What is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist?

By MARILYN McKINLEY

Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist

You have seen us at the Canfield Fair. You may have read articles written by us in The Vindicator. You also may have met us on a hike or at any of the area Mill Creek MetroParks leading an event.

But who are these “naturalist” people, and what do they do?

An Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist is an individual with a passion for the natural world and a keen interest in the environment in which they live.

They are volunteers who have attended 40-plus hours of training certification and who use their knowledge to give back to the community through volunteer service. Mahoning County has one of only 13 chapters in the state.

OCVNs are nature lovers and are dedicated to promoting awareness and citizen stewardship of Ohio’s natural resources through scientific- based education and community service.

The program’s main goals are to improve public understanding of natural resources and their management and to enhance natural-resource education and outreach activities.

Training for naturalists is provided by Ohio State University Extension and divided into these sections: watersheds, aquatic life, stewardship, geology, soils, plants, forests, insects and macro-invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, birds and mammals.

Volunteers are trained in the classroom and in the field to get hands-on information to enhance their love of nature.

Volunteer opportunities vary by county in Ohio. The Mahoning County OCVNs’ major activities include preparing teaching materials and presentations for area events; answering questions from the public through the OSU Extension office in Canfield; conducting educational programs; organizing and conducting bird walks and talks; monitoring bluebird trails; participating in soil and water monitoring in rivers and streams; and participating in events such as the Youngstown State University Earth Day activities.

To learn more about the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist program, go to: http://ocvn.osu.edu/ You can call OSU Extension at 330-533-5538 to be placed on the list for our next training.