The Missouri Master Naturalist program is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Conservation and University of Missouri Extension.
Missouri Master Naturalists are a community-based natural resource education and volunteer program. Our purpose is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities within the State of Missouri.
There are twelve Missouri Master Naturalist chapters across the state of Missouri, each with independent boards, committees, memberships and unique regional non-profit partners.
Missouri Master Naturalist membership:
Trainees receive instruction from experts in their respective fields. This ensures all incoming Master Naturalists have the best, most up-to-date information regarding trends and latest science in our region and state.
- Trainees receive a minimum of 40 hours of combined classroom and field experience in local ecosystems, including biology, ecology, geology, conservation practices, land management, and more.
- Prospective Master Naturalists must be able to attend all classes plus several Saturday field trips. In addition they must:
- Complete an 8 to 10 hour individual or group capstone project with one of our local partners.
- Volunteer 40 or more hours each year of local natural resource-based volunteer service annually with local partners.
- Weekly in-person Tuesday evening classes are held in the fall of most years.
To maintain certification, chapter members must complete 8 hours of additional advanced training and contribute 40 hours of volunteer service each year. Hundreds of hours of advanced training and volunteer opportunities exist each year across our more than two-dozen chapter partners.