Natural Lands Trust announces the second class of its “Force of Nature” volunteer training program, designed to educate and train participants to serve as volunteer project leaders and ambassadors.

 “Our inaugural Force of Nature class graduated from the program in April, 2012. Since then, they have contributed more than 400 hours of skilled labor to help Natural Lands Trust preserve and steward the land, water, and wildlife of our region,” said Molly Morrison, president of Natural Lands Trust. “I look forward to welcoming participants in the second class this autumn as they join the force!”

 Under the program, volunteers participate in five, four-hour training sessions during which they learn about topics ranging from tree care and planting to invasive plant identification and removal. Each training session includes a learning component and a hands-on service component, such as restoring trails or building nest boxes for Bluebirds.

 Following their training, graduates are asked to dedicate at least four hours per month for a minimum of five months volunteering at one (or more) of Natural Lands Trust’s 41 nature preserves, which stretch from the Poconos to the New Jersey bayshore. “So far, our Force of Nature volunteers have been so enthusiastic about putting their newly acquired land stewardship skills to use that many of them have far exceeded the volunteer hours required,” noted Angela Michie, Natural Lands Trust’s outreach and membership manager.

 Among other activities, inaugural Force of Nature graduate Alane Dougherty has been monitoring nest boxes and maintaining trails at Hildacy Farm Preserve in Media “I am so proud to be a part of the Natural Lands Trust extended family, and very happy to use my new skills in support of the mission we share.”

 Training sessions for the 2012-13 class will be held beginning October 20, 2012, and continuing through March on the third Saturday of each month (excluding December). The first session will be held at Stroud Preserve on North Creek Road in West Chester, Pa. A complete training schedule is available online at natlands.org/volunteer/force-of-nature.

The registration deadline for the 2012-13 class is October 4, 2012. The program information and application are available at natlands.org/volunteer/force-of-nature or by calling or e-mailing Outreach and Membership Manager Angela Michie at 610-353-5587 ext. 266 or amichie@natlands.org.

 Individuals interested in attending a single training sessions may register at any time. Single session registration is extremely limited and is on a first-come basis.

 Natural Lands Trust is the region’s largest land conservation organization and is dedicated to protecting the forests, fields, streams, and wetlands that are essential to the sustainability of life in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. Since its founding, Natural Lands Trust has preserved more than 100,000 acres, including 41 nature preserves totaling more than 21,000 acres and 19,000 acres on which it holds conservation easements. For more information, visit www.natlands.org.