Naturalist at Heart Program

Group Volunteering / Service Learning      2013 Training Schedule

Volunteer Hall of Fame                     Volunteer Job Descriptions

Falls of the Ohio State Park’s Naturalist at Heart Program

PDF version: Program Description

People discovering and sharing geology, river ecology and natural & cultural history!

Do you wonder? Do you want to be able to answer questions that your children, grandchildren or friends have about the world around us?

Yes?  We are providing the opportunity for you to become a knowledgeable and inspired volunteer in our community. Consider joining our Naturalist at Heart program! All we ask from you is some time and energy.

Our Naturalist at Heart program seeks to develop learners and leaders for our community.

What do you get out of it?

• Once enrolled into the program, participants get free admission to “Falls Fundamentals” programs – a series of diverse, in-depth workshops. 

• Opportunities to continually develop and sharpen skills as an interpretive naturalist and to move into different training levels at your own pace.

• A supportive learning environment consisting of park staff, experts in a variety of fields and volunteers.

• Opportunities to experience more fully the rich natural and cultural heritage of the region, through classes, field trips, etc.

• Opportunities to use new knowledge and skills to help others learn about natural and cultural history, ecology, geology, and how these disciplines are intertwined.

What’s in it for the Falls of the Ohio State Park?

Research has shown that most people who care about nature have been influenced by others who are enthusiastic and show respect for their natural heritage. With over a half million visitors to the Falls of the Ohio annually, the staff can only reach a fraction of those who wish to learn. Through the Naturalist at Heart program, we are able to offer an enriching experience to more visitors.

Volunteers are expected to contribute to the Falls’ mission of providing opportunities for education and recreation while protecting the resources. As a volunteer in the Naturalist at Heart program, you will:

• Bring fresh ideas and enthusiasm.

• Through stationary and roving activities on the grounds, help more visitors make meaningful connections through informal interpretive opportunities.

• Become knowledgeable about specific program areas such as the geology of the park, George Rogers Clark, birds at the Falls, etc. and to offer or assist with related programs.

• Work with school and scout groups throughout the year.

• Extend the Falls’ capacity for offering a variety of program options such as morning and evening hikes, bird watching, nature exploration at the Button Bush wetland area or a hands-on fossil station by the gazebo.

• Be off-site representatives for our programs in your community.

• Spread the wealth of knowledge throughout the community and region.

• Mentor other volunteers.

• Become more literate about the natural world through reading books and articles.        

• Assist or lead in hands-on projects, such trail development, garden interpretation and maintenance, cleaning selected areas of the fossil beds, and more.

Program Levels for Naturalist at Heart

Bird Watching Class                                               Orientation Class

To enter the Naturalist at Heart program, you must complete an application and goals sheet, as well as a commitment form. These forms may be e-mailed to you or may be picked up at the Interpretive Center during regular business hours. Once your application is complete, you will be contacted to discuss the program and your goals. The interview will allow you to determine if the program meets your needs. If it does, then you may enroll in the program offerings.

There are minimum requirements (see below), but there are many opportunities to get involved in the program at a pace determined by you. Choose to complete the minimum requirements or move to other levels more quickly.

Level 1 – Naturalist at Heart

Minimum Requirements:

• Opportunities for 40 hours of specialized training in general content of the program (river ecology, natural history, and geology) - a minimum of 25 hours is required

• Nine hours of specialized training to interpret the Falls

• Minimum of 50 hours of volunteer time

Benefits:

• Free access to all public programs sponsored by the park and classes not open to the public

• Involvement in a community of like minded individuals with fun and informative gatherings, learning from peers, research days, and much more

• Access to a variety of resources including experienced staff and volunteers, the park’s resource library, etc.

Level 2 – Naturalist at Heart

Individuals advancing to this level will be able to conduct informal programs.

In addition to completion of Level 1 requirements:

• Increased opportunities to develop skills in interpretation and program development

• Assist with off-site community outreach opportunities

• Invitation to participate in the park’s annual strategic planning session

• Focused knowledge of a selected topics of interest

• Learn by assisting - reinforcing and sharing your knowledge with additional opportunities to assist in mentoring and training

Level 3 – Naturalist at Heart (One on one)

Individuals advancing to this level will be able to conduct both formal and informal programs.

In addition to the Level 2 requirements:

• Learning by Leading - reinforcing and sharing your knowledge with additional opportunities to participate as weekend program leaders, on special projects, committees, and more.

• Opportunities for professional development, certification, and conferences

• Off-site community outreach leadership opportunities

• Increased opportunities at specific locations with focused Independent Study such as the fossil beds, the wetland areas, GRC home site, etc.

How do I become a Naturalist at Heart?

1. Attend a Naturalist at Heart Orientation with Connie Farmer

2. Complete a Naturalist at Heart application, goals and commitments form

Level 1 Requirements: Sign up for all training courses and time with visitors at least three days prior to attendance by contacting Connie Farmer at (812) 280-9970 ext. 405 or cfarmer@dnr.in.gov or

Alan Goldstein (ext. 403) or agoldstein@dnr.in.gov.

3. Complete all Interpretive Intro courses (5 hours):

II 100: Fundamentals & Applied of Interpretation (3 hour course)

II 101: Interpretation on the Fossil Beds (2 hour course)

4. Complete a minimum of 21 hours (7 of 10) of Falls Fundamentals courses (most are ~3 hours):

FF 100: About the Falls 

FF 101: Geology of the Falls 

FF 102: Recognizing Fossils 

FF 103: Wildflowers Identification (usually spring wildflowers)

FF 104: Identifying Trees

FF 105: Aquatic Life in the Ohio River

FF 106: Birds at the Falls 

FF 107: History at the Falls

FF 108: Prehistory of the Falls area

FF 109: Introduction to Charlestown State Park (our sister property)

Participants are required to take seven of nine courses to complete Level 1 certification.

5. VT 100: Contribute a minimum of 50 hours of additional Volunteer Time interacting with the public to share what you are learning – primarily during the busier months (March – November) or working behind the scenes, preferably within the first year of enrollment.

6. VE 100: Volunteer Electives will count for training once you have completed all the II and FF courses - otherwise they are supplemental learning. VE’s include: Service Learning Projects, Selected Public Programs, and Research Days, and Naturalist at Heart special programs. A minimum of seven hours of electives are required for Level 1 certification.

7. Complete a written evaluation and discussion of the program to move on to the next level.

Progression to Other Levels

Naturalist at Heart level 2 (the Volunteer Interpretive Naturalist level)

volunteers must:

1. Have successfully completed the Level 1.

2. Complete three of these Interpretive Intro courses:

II 200: Outdoor Fossil Lab

II 201: 1803 Interpretation

II 202: Indoor Fossil Lab

II 203: Indoor Archaeology Lab

II 204: Scout Programs

II 205: The Outer Bed Experience

II 206: Minerals & Life Lab

3. Complete a minimum of 42 hours (14) of 200 level Falls Fundamentals courses (most 3 hours):

FF 200: Geology of Kentuckiana 

FF 201: Palo-ecology of the Fossil Beds 

FF 202: Ohio River Fish 

FF 203: Back Yard Nature

FF 204: Mussels

FF 205: Archaeology

FF 206: George Rogers Clark

FF 207: Wildlife Conservation Area Management and Research

FF 208: Photography

FF 209: Birding (Advanced)

FF 210: Edible & Medicinal Plants

FF 211: The History of Clarksville

FF 212: River History

FF 213: Endangered Species

FF 214: The Park Collections and Resource Library

FF 215: Invasive Creatures

FF 216: Invasive Plants

FF 217: Urban Animals

FF 218: Reptiles & Amphibians

FF 219: Understanding Evolution

FF 220: Insects

FF 221: Horticulture

FF 222: Topics in Biology

FF 223: Mushrooms / Fungi

FF 224: Fishing at the Falls

FF 225: Recycling

FF 226: Soils

FF 227: Topics in Geology

4. VT 200: Contribute a minimum of 75 hours of additional volunteer time interacting with the public to share what you are learning – primarily during the busier months (March – November).

5. Volunteer electives adding up to a minimum of 25 hours:

VE 200: Service Learning Projects (5 hours) - a project at the park

VE 201: Selected Public Programs (25 hours) - relevant programs anywhere (museums, parks, historical homes, zoos, etc.)

6. Complete a written evaluation and discussion of the program to move on to the next level.

                   Edible and Medicinal Plants Workshop (FF210)             Volunteers pulling garlic mustard

Naturalist at Heart level 3 (Volunteer Interpretive Naturalist Leader level) volunteers must:

( This program is still under development.)

1. Have successfully completed Level 2 requirements.

2. Have shown an involvement in the program of 100 hours or more for at least one year.

3. Select an independent study project.

Mark Jamison, 2009 Volunteer of the Year

(at the Falls Fossil Festival)

What is Interpretation?

"Interpretation" is defined as the activities through which a museum carries out its mission and educational role: Interpretive media/activities include, but are not limited to: exhibits, tours, websites, classes, school programs, publications, outreach.

The Naturalist at Heart program operates on three simple premises:

1. Process — We learn best by doing, by being actively engaged, hence the program emphasizes service as an effective learning strategy. In the context of this program, service means sharing what you learn with Falls of the Ohio visitors.

2. Content — We “will not fight to save what we do not love,” and we tend to love that which we understand. Therefore, the program emphasizes learning about our region’s geologic history and native flora and fauna.

3. Reflection — An intimate knowledge of the local landscape and the natural cycles that sustain humans and other life forms can be a springboard into greater global ecological understanding.

                                 Click for Volunteer Job Descriptions

Volunteer, Jackie Conner, assists with a river mussel exhibit.

Don't live near the Falls? If you live in Indiana, you can become an Indiana Master Naturalist. This program is similar to our Naturalist at Heart program, but you can volunteer anywhere in the state.

Updated April 4, 2013