Do you love spending time outdoors?  Do you enjoy sharing your passion for the natural world with those around you?  Would you like to help others connect with nature?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you should consider becoming a University of Illinois Extension Master Naturalist Volunteer.  University of Illinois Extension – Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties is excited to be offering a volunteer training starting Fall of 2024.  The training will cover numerous subjects including Geology, Archaeology, Wetlands, Ornithology, Forestry, and Entomology, to name a few. Becoming a volunteer through the Extension Master Naturalist program provides opportunities to explore and expand your understanding of the natural world, to provide educational outreach, and to assist with environmental stewardship projects with local University of Illinois Extension partners.

Volunteers who complete the training session this fall will then work on Extension approved environmental stewardship and educational outreach projects with other Master Naturalists and local partners.  To maintain a Master Naturalist certification, volunteers must complete 10 hours of continuing education and 30 hours of approved service work in the local area annually.  University of Illinois Extension provides ongoing training and coordinates regular meetings to support Master Naturalist volunteers.

Adults aged 18 and over are welcome to register. 

Training will be held on Tuesday evenings over the course of six weeks, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., from August 6, 2024 to September 17, 2024. 
Master Naturalist 2024 Schedule

Cost: $250

Classroom time will be spent at Nell’s Woodland in Ottawa, IL.  The training will also include Saturday field trips to a variety of natural areas, including Starved Rock State Park, Nachusa Grasslands, and Dayton Bluffs Preserve.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Emily Hansen at emhansen@illinois.edu or 815-224-0896