Course Registration
ADV - Gathering Partners Conference - 2026, St. Peter
Gathering Partners Conference - 2026, St. Peter website
800 W College AvenueSt Peter, MN 56082
Please join us for the 2026 Gathering Partners conference, held on the beautiful campus of Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN!
Our theme this year centers on "Naturalist Skills" and we have planned a schedule brimming with sessions, speakers, outings and activities that will help you fill your proverbial field bag with skills you can use while exploring, teaching and conserving the natural resources of our state and beyond. We can't wait to see you in St. Peter!
The course cost is $295 and includes course manuals and supplies.
Course Dates:
Meeting from 12:30 P.M. to 12:00 P.M. on:
- Friday, May 15, 2026
- Saturday, May 16, 2026
- Sunday, May 17, 2026
Instructor Information
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.
I am an Extension Professor with the University of Minnesota Extension with a MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction/Outdoor Education. Since 1992 my career has focused on environmental education in various forms, including past work for the International Wolf Center in Ely, MN, the Prairie Ecology Bus Center in southwest Minnesota, and various naturalist roles in the Boston area, northern Minnesota, and New York state. Ask me about participatory science, outdoor interpretation, universal program design, spring ephemeral wildflowers, or anything wildlife related! And by all means, let's talk about iNaturalist! Outside of work I enjoy anything crafty -- lately I am enjoying quilting, crochet and mosaic arts -- and riding my eBike.
Kacey is an Extension Educator with Minnesota Master Naturalist. Originally from the Chicago area, she began her Naturalist path in 2007 as a teen wildlife rehabilitation and animal rescue volunteer. From there, she pursued degrees in Wildlife Ecology and Biology at UW-Stevens Point. She has worked as an environmental educator at the Forest Preserve Districts of DuPage and Lake counties in Chicagoland, the Saint Louis Zoo, and Brookfield Zoo. She has also volunteered at museums, including the Milwaukee Public Museum and the Field Museum in Chicago. After receiving her Master's in Biological Teaching from Miami University in Ohio, she transitioned to program and curriculum management at Riveredge Nature Center in Saukville, WI, and at Evanston Ecology Center. With 10 years of experience in program coordination and over 15 years in the environmental field, Kacey is passionate about connecting people to the natural world around them. She particularly likes the less-loved taxa such as amphibians and reptiles, fungi, and non-dino fossils.
Sponsor Information
Minnesota Master Naturalist
Register Now!
Seats Taken: 65 of 300