Training Alaska wetland volunteers: Incorporating adult learning theory and adult education methods

Everyday, millions of volunteers perform tasks for their communities. Wetland monitoring is one such task. Training is critical to successful volunteer programs. Many volunteer monitoring programs are under funded and devote little time to training.; A review of wetland volunteer monitoring manuals for northern latitudes in the U.S. found that no wetland volunteer training manual exists that includes adult learning theory. A few include volunteer training but are not adaptable to Alaska's cold climate and do not include adult education components.; Adults are self-motivated and learn within the context of their own experiences. They are motivated to volunteer by sound management practices and often quit if they feel their talents are under utilized. These findings reinforced the need for an Alaska wetland volunteer training manual that includes adult education principles. This thesis includes one such example: Training Alaska's Wetland Volunteers: Focusing on the Adult Learner.