annually
Other REsources
contact us
Follow Mississippi Master Naturalist on Facebook:
Mandy Rigsby
Environmental Stewardship Specialist and Coastal Chapter Coordinator
Partners:
