The Kentucky Master Naturalist (KYMN) program was developed by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension with valuable input from stakeholders at public and private organizations whose interests align with the mission of the KYMN program. The mission of the KYMN program is to develop a cohort of well-informed volunteers to advance education, research, and outreach efforts dedicated to the conservation and management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Becoming a KY Master Naturalist Volunteer requires an initial training with 40 hours of combined classroom and field instruction and 40 hours of approved volunteer service.  The program was piloted in Jefferson and Fayette counties in 2018 and 2019, led by Carmen Agouridis, where 35 participants completed the program to be a certified Kentucky Master Naturalist. In 2021 we (Ellen Crocker and Laurie Thomas) rolled the program out state-wide by offering it to all UK Cooperative Extension agents, associates, specialists, and assistants for CEUs. 

Last fall we continued to expand this program by hosted the first large public cohort of the KYMN program.  More than 150 people participated through a mix of online training and in-person field days. The classes covered core content related to the Kentucky Master Naturalist Program with new instructors/speakers each week including Ecoregions of Kentucky, Ecological Concepts, Archeology, Geology, Soils, Entomology, Weather and Climate, Water Resources, Botany (woody and herbaceous), Safety and Health, Invasive Species, Wildlife, Environmental Education and Ethics, Citizen Science and Outdoor Learning Environments. All the recorded sessions and additional learning material was made available through the KYMN website https://naturalist.ca.uky.edu/fall2021 

While offering these classes online had some drawbacks in terms of retention and engagement, it also had benefits related to accessibility and diversity of participants.   Since participants could choose between watching sessions live (weekly, Fridays at 10 am ET) or watching recorded videos, we were able to attract a broad range of people, from retirees to working professionals, stay-at-home parents and even one participant serving overseas in the military (and looking forward to their return to Kentucky).  It also enabled participants from all parts of Kentucky, something that would not have been possible with an in-person offering. Finally, the online format allowed us flexibility regarding individual concerns and preferences related to COVID.

This KYMN cohort continued through the fall 2021, spring 2022, and summer 2022 with a wide range of field classes offered for participants, partnering with a range of groups, including:

• Explore the Elkhorn, Frankfort, KY Sept 28, 2021
• Wilderness Safety and Survival, Lexington, KY Oct 1, 2021
• Weed Wrangle, Nazareth, KY, Jan 24, 2022
• Spring Wildflowers of the Big South Fork, Whitley City, KY, April 28, 2022
• Wildflower Walk, Shaker Village, Lexington, KY, April 30, 2022
• Spring Birding and Blooms, Crooked Creek State Nature Preserve, Tollsboro, KY, May 11, 2022
• Prescribed Burns and the Civil War, Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site, Perryville, KY, June 30, 2022

The KYMN program will continue to grow this fall with another co-hort planned for the public with a mix of online (Zoom classes) and in-person field days.  In addition, we plan to host an in-person conference this fall to bring together all current and in-progress naturalists to provide training and facilitate planning for the future.