Pictured, front row, from left, David Burden, Michael Clark, Colleen Eastis and Shirley Shipley; back row, from left, Jim MacDonald, Jerry Johnson, Tim Kahn and John Horn.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District-sponsored Kosciusko Indiana Master Naturalists recently graduated its 2018 class, according to Darci Zolman, SWCD Program Director.  Of the 19 participants, 16 completed the required 24 hours of classroom/field work and passed the test with 70 percent 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 David Burden, Jerry Johnson, Tim Kahn, R. Michael Clark, Colleen Eastis and Shirley Shipley. Also receiving their certification, but having taken the classes in previous years, were Jim MacDonald and John Horn.  

“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 800 hours of volunteer service this year from Kosciusko Master Naturalists.  That is phenomenal.”  

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, IN 46582, (574) 267-7445 x118.