As of January 25, 2023 we have filled all available spots for the 2023 IMN classes
Indiana Master Naturalist 2023
Become An Indiana Master Naturalist
Interested and intrigued by nature and the environment? Want to learn more about Indiana’s natural resources and share this information with others?
The Indiana Master Naturalist Program is an educational/volunteer program developed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to provide citizens with hands-on opportunities to learn about our state’s natural features and resources.
The purpose of the program is to:
- Bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners (18 years and older) to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils, and wildlife, and promote natural resource volunteer service within the State of Indiana.
- Provide an educational opportunity for course participants by volunteering with a local agency or organization involved in natural resource management.
- In Allen County Indiana, this program is sponsored by Fox Island Alliance, Allen County Parks and PFW Environmental Resource Center.
To find more information on classes and other sites hosting IMN classes click here
Program Information:
The sessions will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 9:30 pm and on Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm either at Metea County Park or Fox Island County Park with five exceptions:
Three classes will be held at ERC at Purdue Fort Wayne (Environmental Resource Center located @ 2101 E. Coliseum Blvd, Fort Wayne, IN 46805 behind the Holiday Inn), the Historic Fort Wayne Hike on Sunday afternoon and the Wetland Hike at Eagle Marsh.
The sessions begin on Tuesday, February 21st and end on May 20th with the Native Tree Hike.
The Orientation Meeting on Tuesday evening, February 22nd at Fox Island Park is a required part of the program.
Participants must complete at least 8 classes of the 13 classes offered plus the Orientation, complete weekly quizzes, and accumulate 24 hours of volunteer work to obtain Indiana Master Naturalist Certification and a pin. Any session that includes an academic presentation on Tuesday and a hike on Saturday is considered ONE session.
Class size is limited to 30 applicants. Space is reserved on a first-come first-served basis.
** Hiking sessions will require moderate walking.
Questions? Contact Pam George @260-466-3605 / pamgeorgeph@comcast.net or
Jeff Ormiston @ 260- 414-2538
Important: Your registration form needs to be mailed to Pam George immediately to secure a place in the 2023 IMN session. The registration fee is due the evening of the orientation (Tuesday, February 21st).
Money may not be returned after orientation unless there are extenuating circumstances. These non-refundable fees can be applied to future IMN programs either in Allen County or at other IMN state sites.
Participants accepted into the class must attend the orientation session on February 21st.
If you have special needs, please indicate on the registration form, or call us at 466-3605 prior to the orientation session.
To download and print this information and an application click here
| Date | Topic | Instructor | Time | Location |
| 2/21 | Orientation /Fox Island Derecho / Ticks |
Get Acquainted /Natalie Haley / Russ Voorhees | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | Fox Island |
| 2/28 | Native American Heritage/Civil War Era | Dani Tippmann / Greta Sirois / Bob Dispenza | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | Metea
|
| 3/07 | Forest Ecology | Dr. Jordan Marshall | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | ERC |
| 3/11 | Geology | Tony Fleming | 8:30 – 12:00 PM – Noon | Fox Island |
| 3/14 | Reptiles/ & Amphibians | Dr. Bruce Kingsbury | 6:00 –9:30 PM | ERC |
| 3/21 | Mammals | Dr. Scott Bergeson | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | ERC |
| 3/28 | Arthropods / Bees / Monarch Butterflies | Bob Dispenza/ Don Conkle/Karie Harding | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | Metea |
| 4/11 | Hands-On Nature | Jody Heaston | 6:00 – 8:30 PM | Fox Island |
| 4/18 | Wildflowers | Jeff Ormiston / Natalie Haley / Carrie Vrabel | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | Fox Island |
| 4/22 | Wildflower Hike | Jeff Ormiston / Natalie Haley / Carrie Vrabel | 9:00 AM– 12:30 – Noon |
Metea |
| 4/25 | Birds / Jane Hine | Ed & Cynthia Powers / Terri Lehman/ Dr. John Meier |
6:00 – 9:00 PM | Fox Island |
| 4/29 | Bird Hike | Ed & Cynthia Powers | 8:00AM– 12:00Noon | Fox Island |
| 5/02 | Bats/Weather | Bob Walton / Bill Seidel | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | Metea |
| 5/06 | Historic Walk | Sandy Lagoni | 1:00 – 4:00 PM | Downtown Ft. Wayne |
| 5/09 | Wetlands | Kate Sanders | 6:30 – 8:30 PM | Fox Island |
| 5/13 | Wetlands Hike | Kate Sanders / Jeff Ormiston | 9:00 – 11:30 AM | Eagle Marsh |
| 5/16 | Native Trees | Ron Divelbiss | 6:00 – 9:30 PM | Metea |
| 5/20 | Native Tree Hike | Ron Divelbiss / Karie Harding | 9:00 AM-11:30 PM | Metea |