Master naturalists and citizen science: Building a well-trained volunteer corps

Background/Question/Methods
     The number and variety of biological research, monitoring, and inventory studies that involve non-scientists are growing rapidly.  Finding and training qualified volunteers is an important consideration for many of these citizen science projects.  A ready corps of volunteers possessing basic field research skills could be an asset to many projects.
     There are more than 25 Master Naturalist programs operating or in development in the United States.  These volunteer training and service programs differ among states, but most aim to involve volunteers in natural resource education, citizen science, and stewardship.  Master Naturalists typically complete an in-depth course that prepares them for volunteering in their communities.  These Master Naturalists are an available pool of volunteers who can participate in both local and larger scale citizen science projects.  The training courses are an opportunity to provide these volunteers not just with natural resource knowledge, but with basic field and research skills that cross projects, systems, and organisms.  A review of citizen science training and activities among Master Naturalist programs illustrates the potential roles for Master Naturalist volunteers in citizen science as well as the necessary skills that should be included as part of their training.

Results/Conclusions
     Master Naturalist volunteers participate in citizen science projects to study water quality, bird populations, frog populations, urban tree canopies, rare plant populations, and many other systems and organisms.  The projects include biological inventories, long-term monitoring, and experimental studies.  Master Naturalist volunteers are participating in both national and local citizen science studies, and their roles in these projects have included data collection, training and leading other volunteers, and developing new projects to address natural resource questions and issues in their local communities.  Some of the core citizen science knowledge and skills needed for these projects include keeping a field notebook, using a dichotomous key, reading a topographical map, understanding sampling techniques, and understanding the different types of scientific studies.  Master Naturalist volunteers build these skills and knowledge through a combination of readings, lectures, interactive classroom activities, participation in demonstration projects, and in-service learning as they volunteer.
     Scientists and educators involved in citizen science projects are encouraged to partner with Master Naturalist programs to engage well-trained and high quality volunteers in their efforts.