Board Members

Board members currently serve as course coordinators and are responsible for securing hosts, faculty and guest instructors. As MMNP grows, we will expand the number and location of courses – and for each location, we need individuals and organizations to help us. Course coordinators, faculty members, and guest instructors are all volunteers. Some funds are available for travel reimbursement.

Host

The host provides the use of a classroom (and other facilities, as available) during a 10-month period for 20 to 25 participants. A detailed agreement will be established between MMNP and the host.

Supporter

A supporter is an organization or individual that provides institutional, financial, clerical, legal, or property-visiting privileges. A local supporter may also provide equipment for particular topics. A course may have one or several local supporters.

Course Coordinator

The course coordinator, with board support, directs a local MMNP program and is responsible for:

* Securing and working with the host

* Scheduling the year’s classes and field trips

* Securing the services of faculty and guest instructors

* Making arrangements for special equipment or programming

* Receiving/reviewing MMNP student applications

* Notifying applicants of acceptance or not into the program

* Collecting fees and sending them to the treasurer

* Responding to inquiries about the course

* Assisting faculty with monitoring and evaluating participants

* Assisting faculty with certifying candidates upon their successful completion of the MMN program.

Faculty Member

Faculty members are the backbone of the program. To become an instructor, an individual shall submit an application to the Board of Directors, be interviewed, and be invited to join. In certain circumstances, a one-year internship could serve as a bridge to becoming an instructor. Faculty responsibilities include:

* Helping to plan the schedule.

* Serving on the participant acceptance committee

* Teaching classes and leading field trips.

* Serving  as participant mentors

Mentors stay in close contact with mentees, help solve problems, supervise Capstone Projects, evaluate Nature Journals and Nature Notebooks, and evaluate the ability of their charges to be Maine Master Naturalist Volunteers.

Guest Instructor

Guest instructors are experts invited to present all or part of a topic, either in a class or in the field. The course coordinator and/or faculty members will meet with guest instructors to orient them to MMNP goals and the skill level of the class. The course requirement for each topic will frame the level of academic rigor. The course coordinator and/or faculty will provide guest instructors with handouts, specimen collections and other resources as required.