Description

Instructor Training

The mission of the Minnesota Master Naturalist Program is to promote awareness, understanding, and stewardship of Minnesota’s natural environment by developing a corps of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities.

Minnesota Master Naturalist Instructors are trained on how to use the materials developed and supported by the MNat program.  This two-day training provides all the resources, materials and planning to allow instructors to teach any of the biome courses at their location.

Minnesota Master Naturalist Instructors can train current volunteers, attract new volunteers, and strengthen community environmental education programs. They will be able to meet and work with other instructors across the state and become part of a statewide effort to increase natural resource volunteering in citizen science, interpretation, program support, and stewardship throughout Minnesota.

Minnesota Master Naturalist capstone projects will benefit your organization by providing creative ideas and improved environmental education programming.

Educational requirements include a minimum of either a Bachelor's degree in environmental science, education, or related field; or demonstrated comparable practical experience providing environmental education programs.

Instructors must work for an organization-, agency, or group that places a priority on science-based environmental education and is willing to provide support for Minnesota Master Naturalist training. Instructors need a classroom and the capability to show PowerPoint slides (computer and projector) for all class sessions except the field trips.

A letter of support from the instructor's sponsoring group/agency, stating that they support the instructor in this pursuit and can provide the necessary space, time, and equipment.   Please send letter to info@minnesotamasternaturalist.org

Our core biome courses are designed to give a general overview of one of Minnesota's three biomes:

• Big Woods, Big Rivers - Eastern broadleaf forest
• Prairies and Potholes - Prairie parkland
• North Woods, Great Lakes - Laurentian mixed forest

Each biome training course includes 40 hours of lectures, hands-on activities, videos and field trips that cover topics of geology, glaciers, water, wildlife, humans, ecology, and botany using a variety of teaching techniques, ranging from lectures, classroom discussions, field trips, field work, small group work and readings. All books and necessary materials are included in the course fee, and will be provided to you during your first class.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation requests received more than two weeks before the start of class are refunded minus a $20.00 processing fee. Cancellation requests received less than two weeks before the start of class are refunded minus $50.00.

Help

Course content questions

info@minnesotamasternaturalist.org

Registration questions 

Extension Registration, ext-reg@umn.edu

User Name or Password help

UMN Help Desk, HELP@umn.edu, 612-301-4357. Please mention you are using a "guest account."

Get help with online learning

https://extension.umn.edu/courses-and-events/get-help-online-learning