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Arkansas Master Naturalists

Date: 9/26/2025
Subject: NWAMN Weekly Update September 26
From: Susan Eagleson



NWAMN Weekly Update


End of Year Reminders
 
October
2026 NIT enrollment will be opening soon on the Arkansas Master Naturalist website
NWAMN Project Leaders - It's time to submit your project budgets for the 2026 calendar year.

November
2026 Membership reminder emails will go out to NWAMN membership listing.

December
Award Nominations - Accepting Award Nominations till December 1.
Do forget to log your volunteer hours! Volunteer hours are used to determine Master Naturalist Certification, attract grants/ funding by partner and Master Naturalist organizations, and NWAMN Yearly Awards.

Arkansas Master Naturalist Awards
 
It is award nomination and submission time!!! The deadline to submit nominations for the current year is December 1.

Please find forms on the NWAMN website atDocument Library - Arkansas Master Naturalists, or manually navigate via Arkansas Master Naturalists website > log in as a member > Resources > Documents > Document Library/ Documents Folder/ NWAMN Documents > Awards and Recognition > [select/ download specific form].

The Master Naturalist (MN) annual awards:
1. Master Naturalist of the Year – recognizes an exceptional Master Naturalist who has made an outstanding contribution to the MN mission and/or community throughout the year. [All active Master Naturalists, EXCEPT prior winners, are eligible to be nominated for the Master Naturalist of the Year Award.]
2. Rookie of the Year – recognizes a NIT (first year) Master Naturalist graduate who has met their annual Certification requirements and has provided outstanding service to the MN mission and/or community within their class year. [This award is open to Master Naturalists who have completed their NIT Classroom training and achieved their first-year membership certification requirements of 40+ work hours and 8+ education hours within their class year.]
3. Project of the Year – recognizes an outstanding Chapter project. [Re-nomination of a previously winning project within 3 years of prior award requires significant changes to warrant a new nomination.]
4. Excellence in Education of the Year – recognizes an outstanding educational program. [EIE nominee must not have won the award within the last 2 years.]
5. Newsletter Article of the Year – recognizes the overall presentation or appearance of one or more publication article/s. [The newsletter article/s must have been written and edited by Master Naturalists. Nominees must not have won the award within the last 2 years.]
6. Past President Award – recognizes the outgoing Chapter President for their contributions and commitment to the MN mission and Chapter organization. [Give a description of the nominee’s exceptional contributions and leadership to the MN program and the community. Identify and explain the nominee’s impact on the MN program through their leadership and guidance.]
7. Bill Robertson Conservationist Award – Not intended to be awarded annually but only be awarded as appropriate to recognize the “exceptional” Master Naturalist who truly epitomizes the true definition of a conservationist and is actively involved across multiple fields of conservation. [This award is not intended to be an annual award, but one that should reflect a high standard of achievement and only awarded for truly exceptional merit. This nominee must set a high conservation stewardship example for other Master Naturalists.]

The Master Naturalist (MN) general membership awards:
1. President’s Award/s – Chapter President’s recognition of outstanding performances of deserving Chapter members. [All active Master Naturalists are eligible to be nominated EXCEPT those that have won the award within the last 2 years. The Chapter President may issue this award, at their discretion, to recognize one or more deserving members at Chapter General Membership meetings throughout the year.]
2. Friend of Master Naturalists (Individual) – to recognize an individual (a non-Master Naturalist) who has shown outstanding support of the Master Naturalist Program. [Nominee cannot have won within the previous 5 years.]
3. Friend of Master Naturalists (Business or Organization) - to recognize a business or organization who has shown outstanding support of the Master Naturalist Program. [Nominee cannot have won within the previous 5 years.]

Please write your nominations based on the guidelines provided within the appropriate award nomination form. ALL nomination forms must be submitted electronically as a PDF document to the Membership Awards Committee via email Kathy Launder (kalaunder@gmail.com) for selection and final approval by the Chapter President. The decisions of the committee and Chapter President will be final.

Springdale Public Library
[Post till 10/11]
 
Volunteers needed to create a Library of Things educational kit for Springdale Public Library. The kit will include books and assorted resources to help borrowers to learn about one of two topics, trees or birds. Your ideas and creative energy can inspire others to develop an interest in these topics that are so dear to us who love the natural world. We anticipate teams of three or four master naturalists per topic. If interested, send your name and a statement of your interest to Rita at littrel@uark.edu. We have a great start on trees but need someone with passion for birds! Please share your knowledge or creativity!

Master Naturalist Annual Pot Cleaning
 
Greetings all,

T'is the season...for our annual pot parties! It is time for your favorite Master Naturalist activity...yes, pot cleaning! Every year, we clean and disinfect thousands of recycled pots for use in the MN native plant program. The pots to be recycled have all been acquired from various sources and sorted by size and type. Our three 100-gallon stock tanks will be filled with 10% bleach. We will be working outside and enjoying the cool autumn weather.

Be sure to wear old clothes, since eventually we will have folks working at the bleaching and rinsing stations. We will not have a luncheon, but our house will be open for bathroom visits. Also, you are welcome to water and fertilize our woods if needed!

So, for signup, select one or more time slots below. Please sign up for one or more 3-hour slot on one of the dates given below. Each day, we will be working from 9 am to noon, and 1 pm to 4 pm. Please pick a time slot convenient. If you are able, give me several dates and times that you are available. This will allow me some flexibility in filling dates and times. Be sure to check your e-mail for a confirmation from me for your "exclusive" reservation.

Dates and time slots include:

Thursday, October 16th, 9 am to noon

Friday, October 17th, 9 am to noon

Friday, October 17th, 1 pm to 4 pm

Saturday, October 18th, 9 am to noon

Saturday, October 18th, 1 pm to 4 pm


Let's see how this works, and if needed, we will add additional dates in the following weeks.

Please note: If you have used pots for recycling, especially tree pots, gallon-size pots and the tall square 4-inch pots, please bring 'em on down to the nursery. Also, used Venetian blinds that we repurpose to make labels are welcomed.

Thank you all for being part of the MN Native Plant Team and helping with this activity as well as the other tasks throughout the year. It does indeed take a village!

Please call, text or e-mail if you have questions. I look forward to seeing my MN "buddies" after a too-long hiatus.

Rambling Rose (479-713-0661)


Glenn Duffy Elementary Outdoor Area
[post till 10/25]
 
Glenn Duffy Elementary in Gravette is creating an outdoor classroom and garden area.

They are or will be looking for donations of native plants and help constructing the outdoor space. They need materials, time, and donations.

Any NWAMNs that are interested in volunteering your time, please check out the links below:

Video of the kids explaining the outdoor space (super cute!):

https://youtu.be/nUeVmVRaLnY?si=ehnxkWv1iLAAb3MN


Outdoor classroom information:

https://www.gravetteschools.net/o/gde/page/outdoor-classroom?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwMRa1pleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHn-KqvRiUOV8Q0CUVUMjEO9XzLLh9OTZeb79sBUib2dZrHPquodTFnUZhu4f_aem_DhNqMN7kkNwi2zxntw2fSA


Off the Shelf


 
Off the Shelf – a weekly notice from the Awe in Arkansas with Children’s Literature project.
1. Provide books as gifts!
2. Use for programs!
3. Share with nature gift shops!
 

Dragonfly  by Aimee m. Bissonette  

 
Age Range: 5 - 12
 
Story of dragonflies, their lifecycle, and role in our environment coupled with lots of interesting facts. Great art work.
 
 Send book suggestions to littrel@uark.edu.


Volunteer Opportunities


H2Ozark_09272025

Upcoming Volunteering Opportunities

[List represents a rolling one-month in advance known opportunities]
                                                                 
 
Members can proactivity reach-out to NWAMN Official Project Leaders for focused interests. Find listing of official NWAMN projects Document Library - Arkansas Master Naturalists, or manually navigate via Arkansas Master Naturalists website > log in as a member > Resources > Documents > Document Library/ Document Folders > NWAMN Documents/ Educational Resources/ NWAMN Projects > 2024 NWAMN Projects List. 


Continuing Education

Upcoming Continuing Education Events

[List represents a rolling one-month in advance known events]   
 


Save The Date


2025 Volunteer Opportunities with IRWP!
 
Hello Volunteers,

 

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer! I wanted to make sure everyone knew our future volunteer opportunities at the Illinois River Watershed Partnership.

 

If you have any questions about these events, feel free to call the office at 479-203-7084, or email contact@irwp.org. Please feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in attending these events.

 

 Fall Cleanups to Put in the Calendar! 

 

The University of Arkansas System Cooperative Extension Service, specifically Stormwater Education, hosts the Pick Up Where You Play Litter Cleanups every year across the Illinois River Watershed and the Beaver Lake Watershed. IRWP wants to support them as they work to improve our water quality, so we are happy to partner with them to support their cleanups!

 

Pick Up Where You Play Siloam Springs Litter Cleanup - Saturday, October 11th from 9:00 - 11:00 am

 

Thank you for all you do for the Illinois River Watershed!

 
IRWP - Illinois Review Watershed Partnership

Future NWAMN Chapter and Board Meetings
[Limiting to two known months in advance]
                           

ATTENTION NWAMN Project Leaders
 
To help inform a larger audience of NWA Master Naturalists, please add the NWA Events email address to communications sent to project/ committee members.  That way the NWA Communications Committee can accurately post activities happening in our area to the NWAMN's Events Calendar and to the NWAMN Weekly Update.  The cutoff for submissions is end of day Tuesday for Friday membership delivery, assumes no revisions are required. 
 

nwamnevents@gmail.com

 
Weekly Update Format:
• Event statements must be provided
• Statements must be concise to minimize email length
• Bullet points are highly encouraged
• Please keep media, commentary and influential statements on fliers, websites, or reference material that can be referenced
• Calendar of Event postings may have tool limitations
 
Weekly Update requested statement content information (content used for both Calendar link and/ or the Weekly Update):
Name of Event
• Name of NWAMN Project/ Organization hosting the event
• Location of the event, including full address
• Contact name and number
• Date (start and end)
• Time (start and end)
• Is it a volunteer opportunity OR continuing education?
• Any pertinent information about the event including the nature of the event, intended audience, and what participants need to bring, directions, etc.
• Link to event or organization website, if available
• Link to Virtual Meeting, if available

 
 

The NWA Master Naturalist Weekly Update is compiled by Susan Eagleson with support from Sarah Roberson, Troy Warfield, and Erica Holthus.  If you have a volunteer opportunity or continuing education event, please email 
 nwamnevents@gmail.com and we'll share with the whole chapter. 
 
Let us know of other Community activities as your fellow NWAMNs might be interested too!

Join our chapter's Facebook group for cool photos, questions, and more!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/NWAMN



State and National Agency Partners