BLOOMINGTON, Ill.—For some, there comes a great joy when you hear a child excitedly say, “Look at this cool bug!” or when an adult asks, “How can I care for wildlife in my backyard?” If you, too, experience this joy when out in nature, find pleasure in learning and educating others about the environment, and desire to be in a like-minded community, the Master Naturalist program might be for you!
The Master Naturalist training program is a unique opportunity for individuals to gain a deeper understanding of the natural world and then share that knowledge in their local communities. Through this program, participants learn about Illinois history, ecosystems, plants, animals, and environmental issues. With hands-on training and community-based service, Master Naturalists practice lifelong learning and build relationships with those who share similar interests. 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.
The fall 2025 Hybrid Master Naturalist Training in McLean, Livingston, and Woodford counties will run from August 24 through November 15. Online training modules engage learning through videos and reading materials, and we will have synchronous online sessions on Wednesday evenings to build community and learn in a group context. Additionally, the course will have weekend field trips for hands-on learning and specific time learning from local experts.
Registration is now open! The cost of the course, including training materials and all class trips, is $250. Financial assistance may be available to qualified individuals. Take the next step in becoming a Master Naturalist by filling out an application at go.illinois.edu/MNTraining25.
If you have any questions or need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Darci Webber at dlwebber@illinois.edu or call our office at 309-663-8306.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.