Become a Master Naturalist!
Any adult who is curious and enjoys learning about the natural world, shares that knowledge with others, and supports conservation can become a Master Naturalist. If you enjoy hiking, bird watching, following tracks, or identifying wildflowers, you’ll love being a Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer. Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteers are a motivated group of fun and interesting people: teachers, retired professionals, nature guides, hunters, eco-tour operators, farmers, and…YOU!
The Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer Training Course comprises 40 hours of in-classroom training. The classroom training includes a variety of teaching methods—lectures, PowerPoints, hands-on activities, and videos, with two 8-hour field trips throughout the course that provide the participants with information on Minnesota’s natural history. The course is designed to be a general overview of Minnesota’s three biomes. Each class series focuses on one of the three biomes: Big Woods, Big Rivers; Prairies and Potholes; and North Woods, Great Lakes. Here at Ney Nature Center, we offer both the Big Woods, Big Rivers and the Prairies and Potholes classes.
2026 Prairies and Potholes – Click here for the MN Master Naturalist Course Listing
Tuesdays, August 4th to Oct. 13th from 5:30 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. with two Saturday Field Trips.
Course Dates:
Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
Tuesday, August 18, 2026
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Saturday, August 29, 2026 – Field Trip Day
Tuesday, September 1, 2026
Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Tuesday, September 22, 2026
Saturday, September 26, 2026 – Field Trip Day
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Join Ney Naturalists in this exploration of the prairies of Minnesota. We will meet at the Ney Nature Center near Henderson, MN. We will explore the geology, plant communities, wildlife, and human history of the prairies on and near the Ney Property, with field trips to various other lands along the Minnesota River Valley. We will take a close look at what makes this biome so important for the biodiversity of Minnesota’s flora and fauna, as well as management efforts in our prairies. All participants will complete a small group capstone service project.
The course cost includes course manuals and supplies.
Register here for currently posted courses, our 2026 course is available for registration: https://www.minnesotamasternaturalist.org/courses/
If the course cost is a hardship, please fill out the scholarship application. After the scholarship is fully processed, you will receive a code to be entered in the online registration process. Please wait until you receive that code to complete registration.
If you have any questions about the course, please contact us at info@neycenter.org or 507-357-8580.