Training
The 2025 class is open to residents of Orange County. The 2026 class will be open to residents of Chatham, Durham, Orange, and Wake counties, the intake process has closed.
You can watch recordings of the 2024 classes on our YouTube channel.
Currently, two other Master Naturalist programs exist in North Carolina. They are intended for residents in their area.
- Central Carolina Master Naturalist program in Mecklenburg County
- Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist program in Forsyth County
If your county of residence is not listed, please consider contacting your county’s Extension Center, and suggest they consider offering this program.
Native Plants
Botanical gardens offer coursework & certificate series if you are interested in studying native plants.
Charlotte Botanical Garden, Charlotte
North Carolina Botanical Garden, Chapel Hill
Build your library
We maintain an ever-expanding list of books for the Well Read Naturalist
Watch recordings of the 2024 Master Naturalist classes held in Chatham and Durham counties
Podcast we enjoy:
- Plant People from the NY Botanical Garden
- In Defense of Plants
Nature Questions
If you have a question about nature, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science offers “ask a naturalist” – you can submit your questions and tap into the scientific expertise of the Museum.
