ABOUT
ABOUT
The Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist course takes place from September to May and consists of 9 field experiences on Saturdays in locations around the Northwest Piedmont region from 9 am to 3 pm. Field experiences typically involve walking 3-4 miles, often over uneven terrain. Classes are held regardless of weather unless driving conditions are unsafe. Travel time to locations varies and may be longer than one hour, depending on a participant’s home location. Please review the schedule for field experience locations. Online sessions will occur on an as-needed basis to be announced at a later date.
Individuals who complete 7 of the 9 field experiences (including the MANDATORY orientation session) and who are active volunteers (completing at least 20 volunteer hours or an approved impact project) will be recognized as Master Naturalist Volunteers at a graduation ceremony in December. After the initial training year, in order to maintain Master Naturalist Volunteer status, individuals must complete 40 volunteer hours as well as 8 hours of continuing education.
Note: All field experiences and many continuing education offerings qualify for Criteria II, Criteria III, or Continuing Education Credits through the North Carolina Environmental Educator Certification program.
The fee for the course is $300. This fee covers field instruction by our region’s top naturalists, a textbook, a learning guide, a loupe, and additional instructional materials and resources. An official nametag and t-shirt will be presented at the graduation ceremony to participants who complete all requirements. The primary instructors are Ken Bridle, Ph.D., and Chris Marsh, Ph.D., each of whom has over 30 years of experience teaching the natural history and field biology of the Carolinas.
Classes are open to residents over the age of 18 in the following counties: Alamance, Caswell, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Guilford, Randolph, Rockingham, Stokes, Surry, and Yadkin. Applicants should have a keen interest in nature and a desire to make a difference in environmental conservation efforts through volunteerism. To ensure high-quality instruction and experiences for all participants, each session will be limited to 20 participants. All field experiences are held outdoors and require participants to be in good physical health and able to participate in 3-4 mile, moderately paced walks over uneven or rugged terrain with lengthy periods of standing.
Applications for the 2025-2026 class will open on July 8 and are due by August 1, 2025. Selected participants will be notified by August 15, 2025. Please note: Students MUST be able to attend 7 of the 9 field sessions. The orientation session on September 27, 2025 is required for all participants. Please make note of the locations listed on the schedule page, as some will require travel over an hour, depending on a participant’s location.
Please contact Rebecca Craps at N.C. Cooperative Extension – Forsyth County Center at rlcraps@ncsu.edu or 336-703-2858 if you have any questions or concerns about the requirements or need more information.
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