Greening Austin Daily

National Wildlife Federation Habitat Stewards Training – Registration Ends Tomorrow

26th August, 2010 - Posted by katherine - No Comments

I got this information from the Sustainable Food Center  – basically you  can take 30 hours of hands-on training to learn how to restore wildlife habitat in Austin, learning about things like  native plants and invasive species, and in return for the training you do 30 hours of community service using the skills you’ve learned, although there is also a $40 training fee.  I kind of want to do it, but if you sign up you have to be able to attend all of the classes, and there are a few where I’ll be out of town. Below is all the info I was emailed:

The 2010 National Wildlife Federation Habitat Stewards Training application process is now open! Join the National Wildlife Federation’s (NWF) nationwide team of volunteers who serve their communities as Habitat Stewards™.

The City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) and NWF, in partnership with Travis Audubon Society, are offering a specialized training to teach you how to help others create and restore wildlife habitat in backyards, schoolyards, and other private and public areas.

Training Topics Include:
Native Plants for Wildlife
Invasive Plants & Habitat Restoration
Attracting Birds & Butterflies
Landscape Design Principles

Habitat Stewards Receive:
· 30+ hours of intensive, hands-on training
· A comprehensive training manual including regional resources
· Advice and practical training from local conservation professionals
· Field trips and hands-on educational sessions with community members

In return for training, volunteers must provide 30 hours of service to NWF within one year of the training. Four of those hours must be spent volunteering with Austin PARD. Project examples include: helping neighbors transform their landscapes to benefit wildlife, writing an article for a local newspaper, distributing habitat information at a local festival or leading an invasive plant removal project.

Training fee: $40.00

All classes must be attended!
Thursday Sept. 9 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday Sept. 11 9:00am-3:00pm
Thursday Sept. 16 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday Sept. 18 9:00am-3:00pm
Thursday Sept. 23 6:00pm-9:00pm
Saturday Sept. 25 8:30am-12:00pm
Thursday Sept. 30 6:00pm-8:30pm
Saturday Oct. 2 8:30am-12:00pm

Registration deadline is August 27, 2010. Enrollment is limited. Application process required. Must have Austin address to register. Cancellation policy applicable, see website for more details: http://www.cityofaustin.org/parks/wildlifehabitat.htm.