• By Rebecca Craps
• Posted Tuesday, July 8, 2025

Announcing the 2025-2026 Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist Program

We are excited to announce the opening of the application period for the 2025-2026 Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist Program—an immersive and educational initiative designed for individuals passionate about the environment, biodiversity, and community stewardship. Applications are open from July 8, 2025, through August 1, 2025. Applicants will be notified of their selection for the program by August 15, 2025. To apply visit: http://www.northwestpiedmontmasternaturalist.org.

The mission of the Northwest Piedmont Master Naturalist Program is to train volunteers to better understand how to preserve and enrich our local ecosystems. Through hands-on training and volunteer engagement, the program aims to create a volunteer network of citizen scientists and environmental educators devoted to promoting environmental awareness, sustainable practices, and a profound appreciation of the diverse landscapes that define our region.

Program highlights:

• The program takes place on Saturdays beginning in September of 2025 and running through May of 2026
• Field-based program with nine field experiences at locations around the Northwest Piedmont Region
• Instruction by the region’s top naturalists
• Volunteer hours required
• Eligible for Criteria II, Criteria III, or Continuing Education Credits for the North Carolina Environmental Educator Certification
• Led by: Piedmont Land Conservancy, Forsyth Audubon, N.C. Cooperative Extension - Forsyth County Center, and Reynolda Gardens
• Applications are now open. Visit our website at http://www.northwestpiedmontmasternaturalist.org to learn more about the program, view the tentative schedule, and to submit your application.

Please contact Rebecca Craps at rlcraps@ncsu.edu or 336-703-2858 with questions.