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, Wayne, Edwards, Richland, 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.

See the local programs listed below regarding upcoming trainings.

 

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: Lake and McHenry counties
  • 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, Shelby, Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper counties
  • Sept. 4 - Nov. 23: Dupage, Kane, Kendall counties
  • Online anytime: Clark, Crawford, and Edgar counties

Local Programs Details