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. The Master Naturalist program leverages the expertise of University scientists and environmental partners to train adult volunteers to be environmental advocates by putting research into action. Our goal is to empower nature enthusiasts to put their unique skills to use through local conservation and restoration activities. Becoming a volunteer through the Extension Master Naturalist program provides opportunities to explore and expand your understanding of the natural world, provide educational outreach, and assist with environmental stewardship projects with local University of Illinois Extension partners.
University of Illinois Extension – Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, and Putnam counties is excited to be offering a hybrid volunteer training starting in the Summer of 2025. The training will cover numerous subjects including Geology, Archaeology, Wetlands, Ornithology, Forestry, and Entomology, to name a few. The training will be held over the course of seven weeks from June 9, 2025, to July 28, 2025. Lectures and classwork will be completed asynchronously online. The training will also include in-person field trips to a variety of natural areas, including the Sue & Wes Dixon Waterfowl Refuge, Starved Rock State Park, and Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie.
Volunteers who complete the training session this summer 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. The cost for the Master Naturalist training to become a certified volunteer is $250. For more information, or to sign up for the training, visit go.illinois.edu/2025MNTraining or contact Emily Hansen at emhansen@illinois.edu or call (815) 224-0896. Space is limited, and registration closes May 16, 2025, or when the class is full. Apply soon to guarantee your spot!
If you need an accommodation to participate, please contact Emily Hansen at emhansen@illinois.edu or 815-224-0896. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
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.