2025 Master Naturalist Training Application
Thank you for your interest in the University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Program. This program will provide science-based educational opportunities that connect people with nature and help them become engaged environmental stewards. As a Master Naturalist, you'll earn volunteer hours participating in citizen science activities, restoration work days, and nature programming. During the training, you'll learn from local and statewide experts to acquire environmental knowledge, interpretation skills, and connect with nature centers across the county.
There is a high volume of interest in the Master Naturalist Program. The next steps are:
- Complete this Master Naturalist Application.
- Listen to the 25-minute information session. You must watch the information session video for your application to be considered.
- Once application materials have been reviewed by Extension Staff, you may be invited for a short 30-minute web interview and asked to submit paperwork for background checks.
- Accepted applicants will attend all training sessions from April-June (see dates below)
- Complete 60 hours of volunteer service for the Forest Preserves of Cook County within two years.
You will be contacted through email with links to the virtual information session by January 24, 2025.
Please note: the training days are Fridays from April 4th through June 13th.
*The specific dates with tentative agenda are as follows:
Date Time Topic
4/4 8-4pm The Naturalist Basics (River Trail Nature Center)
4/11 9:30-2:30pm How our Land is Formed (Sagawau Environmental Learning Center)
4/18 2-4pm Climate Change (Online)
4/25 9:30-2:30pm Invasive Species Management (Sand Ridge Nature Center)
5/2 9-2pm Ethics in the Environment (Little Red Schoolhouse)
5/16 9:30-11:30am Restoration and Stewardship (Carl Hansen Woods)
5/23 9:30-11:30am Understanding our Flora (Trailside Museum of Natural History)
5/30 9:30-2:30pm Interpreting the Environment (Red Gate Woods)
6/6 9-12pm Volunteerism (Volunteer Resource Center)
6/13 8-4pm Putting it all Together (Bemis Woods)
Below, you'll answer a series of questions so that the Cook County Master Naturalist Extension Team can get to know you and understand your fit for the program. Please feel free to answer the questions in whatever format works best for you. This could be in full essay format, bulleted lists, etc. If you prefer a non-written format, please be sure to answer all of the questions in the format of your choosing and submit your non-written application to Sam Jacobs at samj@illinois.edu.