Become a certified volunteer naturalist or master gardener

The Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Program seeks to train nature-loving citizens who wish to learn more about the environment and volunteer in their community. Participants will receive classroom and field-based instruction on topics such as wildlife, insects, wetlands, ecology, geology, nature interpretation and more, all taught by state and local experts.

The program, offered by OSU Extension in partnership with Medina County Parks, aims to build a core of knowledgeable volunteers to educate the public and promote awareness and citizen stewardship of Ohio’s natural resources.

This intensive training will be held on Wednesdays beginning July 27 and will continue through October. Classes run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at various Medina County Park locations. Deadline to register is July 5. The cost is $250 per person and includes 12 days of classes, training materials, snacks, and tools. After training is complete, participants are encouraged to apply to be volunteers for Medina County Parks or other organizations supporting environmental missions to put their new knowledge to use in the community. 

For more information, visit go.osu.edu/ocvn, email kulhanek.5@osu.edu, or call the OSU Extension Office at 330-725-4911. ∞