Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve Interpretive Naturalist Training Program (2025)

The program registration fee is a deposit.
It will be reimbursed to those who successfully fulfill BIN requirements for two years.

Volunteers have been central to the Preserve since its inception. An Interpretive Naturalist is someone passionate about the natural world and desires to share this passion with their community. Using their knowledge, they engage others by building connections, emotional or experiential, to the natural world. Our BINs undergo an intensive training program, focused on native plants, and use their knowledge to give back to the greater Preserve community. The Naturalist Training Program began in 2006 and sought to inspire the appreciation and understanding of native plants in the natural world. We hope to continue and broaden this program to include a variety of opportunities for volunteers to share the experience and knowledge they gained with the general public. This new, dynamic program consists of 3 major components:

• An initial core curriculum consisting of 6 recorded programs followed by an assessment
• Further learning through the year via the Knowing Native Plant series in person
• Experiential learning through volunteer service
• Continuing education through various lectures and other programs.

Who Should Consider the BIN Program:

• Must be 18 years old or older
• Enthusiastically interested in learning about the importance of native plants, natural history, ecosystems, the environment and biodiversity
• Passion for sharing your natural resource knowledge with others
• Good communication skills; ability to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds in a friendly and courteous manner
• A desire to contribute volunteer service toward the conservation of natural resources and natural areas within your community
• Reliability, punctuality and flexibility with schedules and last-minute changes

Application Process:

1. Register for the training via bhwp.org
2. Meet with Education Manager and Volunteer Coordinator to discuss program and individual goals
3. Review and sign Volunteer Agreement and Photo Release forms, including state-required background checks and fingerprinting
4. Review the “Core Curriculum” videos and complete the associated assessments
5. Attend the Knowing Native Plant lectures and complete the associated assessments
6. Actively participate in the Preserve’s BIN community by:
7. 1. Joining and leading public and private guided walks
   2. Assisting in the Nursery Marketplace
   3. Joining the BHWP Naturalist Facebook Group
   4. Meet up and explore the Preserve with other BINs

BHWP Interpretive Naturalist Responsibilities:

• Commit to volunteer service post-training
• Research current seasonal highlights to share on tours and for personal growth and development
• Arrive 30 minutes before guided tours or programs to check in with Preserve staff/volunteers regarding any last-minute updates that may affect the walk
• Provide timely notification of schedule and availability changes
• Complete continuing education requirements
• Attend walks, talks, lectures or other occasional special training programs

BIN Benefits:

• Free Individual Membership for one year
• Access to BIN-only walk opportunities (“Wonder Walks”)
• Access to Knowing Native Plant recorded library
• Full refund of course fee* following the successful completion of 2 years of related volunteer service (including the initial training year)

*A portion of the registration fee will be retained to support the production of a personalized “Interpretive Naturalist” vest.