Vision: We seek to empower our members and partners with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and resources they need to ensure continued access to parks for conservation, recreation and spiritual renewal. Charitable Mission - We are a professional organization sponsoring projects to improve both business and environmental conditions by balancing social, economic and environmental concerns. We work to sustain recreational and economic needs while conserving and restoring the Earth's cultural and ecological biodiversity. We cooperate with and directly support park and protected area managers. We also disseminate information, develop and provide experiential learning opportunities, and support efforts designed to stimulate, encourage, educate, and involve local municipalities and the general public in good stewardship practices. Experience - Since 2000, we have planted thousands of trees to improve the Long Island Pine Barrens. We have also published a book about wildfire protection and prevention, and have been awarded two federal grants. We also have published a blog maintaining over 200 articles relevant to conservation and educational purposes. We have worked to support endangered species recovery and wildland fire prevention. We have worked on farmland conservation and native plant propagation and restoration projects. We supported the formation of the Friends of Brookhaven State Park Alliance, having applied for a grant to prevent tick bite prevention. Quality Parks is a federally registered 501(c)(3).

The 2013 Quality Parks Master Naturalist (QPMN) will be a 45 hour certificate program based on a national model, currently offered in over 20 states, to develop volunteer citizen stewards of natural resources through science-based conservation, education and service programs. The program, with both classroom and field-based learning components, will offer a broad range of natural resource and wildlife topics, delivered by field experts in environmental conservation and education.

We need your help in setting this up for Long Islanders in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

http://www.qualityparks.org