What qualifies for service?
Wyoming Naturalists put their skills and time to work, making a difference for plants, animals and habitats in Wyoming. To achieve and maintain certification, Wyoming Naturalists are required to contribute 40 hours of service each year, but many Naturalists do more.
To qualify, the service must be
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Unpaid
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Organized by an agency or non-profit NGO
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Have a direct or indirect impact on Wyoming wildlife or wildlands.
Service must fall into one of the four categories below:
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Stewardship
Examples of stewardship include habitat improvements such as fence or weed removal, invasive species inspections, trash removal, and trail maintenance.
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Education and Outreach
Examples of education and outreach include leading interpretative hikes, teaching workshops, and creating educational materials or interpretive displays.
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Community Science
Community scientists help to collect or analyze data on a variety of survey and research projects, such as the Christmas Bird Count, amphibian surveys, and Monarch caterpillar monitoring. Since these projects are more open-structured than others, they are subject to a limitation on number of hours counted for service.
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Program support
These types of projects are ones that directly support the Wyoming Naturalist Program, such as serving as one of the instructors for a topic or helping with behind-the-scenes program management.
To find a volunteer opportunity, visit the volunteer opportunities page. There are many more organizations with volunteer opportunities available that are not included on the list. Contact a member of the WNP steering committee to confirm that the opportunity qualifies for WNP hours. If you know of opportunities that should be included, contact a steering committee member.
If you belong to an organization that could use the service of Wyoming Naturalists, please Partner with Us.
Does your service project qualify?
Volunteer opportunities must meet two basic requirements to qualify for program certification:
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The volunteer opportunity must be organized by a federal, state, or local agency, non-governmental organization, club, etc.\
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The volunteer opportunity must directly or indirectly impact Wyoming wildlife or wildlands.
Trainings or classes that are required for volunteer opportunities meeting the above requirements are eligible for certification hours.
Education and interpretation tied to volunteer opportunities that are reflected above are eligible for certification hours.
Recognition of Service
The Pins
When a Wyoming Naturalist completes their initial coursework and field session, they earn their first "Sagebrush Sheep Moth Pin" and their Wyoming Naturalist nametag. This signifies they have completed the 16-week course on basic elements of Wyoming ecology and conservation. After a Wyoming Naturalist completes their basic training and contributes 40 or more hours of qualified volunteer conservation service, they earn their Certified Wyoming Naturalist nametag, water bottle, and certificate.
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For each milestone of recertification or volunteer hours, Wyoming Naturalists continue earning these pins, or badges, to display their commitment to our natural resources. (See the accompanying image for all milestones.)
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The Awards
We appreciate the dedication of Wyoming Naturalists to steward the state's natural resources through conservation education and service. Certification and service milestones are recognized each year at the Annual Meeting.
In addition to pins, the Wyoming Naturalists Program recognizes exceptional service with two awards:
Wyoming Stewardship Award
for exemplary service to Wyoming Conservation.
Sagebrush Sheep Moth Award
for exemplary service to the Wyoming Naturalist Program.
Sagebrush Sheep Moth Award
for exemplary service to the Wyoming Naturalist Program.
This award recognizes the exceptional work of a Wyoming Naturalist in support of the Wyoming Naturalist Program. The WNP relies on the efforts of members to maintain, improve, and expand the program across our beautiful state.
Wyoming Naturalists are invited to nominate themselves or a colleague by submitting a nomination letter to wyomingnaturalistprogram@gmail.com. The letter should include a complete and concise description of the nominee's activities that have resulted in the improvement or expansion of the WNP. Nominations are due by August 15.
Wyoming Stewardship Award
for exemplary service to Wyoming Conservation.
This award recognizes a Wyoming Naturalist whose volunteer service has had a real impact on conservation in Wyoming, above and beyond the requirements of the Wyoming Naturalist Program.
The awardee will have provided service that has accomplished one or more of the following:
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Made a significant difference in improving the quality of the environment in Wyoming.
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​Demonstrated a long-term commitment to conservation service.
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Provided information to educate the public about the environment.
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Contributed to the protection of the environment for future generations.
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Demonstrated coalition-building skills to maximize involvement by others.
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Served as a role model.
Wyoming Naturalists are invited to nominate themselves or a colleague by submitting a letter of nomination to wyomingnaturalistprogram@gmail.com. The letter should include a complete and concise description of the nominee's activities as they relate to the above criteria. Nominations are due by August 15.