Central Montana Master Naturalist

** Registration now closed for Spring 2026! **

As part of the Montana Master Naturalist Program, Montana Discovery Foundation will be offering a 40-hour Master Naturalist certification course! The course aims to increase natural history knowledge and promote awareness, understanding, and stewardship of Montana’s natural environment by developing a corps of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities.

Previously, this course has taken place over a week in the field and has engaged participants in studies of ornithology, geology, botany, wildlife biology and ecology. This spring, our course will be offered over a 11-week period in a hybrid platform of online learning and in-person field days.

The Master Naturalist Certification course is offered in partnership with the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula, MT and MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks.

Schedule: Wednesdays, April 1st-June 10th 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m over Zoom.

(Classes will be recorded and can be done from anywhere!)

Field Weekends:

  • April 25th-26th: Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch
  • May 16th: Botany
  • June 6th: Missouri River Float

Cost: $385

This certification course consists of at least 40-hours of mixed-instruction including online lectures and outdoor field days.

Guest Instructors Include:

  • Madison Todd, Boone & Crockett Club
  • Matt Voigt, Forestry Technician
  • Dan Bachen, Zoologist
  • Dr. Scott Debman, Insect Physiologist
  • Ryan Schmaltz, FWP
  • Klara Varga, Biological Technician
  • Andrea Pipp, Botanist 

Master Naturalist Certification Requirements:

  • attend at least 40 hours of instruction
  • completing weekly journal entries and final project

If you want to maintain your certification in years to come (and earn successive Master Naturalist pins), you’ll have to log 20 hours of volunteer service per year with organizations connected with the natural world, as well as 8 hours of continuing education per year.

40 OPI credits available upon completion of the course for certified Montana teachers.

For more information, reach out to montanadiscoveryfoundation@gmail.com.

In partnership with:

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