This is the 2024 Cook County Master Naturalists training prepares volunteer Master Naturalists to participate in local environmental education and stewardship efforts more effectively. Trainees will learn about and may participate in citizen scientist activities. They will be able to share their knowledge, skills, and passion about the natural world with others so they also can become more engaged.
We offer expert led training sessions over three months. Approximately 50 hours of "classroom" instruction and field study and a minimum of 60 hours of volunteer work must be completed within the Forest Preserve of Cook County to become certified. Once a certified Master Naturalist, 30 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education or advanced training are required each year and can be completed anywhere within Cook County.
Training is for accepted applicants only. Applications are now closed. If you are interested in joining the program, the next training will occur in August 2025 with applications opening in late February 2025. Please sign up for our 2025 Cook County Master Naturalist Notification List if you are interested in receiving notification when 2025 training application opens.
To learn more about the Cook County Master Naturalist Program, Check out the Cook County Master Naturalist Website and follow our Cook County Master Naturalist Facebook Page to keep up with our program.
This course space will remain hidden - it is the template from which MN Coordinators can develop a local MN Hybrid course.
The Illinois Extension Master Naturalist training is the first step in becoming a certified Master Naturalist volunteer. Thank you for joining the course! We are excited to deepen your knowledge of nature in Illinois. Following your completion of the training, you will embark on a 60-hour internship of volunteer time to become a certified Master Naturalist.
This hybrid Master Naturalist training will be held from April 3 through June 12, 2025 and includes a combination of synchronous, in-person learning days and asynchronous online work for you to complete between each session.
Registration for this class is closed. The next training is expected to occur in spring 2026. Contact Anne Townsend at 618-833-6363 or cupquake@illinois.edu for more information.
This course is the online portion of the hybrid 2025 West-Central Illinois Master Naturalist course covering Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike & Schuyler counties. Participants in the hybrid course complete 34 hours of classroom and field sessions, complemented by 14 hours of online self-study. The course covers the fundamental principles of ecology, botany, soils, entomology, ornithology, weather & climate, and wildlife management while exploring diverse ecosystems such as prairies, rivers, forests, and streams. This course runs March 12 to May 21, 2025.
Course contacts: Amy Lefringhouse (heberlei@illinois.edu) and Kinsey Tiemann (ktiemann@illinois.edu)
This course is the online portion of the hybrid 2025 East Central Illinois Master Naturalist course covering Champaign, Vermillion, Ford, and Iroquois counties. Participants in the hybrid course complete 32 hours of discussion and field sessions, complemented by 24 hours of online self-study and reading. The course covers the fundamental principles of ecology, botany, soils, entomology, ornithology, weather & climate, and natural areas management while exploring diverse ecosystems such as prairies, rivers, forests, and streams. This course runs from April 10 through June 26.
Course contacts: Karla Griesbaum (kherzma2@illinois.edu) and Melissa Berg (mkberg3@illinois.edu)
This is the 2024 Cook County Master Naturalists training prepares volunteer Master Naturalists to participate in local environmental education and stewardship efforts more effectively. Trainees will learn about and may participate in citizen scientist activities. They will be able to share their knowledge, skills, and passion about the natural world with others so they also can become more engaged.
We offer expert led training sessions over three months. Approximately 50 hours of "classroom" instruction and field study and a minimum of 60 hours of volunteer work must be completed within the Forest Preserve of Cook County to become certified. Once a certified Master Naturalist, 30 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education or advanced training are required each year and can be completed anywhere within Cook County.
Training is for accepted applicants only. Applications are now closed. If you are interested in joining the program, the next training will occur in August 2025 with applications opening in late February 2025. Please sign up for our 2025 Cook County Master Naturalist Notification List if you are interested in receiving notification when 2025 training application opens.
To learn more about the Cook County Master Naturalist Program, Check out the Cook County Master Naturalist Website and follow our Cook County Master Naturalist Facebook Page to keep up with our program.
This course is the homework and additional materials to supplement the Master Naturalist training classes offered by the DuPage, Kane, Kendall Extension office. Materials found here will be available from August 28 through November 13, 2024, for accepted participants from DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties. Not available for open enrollment.
This course is the online learning environment for the Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties fall 2024 Master Naturalist training. This course is only open to those registered for the training.
This is the 2021 Cook County Master Naturalists training prepares volunteer Master Naturalists to participate in local environmental education and stewardship efforts more effectively. Trainees will learn about and may participate in citizen scientist activities. They will be able to share their knowledge, skills, and passion about the natural world with others so they also can become more engaged.
We offer expert led training sessions over three months. Approximately 50 hours of "classroom" instruction and field study and a minimum of 60 hours of volunteer work must be completed within the Forest Preserve of Cook County to become certified. Once a certified Master Naturalist, 30 hours of volunteer work and 10 hours of continuing education or advanced training are required each year and can be completed anywhere within Cook County.
Training is for accepted applicants only. Applications are now closed. If you are interested in joining the program, the next training will occur in August 2022 with applications opening in late February 2022. Please sign up for our 2022 Cook County Master Naturalist Notification List if you are interested in receiving notification when 2022 training application opens.
To learn more about the Cook County Master Naturalist Program, Check out the Cook County Master Naturalist Website and follow our Cook County Master Naturalist Facebook Page to keep up with our program.
The Diversify Master Naturalist course is a year-long learning program for Master Naturalist program facilitators (Illinois Extension staff) to discuss barriers to inclusion and diversity issues and learn to engage and build relationships with communities of color.
The initial program is from March to December 2021 filled with monthly meetings, quarterly trainings, and a final retreat. Those who are not enrolled, but interested this program should reach out to jmokeefe@illinois.edu.
Racism in the Natural World is a continuing education module for certified Master Naturalist volunteers. This is an extension of the Diversify Master Naturalist program and seeks to teach Master Naturalists about the historical and current racism in the outdoors through articles, videos, and podcasts from people of color.
Those who are not enrolled, but interested this program should reach out to Joy O'Keefe's email.