Minnesota Master Naturalist students are shown completing a mini relevé, a field survey tool for documenting biological diversity. On Saturday, Master Naturalists will help with a tree inventory in Eden Prairie. Photo courtesy of Amy Rager
On Saturday, Sept. 27, volunteers celebrating National Public Lands Day will record the species, diameter and general condition of the trees surrounding Neill Lake in Eden Prairie.
The event is a collaboration between The Preserve Association and the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program. National Public Lands Day is the single largest day of volunteer conservation work for the program.
The community is welcome to stop by to see what the day is about and meet other conservation enthusiasts.
The Master Naturalist Program, part of the University of Minnesota Extension, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Minnesota Master Naturalist participants on a field trip to learn about an oak savanna restoration. Photo courtesy of Amy Rager
Amy Rager, a University of Minnesota Extension educator with the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program, said the program is designed for adults curious about nature.
“One thing we’ve learned over the years is that a lot of adults haven’t been able to live out their passion in nature because programs like this didn’t exist,” said Rager.
Participants can choose one of three courses to become a Master Naturalist. The courses are: Prairies & Potholes; Big Woods, Big Rivers; and North Woods, Great Lakes. The three courses reflect Minnesota’s major biomes.
After completing a biome course, participants are officially certified Minnesota Master Naturalists and can volunteer anywhere in the state.
Those who have completed the program and volunteer to promote conservation appreciate the opportunity to be around others who are passionate about nature.
Volunteers work in four main categories: collecting data for researchers, supporting local nature centers, providing education opportunities and stewardship.
Volunteers collect prairie seed by hand for future restoration projects. Photo courtesy of Amy Rager
The Prairies & Potholes course, offered online this fall, covers what it means to be a naturalist, how different cultures view being a naturalist, as well as the study of geology, botany, water and wildlife topics.
In this context, “potholes” refers to shallow wetlands, also described as glacial kettles. Prairie potholes are essential for the region’s environmental health for waterfowl, flood control and water quality.
Prairie is defined as a treeless grassland. Minnesota was once home to 18 million acres. Less than 1% remains today. Photo courtesy of Amy Rager
Minnesota was once home to 18 million acres of prairie before European settlement. Over time, 99% of the land was converted to row crops for agricultural use.
Today, less than 1% of native prairie remains in Minnesota. The class will include a field trip to the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area, which has some of the largest tracts of native prairie in Minnesota, with 33,000 acres under restoration.
A Master Naturalist course on the Big Woods, Big Rivers biome is being offered in person this October in Pine Island.
The Master Naturalist training courses include 40 hours of lectures, hands-on activities, videos and field trips that cover in-depth specific aspects of Minnesota’s natural history. They cost $295; scholarships are available.
You do not need to be a Master Naturalist to participate in National Public Lands Day events, including the tree inventory in Eden Prairie. National Public Lands Day events are suitable for all ages, and children may participate with an adult. Learn more about all 25 projects happening on Sept. 27 by visiting the Minnesota Master Naturalist course listings and scrolling down to National Public Lands Day.
For more information on the Master Naturalist program, visit the Minnesota Master Naturalist website.
Neill Lake is located in eastern Eden Prairie, south of Anderson Lakes Parkway and west of Franlo Road. Although official volunteer registration for the event, conducted through iNaturalist, has closed, the public is welcome to stop by the project listed as The Preserve Tree Inventory on the iNaturalist website and app.
Learn how to join an iNaturalist project by following these instructions.
Day-of volunteers for the Eden Prairie tree inventory can check in on Saturday at 9 a.m. or noon in front of The Preserve Barn, 11221 Anderson Lakes Parkway. Questions can be directed to Bridget Beyer, grounds manager for The Preserve Association, at bridget@preserveassociation.com.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include additional details for volunteering at the Eden Prairie tree inventory on Sept. 27.