Registration

Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalist Application Fall 2025

Thank you for your interest in joining the Illinois Grand Prairie Master Naturalists Program! The mission of the Master Naturalist program is to provide science-based educational opportunities that connect people with nature and help them become engaged environmental stewards. We are excited to host the Fall training course from August 24 through November 15. We will meet weekly online together via zoom on Wednesday evenings from 6:00-7:30pm. Additionally, we will have weekend field trips at various locations throughout McLean, Livingston, and Woodford Counties for hands-on learning. Those dates are listed below:

September 6

September 27

October 11

October 25

This training course will be a hybrid model that includes weekly self-paced reading materials, videos, live online lectures, hikes, and more.

We are able to accept up to 25 trainees for the new class. The process begins today when you complete the form below to indicate your interest in starting the program. After this registration, we will begin the interview process for the Master Naturalists volunteer program. This will be a time when we can get to know you and why you're interested in joining our dedicated volunteer group, and you can ask any questions you may have about the program.

After the interview, we will be reaching out with acceptance decisions. All accepted volunteers will be asked to complete the required background screenings and pay the $250 course fee. We will continue to be in touch throughout the summer with class schedules and additional information.

Registration closes on August 3rd or when class fills.

For any questions, please reach out to Natural Resources, Environment, and Energy Educator, Darci Webber at dlwebber@illinois.edu or by calling our office at (309) 663-8306.

Create an account

Contact Information

First Name

Last Name

Street Address

Street Address 2

City

State

ZIP

Daytime Phone

Evening Phone

E-mail Address

How did you hear about the Master Naturalist Training?

Social Media

Word of Mouth

Online article/webpage

Master Naturalists

Flyer

From another Extension Program

Booth

Other

Why do you want to become a University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist?

Have you been a volunteer in another Extension program? If so, where and when?

Briefly list your present and previous work experience.

Briefly list volunteer roles with any other community groups.

List skills, training and education.

There are many opportunities for volunteering in different programs. At this time you may be unsure about how you may volunteer. Please check all activities that interest you:

Talk to children about natural areas, environmental issues, conduct workshops, or interpretive tours with youth

Help develop/maintain demonstration areas

Assist with area restorations, plant control, collection of native seeds, plant propagation

Serve on programming or advisory committee

Write newsletter articles or news releases

Please select when you would be able to meet for your volunteer interview. Select all that apply

In-person mornings (8-noon)

In-person afternoons (noon-4pm)

In-person Evenings (5-8pm)

Civil Rights Compliance - Participant Info

As part of our commitment to providing equal opportunities in our programming, University of Illinois Extension is required to collect and report overall statistics about the race, ethnicity, and gender of program participants. Your responses are voluntary and appreciated.

Gender

Ethnicity

Race