Advanced Training

To remain certified, Master Naturalists complete 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training each year. Master Naturalists record and track their hours via our online reporting system.

Advanced Training

Advanced trainings encourage volunteers to stay engaged and grow their understanding of Wisconsin’s ecosystems and natural history. A good naturalist is an inquisitive one! To qualify, activities must:

  • Focus on an aspect of Wisconsin’s natural or environmental cultural history
  • Be a formal training or workshop offered by an organization
  • Be targeted for adult learners

Contact us at info@wimasternaturalist.org if you have questions about a program’s suitability to count towards your Master Naturalist advanced training requirement.

Examples of Advanced Training

  • Project WET, Project WILD, or Project Learning Tree training
  • Workshop on plant/animal identification
  • Water quality monitoring training
  • Attending a lecture on environmental sustainability
  • Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin Field Trips
  • Approved digital content (listed in the Portal Resource Center)

Examples of valuable activities that
do not qualify as Advanced Training

  • TV/DVDs
  • Birding with friends
  • Identifying trees at your cabin with family
  • Reading a Wisconsin natural history book
  • Desert workshop while on vacation in Arizona
  • Whale watching tour off the coast of Maine

Master Naturalist-Sponsored Advanced Trainings

Master Naturalists can also find partner-sponsored Advanced Trainings in the Portal’s resource center.

Does your organization have adult educational programming that Master Naturalists can attend to reach their advanced training requirements? This includes workshops, field trips, engaging presentations, or field experiences.