Become a Master Naturalist
The Illinois Extension Master Naturalist program is available in most counties. To begin the process of joining, check if your local Illinois Extension county office offers the program. These counties do not have an active program: Jersey, Macoupin, Montgomery, Christian, Fayette, Effingham, Clay, Wayne, Edwards, Richland, Jasper, Lawrence, and Wabash. If your county does not currently offer the program, you can take the training at any nearby office that offer it. You can also contact your local county office to express your interest in the program.
The application process and training schedule vary for each county. Interested applicants should submit an online or a paper form application, followed by an interview with Extension staff. Master Naturalist training is typically offered one day a week over a 10-12 week period and is led by regional topical experts.
Download the Volunteer Application
Local Training Schedule
- January - March: DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties
- March - October: Champaign, Ford, Iroquois, and Vermilion counties
- April 3 - June 13: Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike, Schuyler counties
- June 6 - SEpt. 7: Clinton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington counties
- June 10 - 14: Fulton, Mason, Peoria, and Tazewell counties
- August-November: McHenry County
- Aug. 10-Nov. 21: Cook County
- August - September: Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam counties
- Aug. 6 - Nov. 17: Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties
- Aug. 13 - Nov. 23: Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie, and Shelby counties
- Sept. 4 - Nov. 23: Dupage, Kane, Kendall counties
- Online anytime: Clark, Crawford, and Edgar counties
Local Programs Details
- Adams, Brown, Hancock, Pike and Schuyler Counties
- Alexander, Johnson, Massac, Pulaski and Union Counties
- Bond, Clinton, Jefferson, Marion and Washington Counties
- Boone, DeKalb and Ogle Counties
- Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall and Putnam Counties
- Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan and Scott Counties
- Carroll, Lee and Whiteside Counties
- Clark, Crawford and Edgar Counties
- Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties
- Coles, Cumberland, Douglas, Moultrie and Shelby Counties
- Cook County
- DeWitt, Macon and Piatt Counties
- DuPage, Kane and Kendall Counties
- Franklin, Jackson, Perry, Randolph and Williamson Counties
- Fulton, Mason, Peoria and Tazewell Counties
- Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Pope, Saline and White Counties
- Grundy, Kankakee and Will Counties
- Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren Counties
- Henry, Mercer, Rock Island, and Stark Counties
- Lake and McHenry Counties
- Jo Daviess, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties
- Livingston, McLean and Woodford Counties
- Logan, Menard and Sangamon Counties
- Madison, Monroe, and St.Clair Counties