May 2020 • Nebraskaland 55
month, he's out at Platte River Prairie, helping at The Nature
Conservancy's volunteer work days. He harvests seeds,
removes thistles, treats invasive species, repairs fences and
collects trash.
"I love my volunteer work," said Heatherly, who is a social
worker at the Lincoln VA Clinic. "It's going from helping
people to helping the environment, so I really like that."
And when he does head back to Nine-Mile Prairie, he
appreciates it more. Before becoming a master naturalist, he
could identify few of the plant species growing there. Now,
Heatherly says, he can stand in any given spot and name two
or three.
The Nebraska Master Naturalist Program was exactly
what he was looking for, he said.
"I tell as many people as I can about it," Heatherly said.
"If people have any interest in the outdoors, or nature or
environmental issues or conservation, they should really
check it out."
N
To learn more about the Nebraska Master Naturalist Program
and upcoming training dates, visit nemasternaturalist.org.
Joe Heatherly of Lincoln examines a stalk of smooth sumac at Nine-Mile Prairie, the place that inspired him to become a
master naturalist.
"It feels like I'm helping
conserve [the prairie],
because there's not a lot
of it left. It feels like I'm
doing something useful."
Dan Leuenberger instructs Cameron Copple, one of
Leuenberger's hunter education students, during a
mentored quail hunt. Teaching fi shing and hunter safety
are among the many volunteer opportunities in which a
master naturalist can participate.
PHOTO
BY
RENAE
BLUM
