WARSAW – Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District’s Master Naturalists program recently celebrated the graduation of its 2019 class, according to Darci Zolman, SWCD Program Director.

Of the 21 participants, 16 completed the required 24 hours of classroom/fieldwork and passed the test with 70% or better. Six members have also fulfilled the mandatory 24 hours of volunteer service in the community, becoming certified Indiana Master Naturalists. Receiving their certification are: Amy Arscott, Tammie Berkey, Connie Himes, Jessica Kreider, Kristy Rumfelt and Cathi Zdenek.

Also receiving their certification, having taken the classes in previous years, were Kevin Lipsey, Brock Rhodes and Cheri Ringer. “The program has been a resounding success,” commented Zolman.

“In addition to meeting some amazing people and learning more about our county’s natural resources and natural places, the community has received over 600 hours of volunteer service this year from Kosciusko Master Naturalists. That is phenomenal,” Zolman said.

In the four years since it was implemented, the KIMN program has graduated 45 certified Indiana Master Naturalists who have performed over 3000 hours of volunteer service.

The next Kosciusko Indiana Master Naturalist classes will begin in March and run through November 2019. For more information, contact Darci Zolman at Kosciusko SWCD, 217 E. Bell Drive, Warsaw.  For more details, call (574) 267-7445, extension 5374.