Minnesota Master Naturalist

Course Registration

PP - Lac qui Parle Area, Watson, MN

Lac qui Parle Area, Watson, MN website

14047 20th Street NW
Watson, MN 56295

You will not find a better place on the tallgrass prairie to learn about the Prairies and Potholes biome. Lac qui Parle State Park (LqPSP) has both a river floodplain and prairie hillsides and is home to a very diverse collection of wildlife. The course will also access DNR Wildlife Management Area properties and Nature Conservancy lands. The area boasts a phenomenal migratory flight territory with a variety of birds to see and learn about. In addition to the physical and natural features of the park there is a rich history with the Dakota people who include this part of the river basin as part of their ancestral homelands. Class will cover topics of geology, water, plants, wildlife, humans, and interpretation.

FEES: $295 -scholarships available.

All participants will complete a small group capstone service project over the course of the week. Daily schedules will vary to take advantage of weather, guest presenters, field trips and natural occurrences. This course will be taught by multiple instructors and with access to the outdoors, and will provide participants the opportunity to immediately connect with relevant examples of content presented. Attendance at all class sessions and completion of capstone required for graduation.

MEALS: You will need to bring your lunch and snacks. There is a fridge on site but space is very limited. You are in a very rural area so please plan accordingly. On Wednesday evening, the local chapter of Minnesota Master Naturalists will host a potluck dinner providing the participants the opportunity to learn first-hand from locals what makes the tallgrass prairie an amazing place to experience. In the past, we have organized dinners out at local places for interested people other nights during the week. Instructor will host dinner at her home one night.

LODGING: There are a variety of locations in the area that provide both sleeper cabins as well as camping options. Lac qui Parle State Park, Upper Sioux Agency State Park, Chippewa County Park (between Granite Falls and Montevideo on Hwy 212), Lagoon Park in Montevideo, Memorial Park in Granite Falls, Prairie's Edge Casino, Resort and RV Park and various Air B & B options. (Montevideo, Watson, Granite Falls, Appleton, Ortonville, Madison, Dawson are the nearby towns with lodging)

Participants may elect to come the weekend before the training and explore the Minnesota River Valley on their own.

Training is limited to 20 participants.

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.
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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 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on:

Instructor Information

Amy Rager

Amy holds a BA in Elementary Education from the College of St. Scholastica and a MEd in Environmental Leadership and Learning from the University of MN. With over 30 years of experience in cooperative extension, Amy's career has been dedicated to intertwining her work with a passion for the environment. Since its inception in 2005, she has been an integral part of the Minnesota Master Naturalist program. Hailing from the Duluth area, Amy is a true native Minnesotan who has always cherished the outdoors, finding joy in sharing her love and knowledge with others.

Mary Newstrom

Mary Newstrom loves the outdoors and has been a Minnesota Master Naturalist since 2008. She has a wide variety of interests and takes pride in her work with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of MN. Becoming certified in songbird rehabilitation, she specialized in rehabbing Goldfinch. Mary’s dedication was shown by accumulating 2,045 volunteer hours between 2012 and 2014. Moving on to volunteer with Bumble Bee identification, MN Land Trust, and other organizations, she tries to spend as much time outside as possible.

Mary is a wellness coach that helps people connect to the spiritual side of nature. She has extensive experience leading groups and working one-on-one with adult learners. Her formal training includes a Ph.D. in Psychology plus many additional hours of Naturalist training.

Mary’s family history is rooted in New London, Spicer, and Belgrade. Her Mother and Father come from the area, and her extended family are active around town. She loves to camp, hike, and explore new places.

Sponsor Information

Minnesota Master Naturalist

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