MN Recertification

Hi All-


Now that it is after January 1, we wanted to touch base with you all and make sure you knew how MN recertification works. Since you graduated in 2010, you begin recertification in 2011. Each calendar year, you need a minimum of 8 hours of class time (in 2 different natural history topics) and 16 hours of volunteer time to remain an active Master Naturalist. Everything is based on a calendar year of January 1-December 31, so you have the full year to complete stuff. A copy of the recertification form has been emailed to you, it is to be submitted at the end of each year. Contact us if you did not receive the recertification form.
PVMN offers workshops that can be used for recertification—you should have received an email about that, but it is also available at www.potomacaudubon.org. Most of those classes are 2-3 hours each. You can also take classes at places like the Smithsonian Naturalist Center in Leesburg (or in DC) or NCTC. If you are taking a natural history class at Shepherd or another school, you can claim the class credit hours (a 3-hour class=3 hours of MN time regardless of how much time you spend in class over the semester.) PVAS monthly meetings at NCTC will also qualify. Everything is on an hour by hour basis so if you come to a PVAS monthly meeting, you’d probably be getting 45-60 minutes. Friends of the NCTC programs are usually longer. If you take Birding 101, all of the class hours count.

Volunteer projects are often arranged by the PVMN committee, but you can do things like volunteer a day or week at camp, assist with watershed field trips or other programs, work on the committee (like the Member Services subcommittee!!), volunteer at the Cacapon State Park Nature Center (Kelly will love you!), or any of the other stuff you did to initially certify.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us!
 
Ellen and Wanda, your friendly MN Member Services folks