Podcast: Master Naturalist Michele Richards on the program's impact

A Pennsylvania Master Naturalist shares a session about turtles during a previous training.

In this week's episode of the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper Podcast, Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Program President and Director Michele Richards talks about what it means to be a master naturalist, how the program was formed and some of the many ways the naturalist family is making a difference.

Focused on an intensive college-like 50-hour core training, continued education requirements each year afterward and expectations for service hours in a variety of areas, the growing family of Pennsylvania Master Naturalists have impacted many facets of our important natural resources.

Check out our growing library of podcast interviews with outdoor influencers from throughout our watershed by clicking here. Our list of guests include:

• Bass pro and high school educator Casey Magaragle on his fishing exploits, Sneaky Hollow Bait Company and the thrill of coaching students to state and national fishing titles.
• Brenda Sieglitz on the Keystone10 Million Trees Partnership, how trees help clean up our waterways and the need for 1,300 new landowners to come forward for free trees from the program in the next year.
• Former state representative and senator Franklin Kury on his efforts to spark the Clean Water Act and Environmental Rights Amendment, the 50th anniversary of the movement and his new book due out soon. 
• Veterinarian Kathleen Mullen on her study involving sick foals and potential ties to fracking.
• Andrew Dehoff, of the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, on the group's 50th anniversary.
• Don Shappelle, musician, on creating river songs with young people and the Songs of the Susquehanna project.
• John Levitsky, water specialist for the Luzerne County Conservation District, on abandoned mine drainage at the Plainsville Borehole Discharge.
• Cain Chamberlin, of the Endless Mountains Heritage Region, on the Tunkhannock Creek's nomination for River of the Year.
• R. John Dawes, the creator of the Water Report app that allows anglers and others to share their catches and help us track health trends in our fish species.
• Kathleen Lavelle, of Trout Unlimited, on a unique fish relocation project she helped oversee, trout-based trends in the region and the importance of volunteering
• John Dawes, of the Foundation for PA Watersheds, on assisting smaller watershed groups, acid mine drainage and other waterway threats.
• ProtectNorthernPA.org founder Diana Dakey on her concerns about the production and transportation of liquified natural gas.
• Teen kayaker and angler Lila Oast on how kayaking has opened doors for her.
• Outdoor educator Jon Beam and Audubon member Gary Metzger with an overview of duck species and the threats they face in our watershed.
• Renee Carey of the Northcentral Pa. Conservancy on the importance of preservation and public access.
• Benjamin Hayes, director of Bucknell University's Watershed Sciences and Engineering Program on health of the river.
• Salmon angler Steve Kurian on benefits of clean water and fresh fish.
• Educator Van Wagner on his unique Eels in the Classroom program and the importance of eels.
• Waterkeeper Alliance Executive Director Marc Yaggi on growing up in the Middle Susquehanna watershed and his quest in the fight for clean water.
• Outdoor educator Jolene Connelly on the importance of getting youth and women on our waterways
• Diving instructor Rich Best on trends, treasures and threats under the Susquehanna
• Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers spokesperson Tali MacArthur on the importance of assisting a watershed group
• Falconer Mike Dupuy on raptors of our river and the threats they face
• Fish and Boat Commission spokesman Mike Parker on the agency's efforts during COVID and the historic unexpected start to trout season
• Wesley Forest Camp director Emily Sliski with stories of getting young people engaged with nature at camp and on the Penns Creek
• Professional angler and YouTuber John Oast on how he got his start, what he has learned along the way and observations of the river
• Biologist David Lieb on the concerning trend of exotic crayfish eradicating native species in our watershed and how it is impacting the ecosystem