Minnesota Master Naturalists

Everyday people make HUGE contributions toward improving and protecting our environment. While many researchers and specialists study environmental problems, the task is daunting. Through the Master Naturalist program, a mighty team of 1,800 citizen scientists engage in locally-based natural resource projects to make our state a better place to live, work, and play.

In 2018, Minnesota’s Master Naturalists logged 89,000+ hours of service. We cleared invasive species, led interpretive programs, prepared trails, recorded bloom times for wildflowers, tracked pollinators, banded birds, monitored water quality, photographed wildlife, contributed data for research projects, and had fun doing it all together with family and friends.

We invite you to make a gift of any amount that’s meaningful to you.

Make a gift on this page, or give directly at z.umn.edu/MNatGive to avoid administrative fees. 

• Provide scholarships for new volunteers. To grow our program, we need to recruit new volunteers in communities where there may not be a Master Naturalist for many miles. Offering scholarships is one way to encourage a new volunteer to join and to continue learning.
• Create new workshops and educational roadtrips that help Master Naturalists take a deep-dive into a topic they’re passionate about.
• Explore new ways to get people outside to enjoy nature.
• Promote and expand our work on National Public Lands Day.
• Invite expert speakers to advanced trainings and to the Gathering Partners conference.

We know that every Master Naturalist makes a tremendous investment of their time and talent each year. Please consider deepening your commitment to University of Minnesota Extension's Master Naturalist Program with a gift.