Current Flagship Programs

The University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist program provides science-based educational opportunities that connect people with nature and help them become engaged environmental stewards. The Illinois Master Naturalist program addresses the need for environmental sustainability and stewardship in a state that is undergoing increasing urbanization, changing demographics, shifting land use, and undergoing a decline in outdoor recreational and educational activity use. State and local organizations and agencies, as well as academic departments (internal and external to the University of Illinois) are invited to participate in the development, dissemination, and evaluation of the Illinois Master Naturalist Program.

Illinois Master Naturalist participants experience nature, develop knowledge of and respect for the environment, and practice natural resource stewardship. The program is designed for any adult who is committed to life-long learning and stewardship of local natural resources, with incentives for participants to become a Certified Master Naturalist. Individuals interested in the Illinois Master Naturalist Program can participate in the following ways:

• Attend local training to become a Certified Illinois Master Naturalist
• Attend in-depth regional workshops that provide technical knowledge and skills which may be applied in the field, shared with others (i.e. educational outreach for adults, volunteers or youth), and/or fulfill continuing education requirements
• Subscribe to the Illinois Master Naturalist Website and E-Journal, highlighting best practices, interactive education modules, and success stories

The primary audiences of the program are landowners, agency staff, educators (formal and non-formal), professionals (i.e. eco-tour guides, nature center staff), local decision-makers, homeowner association members, environmental organization members, natural area guardians, naturalists, college students, and residents concerned about the environment and natural resources issues.

• Successful demonstration sites in Rock Island and Champaign Counties
• 185 completed the Illinois Master Naturalist training
• 74 certified Illinois Master Naturalists
• Ad hoc steering committee convened in August 2006 to develop mission and goals for statewide organization.
• Secured $300,000 from University of Illinois Extension for program development 2007-2010; Illinois Master Naturalist Program designated as an Extension Flagship Program.
• Statewide coordinator hired in September 2007.
• Statewide advisory committee organized in September 2007.
• MyExtension site and member forums created for communication, information exchange, reference library, calendar and news about the program and trainings for staff and advisory committee members.
• Assessment of local Extension offices; 44 counties anticipate offering the program by 2010.
• Conducted 2 staff training workshops for 44 people representing 30 counties in Illinois.
• Developed the Illinois Master Naturalist brand and new marketing materials; new program identifier (aka logo) will have 6 unique habitat design features distinct to Illinois
• "The Illinois Steward" named the official Illinois Master Naturalist Magazine, with dedicated "Master Naturalist Pages" in each issue that highlight news, facts and upcoming events (http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/illinoissteward/). Pages can be removed and added to the Master Naturalist reading materials; this will enhance the required reading material in the curriculum.

• Finalization of an organizational strategic plan.
• Creation of an Illinois Master Naturalist curriculum; Manuals for participants, instructors and staff.
• Development of an Illinois Master Naturalist website, interactive web community for learning & sharing and on-line volunteer management tools.
• Continued development of the Illinois Master Naturalist brand
• Consistent forms of evaluation to assess and document program impacts.
• Resource library (i.e. back issues of "The Illinois Steward", books, articles, transcripts, videos) for each local Extension office hosting a local Master Naturalist chapter.
• Sub-committees for Curriculum, Evaluation, Marketing, Partners, Staff Training and Website have been created and are working toward their goals & actions step as identified in the vision priorities.
• Regional trainings to provide in-depth continuing education targeted toward Master Naturalists, landowners, teachers, and local residents.
• Formalized partnerships with agencies and organizations at the local, regional and state level.
• New chapters to be established throughout the state starting fall 2008 & spring 2009 (i.e. East St. Louis Area, Greater Chicago Area, Galena Area, Lewistown/Peoria Area, Greater LaSalle/Peru

The Illinois Master Naturalist program has a large and diverse Advisory Board as well as several sub-committees working on specific topics.

• Elizabeth K. Haynes, Illinois Master Naturalist Coordinator, ehaynes@uiuc.edu
• Janet Burnett, County Extension Director, Madison/St. Clair Unit, jrburnet@uiuc.edu
• Janet Beach Davis, Science Lab Supervisor, Heartland Community College, janet.beach-davis@heartland.edu
• Tony Franklin, County Extension Director, Knox County Unit, asfrankl@uiuc.edu
• Ruth F. Hambleton, Extension Educator, Farm Business Management and Marketing, rhamblet@uiuc.edu
• Michael R. Jeffords, Ph.D., Senior Professional Scientist and Education/Outreach Coordinator,Illinois Natural History Survey, jeffords@uiuc.edu
• Laura Kammin, Extension Wildlife Specialist, lasimmon@uiuc.edu
• Beth LaPlante, County Extension Director, Kankakee County Unit, laplante@uiuc.edu
• Geoff Levin, Director, Division of Biodiversity and Ecological Entomology,Illinois Natural History Survey, glevin@inhs.uiuc.edu
• Sandra Mason,Unit Educator, Horticulture & Environment, Champaign County Unit, slmason@uiuc.edu
• Martina Mohrbacher, Outreach Initiative Specialist, mohrbchr@uiuc.edu
• Matt Montgomery, Crop Systems Educator, Sangamon-Menard Unit, mpmontgo@uiuc.edu
• Kimberly Petzing, Environmental Program Coordinator & Visitor Center Manager,Allerton Park & Conference Center, kpetzing@uiuc.edu
• Ellen Phillips, Extension Educator, Crop Systems, ephillps@uiuc.edu
• Nancy Pollard, Unit Educator, Horticulture, Cook County, pollard@uiuc.edu
• Robert Reber, Ph.D., Extension Specialist, Nutrition,
  rjreber@uiuc.edu
• David Shiley, Extension Educator, Natural Resources Management, dshiley@uiuc.edu
• Karen L. Tharp,Volunteer Stewardship Network Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Chapter, ktharp@TNC.ORG
• Richard Warner, Ph.D.,Interim Assistant Dean, Extension Program Coordination, dickw@uiuc.edu

Here's a list of our current statewide partners and links to their websites: