Training Courses
Applications will be accepted until maximum enrollment is reached (even if the deadline has passed, your application may be accepted).
The application deadline is indicated on online application page. You can check application numbers for each course on the online application page. Enrollment varies by course from 10-15 candidates and up to 15-20 applications are accepted for review. Do not delay since class size is small and some courses fill quickly.
Please join our mailing list to keep updated on our program announcements.
See tuition fees on application page.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants should live within the county of training or within a 20-mile radius of the training site (30-mile radius for rural locations where training courses are limited). This is a requirement for two reasons:
- 1) Volunteers must be trained in the specific ecology of the region where they will be performing service, and
- 2) partnering conservation organizations who host the training expect volunteers to contribute service locally.
Interested applicants should review the training schedule below for their county, ensure they can attend all class and field sessions, then begin the PA Master Naturalist training course application. Read all application instructions before filling out the application.
*Schedules are tentative and subject to change. Participants will be sent final schedules once enrolled*
Fall 2026 Courses
Applications open March 2
Allegheny County Hosted by the Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 5 to October 21 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 15 and 29, September 19, and October 10).
Armstrong County Coordinated by the Outdoor Discovery Center. Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings (6:00-8:30 PM) from August 13 to October 29 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 22, September 12, October 3 and 10).
Butler County Coordinated by Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 4 to October 20 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 15, September 12 and 26, and October 10).
Cambria County Coordinated by the Cambria County Conservation District. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 12 to October 28 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 22, September 12 and 26, and October 17).
Centre/N. Huntingdon Counties Coordinated by Clearwater Conservancy and hosted by Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 6 to October 22 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 15, September 12 and 19, and October 3).
Delaware County Hosted by Tyler Arboretum. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 12 to October 28 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 22, September 12 and 26, and October 17).
Lancaster County Coordinated by Lancaster County Parks. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 4 to October 12 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 15, September 12 and 26, and October 10).
Montgomery County Coordinated by Montgomery County Parks, hosted at Green Lane. Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 4 to October 20 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 15, September 12 and 19, and October 10).
Westmoreland County Coordinated by Westmoreland Land Trust. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from August 11 to October 27 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (August 22, September 12 and 26, October 17).
Spring 2026 Courses
No longer accepting applications for Spring 2026.
Individual courses may vary contact your local coordinator to see if there’s space. Contact information below.
Adams County Hosted by Strawberry Hill Nature Preserve. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 8 to June 24 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 18, May 9 and 30, and June 13).
Allegheny County Hosted by Frick Environmental Center. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 7 to June 23 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 18, May 9 and 30, and June 13).
Chester County (north) Coordinated by Green Valley Watershed Association and hosted at Welkinweir. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 1 to June 17 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 11, May 2 and 16, and June 6).
Indiana County Coordinated by Indiana County Conservation District. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 1 to June 17 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 11, May 2 and 16, and June 6).
Montour County Hosted by Montour Preserve. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 7 to June 23 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 18, May 9 and 30, and June 13).
Philadelphia County Location to be determined. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 7 to June 23 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 18, May 9 and 30, and June 6).
Somerset County Coordinated by the International Conservation Center. Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 2 to June 18 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 11, May 2 and 16, and June 6).
Washington County Coordinated by the Washington County Watershed Alliance. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00-8:30pm) from April 8 to June 24 with four field sessions on select Saturdays (April 18, May 9 and 30, and June 13).
*NEW* Climate Stewards Training Course – This new initiative is open only to currently active PA Master Naturalists. This course is a 10 week virtual training course with 4 in-person field trips that delve into the most up to date climate research and will give PA Master Naturalists the tools to better communicate this sometimes complicated science. The next training course will take place out of South Western Pennsylvania from March to May. All field trips will be in and around the greater Pittsburgh area. Applications to open in January 2026!
Don’t see a program offered in your area? Some training courses are held every other year. These include but not limited to Armstrong, Beaver, Berks, Lancaster, Washington and Westmoreland. Join our mailing list to be notified when these or new training courses open. For more information, please contact the following program coordinators by regions of training:
Southeast and Northeast PA: SEprogram@pamasternaturalist.org
Southwestern and Northcentral PA: SWprogram@pamasternaturalist.org
Other areas: info@pamasternaturalist.org
Some training courses were financed in part by a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation, through the Environmental Stewardship Fund.
