Do you enjoy learning about animals, plants, rocks, and weather?  If so, you should become a Minnesota Master Naturalist volunteer! 

Cook County Extension and Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center are hosting a Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer Training beginning September 6th and running through October 25th on Wednesday afternoons as well as two Saturday field trips.

Master Naturalist volunteers complete a 40-hour hands-on course with expert instructors and fellow learners studying natural history, environmental interpretation, and conservation stewardship.  Final certification comes with the completion of 40 hours of volunteer service.  The program offers three courses that correspond to Minnesota’s three major ecosystems entitled: ‘Big Woods, Big Rivers;’ ‘Prairies and Potholes;’ and ‘North Woods, Great Lakes.’

This course will cover the natural and cultural history of the ‘North Woods, Great Lakes’ region.  We will provide an in-depth overview of the north woods forest and Lake Superior shore ecosystem and participants will observe and learn about the variety of plant and animal communities of the region.  Through the course, participants will develop their ability to observe nature and will learn tools to improve these skills.  In addition, participants will improve their communication skills by sharing knowledge with other participants and working on a group project. No natural history experience is required.

The classes will be held Wednesdays from noon-4 pm , September 6th-October 25th.  Two Saturday field trips will be on September 23rd and October 14th. The cost for the course is $275, including materials. Financial assistance is available. Home base for the course will be the Cook County Community Center in Grand Marais, but many class sessions will be held in the field at locations around the County.

Register online at  www.MinnesotaMasterNaturalist.org, call 1.888.241.4532, or e-mail [email protected].