Agenda - Council - 12/11/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

C7 CASE # VOLUNTEERING IN RAMSEY PARKS AND THE MASTER NATURALIST PROGRAM By: Mark Riverblood, Parks Supervisor Background: The purpose of this case is to briefly highlight the existing volunteer program within Ramsey Parks; and discuss program expansion to engage.. more adult volunteers. Staff proposes partnering with. the University of Mimnesota on a successful endeavor they developed with the Department of Natural Resources called the Minnesota Master Naturalist program. Observations: Staff believes that this program can greatly ei~llance volunteerism and, in doing so, accelerate certain park improvements; as well. as reducing some of the future demand on paid staff. In addition, a formalized program can also develop a pool of trained adult .residents to provide volunteer contributions for prograimning lilce the Environmental Expo. At the Work Session of November 27`h, 2007, Council was presented detail on some of the elements and structure of the Master Naturalist program. The following are a few.of the lcey points and program elements: • • The program was developed by the U of M with technical assistance from the DNR specifically for state parks, nature centers, and City and county park systems. • The purpose is to provide residents opportunities to earn about Minnesota natural resources -And as a forum to `give back' to their communities in meaningful ways, that benefit public parks and natural resource related programs. • Volunteers pay $200 for approximately 40 hours of lecture-style learning -and then must volunteer 40 hours of their services to receive `Minmesota Master Naturalist' certification. • Each year thereafter, requires an additional 40 hours of service, aild 8 hours of `advance training' to maintain an active status. • The U of M handles all registrations and provides all course materials. • The City of Ramsey can have a listing of volunteer opportunities on the state-wide web site. This program has been in existence in 25 other states, but is fairly new to Minnesota. Cities like. North St. Paul have been very pleased with the `return on investment', and presently there are more than 150 persons on the state-wide waiting list to become trained. The University reports that volunteers usually become closely affiliated with the organization where they receive training -which also has the benefit of allowing for more complex, or multi-year volunteer projects. Further, the City is able to allow Ramsey residents a week or two of registration time to get early registration in a course provided in the City. If approved, the program would be advertised on cable TV, and possibly the Rcz»zsey Resident. • Funding: As indicated above, volunteers pay $200 dollars for the initial course to the U of M for administrative costs and all program materials. However, $50 dollars from each participant is -427-