Greetings!

Thank you for interest in the
Master Conservationist program!
When you know you are ready to
sign up here are the links to the
registration and payment.
Watch a video from
Master Conservationist 2019
Planting the Seeds of Conservation in Iowa
About the Master Conservationist Program
The Master Conservationist Program is a collaborative program offered by ISU Extension and Outreach, County Conservation Boards, and local conservation leaders and professionals. The intensive blended online and in-person curriculum is developed to equip Iowans interested in natural resource conservation with the knowledge and skills necessary to make informed decisions about natural resources and to become local leaders and educators. Master Conservationists are individuals that share an interest in the sustainability of Iowa's natural resources and in becoming better stewards of those resources.
The curriculum is structured into four modules that combine technical information presented and curated by Iowa State University researchers and educators with in-person sessions led by local conservation leaders, practitioners, and experts. Module 1 'sets the stage' for the course, exploring the history and current structure of conservation in Iowa and also exploring the landforms and waterways that make up the state's land area. Module 2 digs deep into the structure, function, and challenges facing Iowa's natural prairie, forest, and aquatic ecosystems . Module 3 explores the wide range of conservation practices developed and implemented to address conservation challenges in Iowa. The final and fourth module then examines the human elements of conservation and explores how to communicate the importance of conservation to Iowa and Iowans.
Course graduates are awarded a certificate and encouraged to get engaged locally to apply the information they learn and continue to build their local connections to conservation professionals and other passionate conservationists.
Pre-requisite
Participants are not expected to have specific prior knowledge or skills prior to participation in the program. All that is required is a willingness to learn and discover.
Having recently become a landowner, I could not have found a more helpful way to learn where and who to connect with on properly taking care of my property, setting up a safe haven for wildlife, and learning more about what programs exist for help and guidance here in Iowa. We learned about things we could do ourselves, visited different locations where conservation initiatives were under way, spoke with different groups leading conservation efforts in Central Iowa, and learned where else we could connect if we had other questions. From soil health to rainwater management to native plantings to agricultural practices - I only wish the program was longer because I had such a great time and cannot believe how much I learned in just a six week window!

Missy Fiesler, 2019 Master Conservationist participant
What's the process?

Step 2 Payment

Cost: $100

The cost covers class and materials.

Here are options for submitting your payment.

  • Pay Online
  • Send a check in the mail
  • Stop by our office to pay by cash, check, or card.
  • Pay over the phone by card. 
If you have further questions please contact

Kali Downs
kdowns@iastate.edu
(515) 993-4281

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Dallas County | Website