FORT WAYNE, Ind. Openings are available for anyone interested in registering for the 2014 Indiana Master Naturalist Program. This extremely popular learning opportunity brings together natural resource specialists with adult (18 years and older) learners to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils and wildlife and promote volunteer service in local communities.

The program will be hosted locally by the Fox Island Alliance, and the Allen County Parks Department. To become a certified Indiana Master Naturalist, participants must pay a registration fee, attend an orientation session, attend at least nine of the eleven class sessions, and volunteer an thirty six hours to help educate the community about nature, and help promote, plan, maintain and install natural areas. A mandatory orientation meeting is Tuesday February 18, 2014 at Fox Island County Park from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 pm to 9:30 pm and Saturday mornings from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm at either Metea County Park or Fox Island County Park. Everyone associated with the program is a volunteer. The class is limited to 30 members. This will be the 10th year for the program. Applications may be picked up at Fox Island and Metea County Parks Nature Centers. Applications may also be downloaded on the Allen County Parks website at http://allencountyparks.org/programs-day-camps/indiana-master-naturalist-2014/