Dunwoody Nature Center

Master Naturalists

Master Naturalist is an adult education course developed in collaboration with the UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources covering a variety of nature education subjects including plant identification and foraging, forestry, stream ecology, and more!

Adults · Wednesdays, September 16 - November 18, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (schedule subject to change depending on field trips or presentation lengths) · $475 for non-members, $425 for Dunwoody Nature Center members

From dunwoodynature.org/master-naturalists ↗

About this program

Master Naturalist is an adult education course developed in collaboration with the UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources .

This ten-week course uses a combination of lectures and hands-on learning in the field, covering a variety of nature education subjects including plant identification and foraging, forestry, stream ecology, and more! After completing this fun & interactive program, on-site at the Nature Center with some off-site field trips, Georgia Master Naturalists are encouraged to share their knowledge with their communities by volunteering & working in schools, scout programs, and nature centers.

Our Master Naturalist program will offer participants 57 hours of training. A minimum of 48 hours is required to earn your Master Naturalist certificate.

Topics for 2026: How to be a Naturalist, Urban Forestry, Dendrology, Foraging, Stream Ecology, Water Quality & Monitoring, Primitive medicine, Mycology, Herpetology, Conservation, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Mammalogy, Ornithology.

Questions

What is the cost?

$475 for non-members, $425 for Dunwoody Nature Center members.

What's included?

Ten weeks of course-related material and a certificate of completion. We do not provide transportation or lunch.

What is the timeline for the program?

The program runs for once a week for ten weeks on Wednesdays. A complete schedule of experts, dates, and times will be sent out to those that register.

What kinds of organizations will be featured in our Master Naturalist program?

The program will feature guest speakers from the Amphibian Foundation, Department of Natural Resources, University of Georgia, and more!

What is the minimum number of hours I need to attend to receive the certificate?

You must attend AT LEAST 48 hours of instruction in order to receive the certificate. Since there will be over 54 hours of instruction, you are permitted to miss only one class. Attendance will be taken at every meeting.

Details

Who
Adults
When
Wednesdays, September 16 - November 18, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (schedule subject to change depending on field trips or presentation lengths)
Where
On-site at the Nature Center with some off-site field trips
Cost
$475 for non-members, $425 for Dunwoody Nature Center members

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