Become a Maryland Master Naturalist!

NOTICE: The 2020 class is full and registration is CLOSED.

Class Runs February – June 2020
at the American Chestnut Land Trust

ACLT’s Master Naturalists are the people who actively make positive change for our local natural world. You share knowledge with the community, check on the well-being of our birds, fish, lizards, turtles and others, work with scientists on the health of our waterways, find and help remove invasive species that are damaging our native plants, and so much more! Take a moment to check out the photos of past classes and some of the amazing things you will get to do.

2017 Graduating Class Photo
2017 Master Naturalist Class!

HES-visit-kids-and-wildflowers-IMG-1616
Sharing your knowledge with the next generation

Canoe net-pull method
Paddle the creek for our fish survey

IMG_20170414_135046
Improving habitat with bird boxes

Chuck - Guided-Hike GS
Guided hike with the scouts!

IMG_4814
Careful handling of snapping turtles 2

IMG_4784
Safe handling of copperheads. Master Naturalists know!

dendro class
Into the woods to learn about trees

md-master-nat-group-pic
The heart of ACLT!!! We love our Master Naturalists!

Share your love of nature! A “Master Naturalist” is a citizen scientist who is dedicated to the care and conservation of Maryland’s natural environment. Certified Master Naturalists can share their expertise with the public, participate in research, and guide hikes and canoe trips.

Maryland Master Naturalist Class

General Info:

Classes will take place on Monday evenings from 6-9 pm from February 24th through June 8th at the ACLT office in Prince Frederick. Exception: The May 25th class will be held on Tuesday, May 26th due to the Memorial Day Holiday.
Additional classes/field trips:
- Wednesday, March 25th – 6 p.m.-9 p.m. – Herp Hunt
- Saturday, April 25th – 6:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. – Ornithology Field Trip
- Saturday, May 2nd – 10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Canoe Trip on Parkers Creek
- Saturday, May 16th – 12 p.m.-4 p.m. – Dendrology Field Trip
Classes cover Maryland natural history topics such as: geology, birds, mammals, Chesapeake Bay issues, fresh and salt water ecology, tree identification and many more.
Once certified as a naturalist, participants get to complete 40 volunteer service hours per year! Time well spent improving wildlife habitat, helping with research projects, caring for the land and helping the natural world!
Please note: The required volunteer hours must be completed at ACLT (20 hours) and Battle Creek or Cove Point (20 hours) annually.
The class fee is $250. Limited scholarships are available based on need
Registration for the 2020 Class is now closed as the class is full.

Want to know what the class experience is like? Check out our blog post from Master Naturalist and ACLT staff member Mike Molina.

Have questions about the 2020 class? Contact ACLT Land Manager and Program Coordinator, Autumn Phillips-Lewis, at 410-414-3400 or at landmanager@acltweb.org

More Info on Maryland Master Naturalist Program in Calvert