Spring 2025 Master Naturalist Certification Course

This 12 week certification course consists of at least 40 hours of instruction in a mix of lectures, in-class labs, and outdoor field trips. It covers a wide breadth of topics with the goal of giving attendees an essential foundation of skill and knowledge on which they can build.
This course will enable participants to interpret the landscape on their own; to pry out its secrets and share those secrets with others; to take in the natural world first hand rather than through a guide. This confidence begins with knowing the details: the names of the local flowers, birds, trees, and butterflies. Throughout the course participants will practice specific naturalist skills and gain foundational knowledge that will assist engagement with the natural world for years to come.
See local forests in new light while learning about the role conifers play in a coordinated ecology with fire and snow pack moisture. Or marvel in the diversity of lichen. Spend an entire day identifying winter raptors in the Mission valley. Become attuned to bird songs and butterfly wings. Get a handle on flower identification by recognizing patterns in form. Emphasis will be on learning how to identify local flora, fauna, and landscape processes while gaining insight on how each part is connected.
Knowledgeable guest instructors include botanist and author Peter Lesica, botanist Greg Peters, birder Chadwick Moore, MNHC editor Allison De Jong, and conservation biologist Erim Gomez.