A group of teachers listen to an instructor on the sandy shoreline of the Great Salt Lake

Utah Master Naturalist - for Utah Teachers!

In partnership with USU Extension, NHMU is proud to offer Utah public school teachers the opportunity to become Utah Master Naturalists - for free! 

Two teachers look at a river with wetland plants around them

Upcoming Utah Master Naturalist Field Courses

Stay tuned for updates, appliations for the summer Mountain Adventures field course will open later this spring.

Program Overview

Utah Master Naturalist for Utah Teachers is in-depth teacher professional development conducted three times over the course of a year, with three different field courses exploring Utah ecosystems.

From our partners at the USU website: Here at Utah Master Naturalist, our mission is to promote awareness, understanding, and stewardship of Utah’s natural environment. Our programs develop a network of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation, education, and service within their communities. Through training in the field, in the classroom, and online, Utah Master Naturalists participate in the lifelong pursuit of knowledge and skills. 

NHMU offers three field courses for teachers across the course of a year: 

Each module consists of online coursework culminating in a three-day field course led by NHMU educators. Desert Explorations includes an overnight trip to the Bonderman Field Station at Rio Mesa outside of Moab, Utah.

"The mountains section was incredible, informative.  It's going to help me teaching and creating curriculum for the new SEEd standards that are heavy on the environment."

— 2020 Utah Master Naturalist Participant

Frequently Asked Questions

What do the modules and field courses look like?

Each module consists of online coursework culminating in three days of in-the-field experience with NHMU educators, scientists, and partner organizations.  To become a certified Utah Master Naturalist, you must commit to completing both the online portion and field days for each course. 

What do I get for participating in Utah Master Naturalist?

Upon completing the requirements, you will receive a certificate and pin identifying you as a Utah Master Naturalist! In addition to receiving certification, Utah teachers will earn 1.5 USBE credits for attending each field course, and have the opportunity to be certified as a Master Naturalist by completing the online course. (Opportunity for Continuing Education credit through USU also available.)

How do I register?

Applications will open three months before the field course, and will be linked from this page to a detailed description of the module. We'll update dates and registration information as soon as we know them.

Who should I contact if I have additional questions?

For questions about NHMU's Utah Master Naturalist for Teachers, please email Aidan Bailey, NHMU School Outreach Coordinator.

For questions about USU's Utah Master Naturalist program, please email Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter at USU

  • A group of teachers on a trail with wooded mountains in the background
  • Two teachers and and NHMU instructor look at desert geology
  • A group of teachers in an outdoor classroom using binoculars
  • Teachers look at a presentation with red cliffs in the background
  • Two teachers look at a river with wetland plants around them

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