Training Courses

Please join our mailing list to keep updated on our program announcements.

Fall 2023 Courses

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 ecoregion 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 for their county, ensure they can attend all class and field sessions, then begin the PA Master Naturalist training course application. Apply by May 29th!

*Schedules are tentative and subject to change. Participants will be sent final schedules once enrolled*

Armstrong County – Coordinated and hosted by Armstrong Center for Community Learning at the Outdoor Discovery Center at Crooked Creek. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from August 9 – October 25, 2023, with four field sessions on Saturdays (8/19, 9/9, 9/23, and 10/7).

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 – 8:30 pm) from August 3 – October 19, 2023, with four field sessions on Saturdays (8/12, 9/2, 9/16, and 10/7).

Chester County (southern Chester) – Coordinated and hosted by Brandywine Red Clay Alliance. Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from August 9 – October 25, 2023, with four field sessions on Saturdays (8/19, 9/9, 9/30, and 10/14).

Delaware County – Coordinated and hosted by Tyler Arboretum. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from August 1 – October 17, 2023, with four field sessions on Saturdays (8/12, 9/9, 9/16, and 10/7).

Lehigh County – Coordinated and hosted by Lehigh County Conservation District at Trexler Nature Preserve. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from August 8 – October 24, 2023, with four field sessions on Saturdays (8/19, 9/9, 9/23, and 10/14).

Westmoreland County – Coordinated and hosted by Brandywine Conservancy at Penguin Court Preserve. Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from August 1 – October 24, 2023, with four field sessions on Saturdays (8/12, 9/9, 9/23, and 10/14).

Spring 2023 Courses – closed for Spring

*Schedules are tentative and subject to change. Participants will be sent final schedules once enrolled*

Adams County (hosted by Strawberry Hill Foundation) Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 5 – June 21 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 15, May 6, May 20, and June 3).

Allegheny County (hosted by Frick Environmental Center) Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 4 – June 20 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 15, May 6, May 20, and June 10).

Beaver County (coordinated by Beaver County Conservation District) Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 12 – June 28 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 22, May 13, June 3, and June 10).

Berks County (coordinated by Rock Hollow Woods Environmental Learning Center) Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 6 – June 22 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 15, May 6, May 20, and June 3). Note: Class 4 will be held on Wednesday, 4/26.

Dauphin County (hosted by East Hanover Township Parks and Recreation) Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 6 – June 22 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 15, May 6, May 20, and June 3).

Lehigh County (coordinated by Lehigh County Conservation District) Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 4 – June 20 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 15, May 6, May 20, and June 10).

Montgomery County (hosted at Norristown Farm Park) Classes will be held weekly on Wednesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 5 – June 21 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 15, May 6, May 20, and June 3).

Montour County (coordinated by Montour Area Recreation Commission) Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 11 – June 27 with five field sessions on Saturdays (April 22, May 6, May 20, June 10, and June 17).

Philadelphia County (coordinated by PMN) Classes will be held weekly on Tuesday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 11 – June 27 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 22, May 13, June 3, and June 10).

Washington County (hosted by Washington County Watershed Alliance) Classes will be held weekly on Thursday evenings (6:00 – 8:30 pm) from April 6 – June 22 with four field sessions on Saturdays (April 22, May 6, May 20, and June 10).

Don’t see a program offered in your area? Contact us or join our mailing list to be notified when new training courses open.

For more information, please contact the following regional coordinators:

Southeast Program Coordinator: SEprogram@pamasternaturalist.org

Southwest Program Coordinator: Susie Moffett at smoffett@pamasternaturalist.org

Centre/North Huntingdon County: Rachel Nelson at rnelson@pamasternaturalist.org

Northcentral, Northeastern, and all other locations: Michele Richards at michele@pamasternaturalist.org

Lancaster County Conservancy 2013 Trainees view waterfowl at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area