Minnesota Master Naturalist

Course Registration

NWGL - Loons, Lakes, & Linnaeus Lists! - National Loon Center, Crosslake

Loons, Lakes, & Linnaeus Lists! - National Loon Center, Crosslake website

14303 Gould Street
Crosslake, MN 56442

Loons, lakes, and Linneaus lists, oh my! Follow the call of the loon to the North Woods, Great Lakes course held at the National Loon Center in Crosslake, MN. We’ll explore common loon biology, field ecology, the diversity of species of the Northwoods, freshwater stewardship, community science, and more. Explore the natural areas around Crosslake including the Cross Lake Recreation Area, trails at the Crosslake Community Center, and Uppgaard Wildlife Management Area.

The National Loon Center is a nonprofit dedicated to loon and freshwater research, conservation, and education with a new educational facility projected to open in 2026.

This 40 hour course will meet on Wednesday nights, running April 2 through June 11 with two Saturday field trips on April 26 and June 7. We will meet at the National Loon Center’s temporary visitor center, The Nest. Capstone project options will be shared during the first session and participants will choose a capstone to complete before graduation. Tentative field trips activities include documenting biodiversity during the City Nature Challenge weekend (April 26) and touring a local sustainable farm & forest (June 7).

The training you receive in this course will prepare you to become involved in the many outdoor stewardship activities available in the Brainerd Lakes Area, including at the National Loon Center. We’ll begin just before the loons migrate back north and finish at the start of the nesting season, right before the annual Loons & Lakes Festival in Crosslake!

This course is perfect for all those with a love of our state bird and Minnesota lake life. Aspiring naturalists and early-career conservationists will especially enjoy the training gained in a fun environment. Expect to learn many practical skills and enjoy increasing outdoor discovery time as we head into the warmer weather of spring!

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:
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NOTE: The canvas link they are referring to is only for online classes, not "in person" classes.
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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 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on:

Instructor Information

Natasha Bartolotta

I am the Science & Stewardship Manager at the National Loon Center. I’ve been a Minnesota Master Naturalist since 2022 and love birding, hiking, kayaking, and exploring new places.

Sponsor Information

National Loon Center

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