Minnesota Master Naturalist

Course Registration

BWBR - Brainerd Lakes Area, Brainerd, MN

Northland Arboretum, Brainerd, MN website

14250 Conservation Drive
Brainerd, MN 56401

The Big Woods Big Rivers course is an introduction to the natural history of Minnesota’s deciduous forests. Classroom presentations, outdoor activities and field trips provide opportunities for participants to explore and learn about this biome that expands from Central to Southeastern Minnesota. Participants work together towards completing a capstone project. The course is designed for adult learning of skills and techniques to share knowledge or contribute your labor through Master Naturalist volunteer activities. The 40-hour course will run March 25 through April 29, 2025 meeting on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and two full-day field trips.

Sponsor Information:
This course is sponsored by Northland Arboretum. Located in the Brainerd/Baxter area the arboretum offers over 500 acres of mosaic of habitats including grasslands and restored prairie, jack pine forest, wetlands, a stream, shrub bog and of special importance, a 200-acre jack pine savanna. Native jack pine and bur oak dominate the sand plain. Gardens of wild and cultivated flowers have been carved into the setting. Designated as an important Bird Area (IBA), the Northland Arboretum hosts an abundance of bird species as well as other wildlife.

If you are having trouble registering, please see the information below. We also have help videos you can watch.

For Registration questions contact Extension Registration, ext-reg@umn.edu
For Username or Password help contact UMN Help Desk, HELP@umn.edu, 612-301-4357.

Help Videos:
 Help with Online Payment Registration.
NOTE: The canvas link they are referring to is only for online classes, not "in person" classes.
Help with Online Payment Password Reset

The course cost is $295 and includes course manuals and supplies.

If the course cost is a hardship, please fill out the scholarship application. After the scholarship is fully processed, you will receive a code to be entered in the on-line registration process. Please wait until you receive that code to complete registration.

Course Dates:

Meeting from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on:

Instructor Information

Eleanor Burkett

Eleanor (Ellie) Burkett - lifelong learner, retired UM Extension educator in water resources. Eleanor enjoys gardening for pollinators, backyard bird watching, biking, kayaking, hiking and hanging out with her Master Naturalist peeps!

Tish Laske

Tish Laske - has been a Master Naturalist since 2010. She currently teaches biology and Wildlife Forensics at Brainerd High School and spent 30 summers at the Minnesota Zoo as a Zoocamp instructor.

Richard Meyer

I love learning about nature. My background is in Earth science education and technology. I became a Master Naturalist in 2011 and took the instructor training in 2017. You can learn more about my interests at my blog/website - Meyer.FYI


Jane Stevens

Jane has been a Master Naturalist since 2014. She loves to participate in Citizen Science projects, and is attempting to establish a native pollinator garden in her yard.

Sponsor Information

Northland Arboretum

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