IRVINE NATURE CENTER OFFERS HABITAT STEWARDS^TM TRAINING
June 16, 2005
Contact: Jeff Muller, 410-484-2413 ext. 23

STEVENSON, MD – This fall the Irvine Nature Center will be offering Habitat Stewards™ training, with the seven-session program beginning October 17 and running through November 7. A habitat steward is an individual who has the knowledge to help residents in their community transform their backyards into a wildlife habitat. Habitat Stewards™ is a volunteer program of the National Wildlife Federation®.

To help communities create and preserve wildlife habitat, the National Wildlife Federation®, Irvine Nature Center, and Wild Birds Unlimited are training a team of community volunteers to serve as Habitat Stewards™ volunteers.  These volunteers will make themselves available as resource persons assisting members of their community in creating an environment that is beneficial for humans and for wildlife.  Specifically, Habitat Stewards™ volunteers will help others create and restore wildlife habitat in backyards, schoolyards, and other private and public areas in the community.

The training includes comprehensive study on topics ranging from butterfly gardening to creating a backyard pond. Participants must be able to attend all classes to qualify.  The program costs $60.00, which includes all workshop materials and transportation for field trips.  As part of the training, habitat stewards are asked to contribute 50 volunteer hours and assist with at least one certification of a backyard or schoolyard within a year of completing the training to retain their certification. Interested parties should contact Kristy Streett at the Irvine Nature Center at 410-484-2413 ext. 15 or by email at streettk@explorenature.org.

Founded in 1975, the Irvine Nature Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to environmental education.  The Center is located on the grounds of St. Timothy’s School at 8400 Greenspring Avenue, Stevenson, MD (1 mile north of the Baltimore beltway exit 22).  Call 410-484-2413 or visit www.explorenature.org for more information.