Master Naturalist Program Application

• Submit an application form by Friday, August 1st, 2025. 
• You will learn of the status of your application by Monday, September 1st, 2025. 
• If accepted into the program, submit payment of $500.00 by Wednesday, October 15th, 2025.

• Partial scholarships are available for participants with financial need. If you are accepted into the program, you’ll receive more information about how to request and apply for scholarship support.

• Must be 18 years old or older. 
• Submit payment of $500.00 by
  Wednesday, October 15th. Please do not submit payment until you have received confirmation of acceptance into the Master Naturalist Program. 
• ~75 hours of in-person learning consisting of 12 monthly field programs.. Two excused absences are allowed, but attendance at the first class and last field program are mandatory. 
• ~16 hours of virtual learning consisting of 11 (2 hour) webinars which will meet once a month on a weeknight. One excused absence allowed. 
• Completion of a Phenology Project and short presentation at the last meeting. 
• Contribute 30 hours of volunteer service toward the conservation and education of natural resources and natural areas within your community. 
• Be enthusiastic about natural resource education, conservation and stewardship with a willingness to learn and a desire to share knowledge with others. 
• Attendance at 4 nature-themed educational programs offered outside of the Master Naturalist program. 
• Have access to Google Drive and Zoom via computer, tablet, or smartphone. 

Participants will receive:

• Their own copy of Naturally Curious: A Photographic Field Guide and Month-By-Month Journey Through the Fields, Woods, and Marshes of New England by Mary Holland to add to their library. 
• A loaned copy of the book Connecticut Wildlife: Biodiversity, Natural History, and Conservation by Geoffrey A. Hammerson. 
• A small field notebook and loupe. 
• Participants will have access to a Master Naturalist Google Drive folder, which will contain program documents, presentation slides, recommended readings, photos from our programs etc.

Participants in the Goodwin Master Naturalist Program will:

• Understand the mission, goals, and structure of the James L. Goodwin Master Naturalist Program, including expectations for participation and community engagement.

• Define the role of a naturalist and explore the value of natural history in fostering environmental awareness and stewardship.

• Identify and describe Connecticut’s diverse habitats, along with the native plants, animals, and fungi that inhabit them.

• Recognize the significance of phenology and develop skills in observing and recording seasonal changes in nature.

• Gain foundational knowledge of ecological and geological principles as they relate to Connecticut’s natural landscapes.

• Learn effective techniques for interpreting natural phenomena and engaging others in environmental education.

• Explore opportunities to contribute to community science initiatives.