Missouri Department of Conservation Annual Report 2008 by Missouri Department of Conservation

Author:Missouri Department of Conservation
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Missouri, state government publication

^_^^ Teaching Missourians About Fish, Forest and Wildlife Resources

Internships encouraged diversity, aided students and MDC

Our stewardship of Missouri's fish, forests and wildlife carries the responsibility of sustaining these natural resources not only for current generations, but for future ones, as well. It also carries the need to recognize that future generations likely will represent a vastly different population which reflects many cultures and backgrounds. MDC has a long-standing commitment to understanding the needs of Missouri citizens and

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accepts the challenge of staying in tune with our diverse stakeholders. One way to remain focused is through various diversity outreach programs.

MDC began its fifth year of an internship program which creates experiences for students in the area of conservation, while addressing recruitment needs of MDC. Objectives are threefold: expose students to a variety of professional tasks and MDC's culture; mentor promising students in disciplines in which job candidates are scarce; and attract students with diverse cultural backgrounds to contribute to MDC's workforce and mission accomplishment. Internships are provided at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and length of internships typically run concurrently with college semesters or summer breaks. Acceptance for an internship requires a minimum of a 2.8 GPA for undergraduates and a 3.0 for graduates and the successful completion of MDC's interview process.

In FY08, 19 male and female students worked in a variety of internship positions, which were diverse in both location and job responsibilities. The students represented 10 colleges and universities and had a combined 3.6 GPA.

Missouri forests aided by volunteers

Missouri Forestkeepers Network: MDC collaborated with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri to support statewide recruitment and coordination of volunteers participating in the Missouri Forestkeepers Network. The Forestkeepers program is a volunteer, self-driven network of those interested in forest and forest monitoring. Volunteers worked more than 20,560 hours on a variety of activities.

Wildland fire-suppression training and the Midwest Wildfire Training Academy, MDC supports volunteer fire departments in many ways. One way in particular is by providing annual wild-land fire-suppression training to fire departments throughout the state. We conducted 40 sessions and trained more than 900 local firefighters in fire behavior, suppression techniques and safety at no cost to the fire departments or the volunteers. In addition, we also provided instructors and logistical support for the Midwest Wildfire Training Academy held in Jefferson City each year This academy draws thousands of participants from throughout the state and the Midwest.

"Discover Nature — Schools" launched

T3 make our conservation educational offerings more easily recognized by the next generation, programs for families, women and schools will be known under the "Discover Nature" umbrella. So, for example, what was called Learning Outdoor Schools will now be Discover Nature—Schools. The pilot of the new middle-school unit for that program was completed in 2007, and launched statewide this past year Seventy-one schools with 3,041 students received grants to participate. New instructional units aimed at elementary and high schools will be piloted in 2009 and 2010. Conservation field trip grants helped 22,204 students at 194 schools get outdoors. In addition, 27 new schools received Outdoor Classroom grants.

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