Bong Naturalist Association, a local Friends of Wisconsin organization affiliated with the Richard Bong State Recreation Area (RBSRA) located in Kenosha County, is hosting this training focused on learning about nature education, nature restoration, and connecting natural communities. We will cover geology, water and plant communities, wildlife, ecology, climate and weather, natural history, human connections, and how Master Naturalists can use their new knowledge in our community. The training includes mostly hands-on outdoor experiences and interactions with expert guest speakers, with some indoor instruction.

RBSRA includes over 4,500 acres of remnant and restored prairies, savannas, oak woodlands, old field grasslands and wetlands. It is home to native and migratory birds, wildlife and fish and offers unique recreation opportunities such as dog training, model airplane flying, rocketry, falconry, and hunting. The recreational aspects are managed and co-exist with the rare species and habitats. RBSRA is easily accessible to urban communities; our mission is to serve people of all ages and abilities.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

Present day southeast Wisconsin has a rich and varied history of land use patterns going back thousands of years. That landscape is the culmination of decisions made (and not made) that affect our land, water, flora, and fauna. Join Wehr Nature Center as we explore how we arrived at the present, and chart forward to possible futures.

Participants will explore a 400-million-year-old fossilized reef; walk ice age bluffs; hold a 50,000-year-old tree fragment; go behind the scenes at the School for Freshwater Sciences; learn how wildlife rehabilitation reveals our complicated history with wildlife; discover how a Milwaukee neighborhood organized and turned a cold-war missile base into a nature preserve; and see how climate change is connected to it all.  Our field experiences will take us to various locations within Milwaukee County and may include some uneven and steep trails as well as moderate hiking distances.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

Join the Friends of Kohler-Andrae, Kohler-Andrae State Park, and the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program for an exciting and immersive training experience! This program will highlight the wonders of Lake Michigan, the stunning dunes, and the diverse ecosystems of the park. Hosted at the Sanderling Nature Center, most sessions will take place outdoors, allowing you to connect with nature firsthand.

Embark on guided hikes ranging from 1 to 3 miles, traversing both smooth and uneven terrain, as we explore the park’s rich habitats, including marshes, forests, dunes, and the Lake Michigan shoreline. Learn from passionate naturalists about local wildlife, conservation, community science, interpretation, and much more. We’ll have an hour for lunch; you may want to bring your own.

In addition to Kohler-Andrae, we’ll venture to the Northern Unit of the Kettle Moraine and other nearby natural areas. Participants are responsible for transportation to field sites, though ride-sharing options can be coordinated. Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to deepen your connection to nature while gaining valuable skills in environmental stewardship! A Wisconsin State Park Admission pass is required for all vehicles visiting the park.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

Join us in Bayfield County! The Cable Natural History Museum and Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center are partnering once again to offer a week-long (Monday–Saturday) Wisconsin Master Naturalist training. This schedule allows local and out-of-town participants the opportunity to take the Master Naturalist training during a condensed time frame. This is an active training with field portions incorporated into each day, including on- and off-trail hiking and experiences on the water. We will take you across Bayfield County from Cable to Bayfield and many areas in between, exploring glacial features, waterfalls, barrens, and estuaries. You’ll get an up-close look at northern Wisconsin while banding birds, investigating landforms, identifying plants, and exploring the Lake Superior fisheries. You will be responsible for your own transportation or carpooling to a variety of sites within 45 minutes of Ashland on paved and gravel roads. Lodging near Ashland/Washburn is the most centric to the travel throughout the week.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

The Land Restoration School (LRS) is excited to host a training session, in partnership with Mequon Nature Preserve, that is focused on the important topic of ecological restoration for lands that are damaged or degraded using the framework from the Society for Ecological Restoration, (SER). Attendees should expect to learn the relevance of ecological restoration with a focus on the resilience of the environment for people, society, culture, and all beings with a stake in habitat restoration. Sessions are led by subject matter experts from UW-Madison, UW-Green Bay and UW-Milwaukee, and the LRS faculty. The sessions will be a mix of presentations and field work, taking advantage of the Mequon Nature Preserve and the UW-Milwaukee Cedarburg Bog field station.

*This training will include eight early career Ecological Restorationists who are participating in an intensive Land Restoration School, expanding their knowledge on the topic of ecological restoration at the same time. This will be a great opportunity for future Master Naturalists to learn alongside the Land Restoration School cohort. This training will foster a dynamic learning community with participants bringing a wide range of life experiences and skill sets.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

Welcome to the Northwoods! Trees For Tomorrow (TFT), a non-profit environmental education center in Eagle River, will be hosting a Wisconsin Master Naturalist training. Join TFT staff and regional experts in a week-long exploration of the waters, forests, wildlife, and geology that make the Northwoods unique. Our daily field experiences allow opportunities to explore county, state, or national forest lands and the beautiful lakes, rivers, and wetlands of the Northwoods. Please note that this training visits several field locations that will require a moderate amount of hiking on and off trail, sometimes on uneven terrain. TFT provides transportation to field sites in our 15-passenger vans.

Lodging:
Lodging is available in one of our on-site dormitories (shared bathrooms, bunk beds, private rooms can be available, no kitchen) for $40/night per person, made payable to Trees For Tomorrow. Please plan to bring your own towels and bedding. To reserve lodging at TFT, please call 715-479-6456 or email jenny@treesfortomorrow.com.

Meals:
A continental style (light) breakfast (i.e. muffins, yogurt, fruit, etc.) will be available each morning at no extra cost for the participants. Lunch is available for the week (Sunday-Friday) for an additional fee of $75/person, made payable to TFT. Those not participating in the TFT lunch option will need to bring lunch each day. We do ask that participants commit to the entire week for the lunch option. To sign up for the TFT-provided lunches and/or if you require special arrangements for any food allergies or dietary needs, please call 715-479-6456 or email jenny@treesfortomorrow.com. Participants are responsible for their own dinner arrangements.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

The Prairie Enthusiasts (TPE) is hosting a field-based training at Mounds View Grassland, an 830-acre property owned by TPE located south of Blue Mounds. The site includes remnant prairie, wetlands, a coldwater stream and oak savanna native habitats and prairie plantings and prairie seed orchards. Our home base will be the rustic Schurch-Thomson barn, a working barn used for research, restoration and education. The training will be centered on the native grasslands and savannas of the Driftless Area with topics including geology, soils, watersheds, plant communities, prairie pollinators, birds and mammals. A wealth of guest experts will join us to share their knowledge of fire ecology, groundwater issues, seed collecting and more. In addition to the Mounds View Grassland, we will visit nearby prairies and oak savannas and explore the Lower Wisconsin River floodplain area. Come join us and enjoy the summer prairies in bloom.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

River Bend Nature Center is delighted to host its first-ever Wisconsin Master Naturalist training! River Bend prides itself on its tradition of environmental education and stewardship efforts that support various plant communities and animal species in its lowland and upland forests, ponds, prairie, Root River riverine habitat, and marshes. Like a time capsule, this special 80 acres of land that sits just outside of Racine in southeastern Wisconsin, carries remnants and clues of human development and land use, illustrating the power of nature’s resilience. Additionally, the water features and geologic history of the land are prime examples of how water can be transformative, shaping an environment and dictating the types of species able to survive there. These themes will be central to our exploration of the interconnectedness of water, plant and animal communities, ecology, geology, weather and climate, and how the land’s natural history is interpreted through time.

Our training will be largely hands-on, primarily utilizing the habitats at River Bend as outdoor learning labs. Activities, guest speakers, citizen science and interpretive opportunities, as well as off-site field experiences will complement the indoor learning sessions. Although there are some optional sessions in our schedule, we encourage attendance to get the most out of the Master Naturalist experience.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center located near the Wisconsin Dells will become a river classroom as participants become certified Master Naturalists. Upham Woods is located on 318 acres of forested land, including a 210-acre state natural area called Blackhawk Island. Explore the special features of this site from old-growth oak forests to unique geology to historical sites. A wealth of guest experts will explore Master Naturalist topics through three complementary focal points: learning through place-based experiential education, a focus on land stewardship by developing our personal conservation ethics, and opportunities to give service in diverse areas including youth education, conservation work, and outdoor recreation. Accessibility is at the forefront of what we do so all activities will be designed with your access needs in mind but traditionally there are several 1-3 mile hikes over uneven terrain throughout the training. Other activities include investigating macro-invertebrates living in the river, connecting with other local conservation institutions like Aldo Leopold Foundation and Mirror Lake State Park Friends Group, and connecting to the land and Ho-Chunk Culture with a facilitated traditional art project.Participants are responsible for their own transportation or coordinating ride shares to field locations.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.

This training focuses on the Pheasant Branch Conservancy and watershed. Approaching the full curriculum through a lens of water, we explore the historic and current health of Madison lakes, nearby streams, and remediation efforts centered on prairies. At the Conservancy we consider groundwater, surface water, restoration management, education and outreach efforts, programming opportunities, plant, animal, and insect populations, policies, multiple use challenges, benefits, and partnerships. Field trips to Black Earth Creek (BEC) and Devil’s Lake offer an experience and study of water quality and the distinct topography, soils, and geologic features associated with glaciated and non-glaciated areas. We discuss several invasive species, their unique ability to survive, and strategies and tips to slow the spread, including decontaminating equipment. Climate change impacts and remediation, shifts in our understanding and relationship with nature, and learning about diverse ways that people experience natural spaces and accessibility are also addressed. Overall, this training has both indoor and outdoor time, some sitting, standing, and walking, some lecture, and several opportunities for hands-on exploration of themes and presentation of concepts.

The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program is a network of well-informed volunteers dedicated to conservation service, leadership, and lifelong learning. The Master Naturalist training provides 40 hours of education in a variety of natural history topics and Master Naturalist service areas. Through expert-led trainings, Master Naturalists are equipped to address challenges facing the state by making positive impacts through stewardship, citizen science, and educational activities. Trainings have an emphasis on outdoor field experiences with some classroom instruction and are taught by professional natural resources educators and scientists. Once trained, Wisconsin Master Naturalists record 40 hours of service and 8 hours of advanced training each year to maintain certification and receive a recognition pin.