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Hi friends. I am a Minnesotan all my life and love the beauty surrounding me, from the Northwoods to the lakes to the prairies and wetlands. Whether hiking, cycling, or on snowshoes, being outside is a gift. I am very excited about all I am learning in our BWBR course and about becoming a true Master Naturalist. Part of my mindfulness / meditation mantra each day is: "may I be filled with wisdom and wonder".

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Hi.  I grew up in Missouri and we (wife and three kids) moved to Minnesota in 1980.  We now live in Vadnais Heights.  Now that I am retired, I have more time to enjoy the outdoors.  I love to be outside whether cross country skiing, hiking, biking, or just walking in the woods.  I have always found nature to be such a grounding, wondrous, and beautiful setting.  I look forward to increasing my knowledge of this natural world through the Master Naturalist Program.

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Hello fellow naturalists,  I grew up in New York, but have lived in MN since 1980.  I now live in Vadnais Heights. I love visiting all the MN state parks and biking there as much as I can.  My love for the outside is why I came to take this course.  I am so happy to increase my knowledge of all the beautiful things I see in nature. I am also a MN Water Steward and I hope to combine the knowledge I received in that program with what I learn in the Master Naturalist Program and share it with others, especially children.

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Hello! I grew up in Minneapolis and have lived in the Twin Cities my adult life. In the past few years especially I've become more interested in Minnesota's varied natural environments. And I've felt the growing inadequacy of my knowledge in understanding what I'm seeing! I've also become more knowledgeable about the degradation that the past two centuries have created on Minnesota landscapes and want to do my part to protect, conserve, and possibly restore what has been lost. Working part-time with a non-profit, Population Balance, has made me well aware of the damage that overpopulation and overconsumption has created for the natural world. And, for the sake of long-term human habitation on the planet, I think we'll all need to much better understand the natural world and live within nature's limits. While we've lost much of the natural world, there's still so much to love, learn from, and protect!

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Hello! I recently moved to Rochester, MN with my husband, our infant son, and our sheltie dog from Houston, TX in June 2021. I completed the Prairies and Potholes Biome course in the Fall. I am excited to learn everything and anything about Minnesota especially when it comes to nature. While my husband is originally from the Saint Paul area, I look forward to learning about the state as a whole. I have a PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Texas Medical Branch where my focus on research was vaccine development for the pneumonic plague. During my spare time, I like to go on nature walks with my family and spend times on our hobbies which include photography (wildlife, nature, and macro), birding, and art/nature journaling.

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Hello naturalists! I grew up in Eyota and am currently living in Rochester. I've lived in SE MN for most of my life, but I got my bachelors in biology at UMN-Morris with a focus on ecology and biodiversity and I spent a year in Houston, TX studying ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Houston. While I've always been a nature lover (and an amateur entomologist), my time in Morris left me with a deeper respect for nature and a desire to help conserve our planet's incredible biodiversity. Since my time at UMM, I've done two terms in AmeriCorps, once in energy conservation with the MN GreenCorps and once with Rochester Parks and Rec, as a Community Forestry Corps member.
I'm currently working as a clinical lab tech at Mayo, and I'm taking this class in an effort to stay active and involved in conservation efforts while gaining a better understanding of MN's big woods and rivers.
In my free time (when it's green outside), I enjoy hiking in whitewater and running, biking, or rollerblading on Rochester's trails.

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Dear All: I was born in North Dakota, raised in Montana, and currently live in Bemidji. I retired from teaching at Bemidji State University a few years ago. I'm very interested in learning about nature in Minnesota and how we can protect and maintain our precious natural resources.

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Hi Everyone!
It's Molly Micheels from the evening class. I'm excited to get to know you and learn together!
I love the outdoors and have been wanting to do this class ever since a friend (who is a Master Gardener) told me about it. I'm originally from Omaha, Nebraska, but have lived in the Twin Cities for about 11 years. Still, I feel that there is a lot for me to learn about Minnesota not having grown up here. I've explored many wild places, and found that my experience was always enhanced when someone with expertise was part of the group. I'm hoping this class will help to enrich my experience in nature, and I can, in turn, enrich the experience of others. I'm also hoping to connect with some like-minded nature-lovers like yourselves.

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Hi, I live in Lake Elmo, MN right off of Highway 36 at Whippletree Farm & Nature Trail. This farm has been in our family since 1869 and it's amazing to be a part of that tradition. I'm in this class hoping to further my goal of being a steward for this space that is really a sanctuary of and for the natural world. Looking forward to meeting and learning with all of you.

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Hello! I am originally from Illinois and live in Robbinsdale, Minnesota. In 2020, I bought 5 acres of woodland in Trego, Wisconsin along the Namekagon River (a Wild & Scenic). I'm a designer and brand strategist. For over 20 years, my business Design for the Arts has specialized in working with artists, small businesses, and forward-thinking organizations. I'm a nature lover, artist, and writer working on a few big projects: Building a small studio in the woods (slowly and intentionally) for creative collaboration and connection with nature. And, a series of illustrations and an artist-designed book to elevate stories about natural protected areas and our relationships with land and each other. I'm interested in learning about the woodland and river ecosystem, better understanding my new stewardship role, and building relationships with people who are excited about nature as I am. The drawings I create can be seen here, along with a lot of other fun content: https://www.loose-leaf.studio/

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Hello everyone :) I've lived in MN my whole life (currently in East Saint Paul), went to the U of MN and got a degree in Ecology, love to go hiking and camping, and still have so much to learn about this beautiful state! I'm excited to become a Master Naturalist for my own curiosities and to help engage my community with the natural world. This is my first Master Naturalist course but it won't be my last!

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Hi everybody. I am a retired medical oncologist that spent all my life until now in South Africa. I have always had an intense interest in our wildlife and spent many vacations in the wilderness of Botswana and birdwatching and walking on our farm outside Johannesburg. We also had a native tree nursery that we started by picking our seeds from local trees. We have moved to Minnesota to be near our family and as i know nothing of the natural life of Minnesota I am really keen to gain this knowledge and maybe find a way to be of service in preserving it.
Marilyn Davidge-Pitts

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Hello everyone. My name is Anna Makousky. I live in New Hope, MN. I got interested in taking this course because I like nature. I have done bird watching for many years. I attended the Gathering Partners of Natural Resources Conference in 2017. This is my first Master Naturalist course.

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I'm Erik, and I live in St. Paul near Hamline University. I grew up in Montana (my grandparents were cattle ranchers near Billings) but have lived in Minnesota for much of my adult life. As a kid I loved the Midwest because it was so GREEN compared to the dry range country I knew. Only later did I come to realize how beautiful Montana is, and how there's something about that Big Sky that will always feel like home. However, I'm also in love with the diversity of landscapes here in Minnesota, and I often find myself embarrassed by how little I know of the geology, creatures, and ecosystems that make up this place I now call home. I'm here because I have so much to learn!

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Hello everyone! I'm Lona (sounds like Lonna). I live in St. Anthony Village. I grew up in eastern Montana, and have lived in Minnesota for 40 years. I am a recently retired business analyst and am excited to  start the Master Naturalist program. I've taken the Master Gardener and Schoolyard Ecology Exploration coursework and taught an ecology club for 3rd and 4th graders the 10 years prior to Covid. I volunteer a great deal of my time; planting pollinator gardens, growing vegetables for Little Kitchen Food Shelf, surveying for Wetland Health Evaluation Program, and doing what I can to help local schools and churches get grants to teach kids about the environment, expand tree canopy, plant pollinator gardens, and install raingardens. Volunteering and being outdoors are my greatest passions, and I'm excited to learn more about Big Woods, Big Rivers so I can better understand the place I live and be more effective at helping to preserve it.

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Howdy! My name is Madison and I live in Woodbury with my boyfriend and cat, Sam, who you might occasionally see on Zoom. Currently, I am a clinical assistant with aspirations to become a physician. I have been volunteering with a local conservation organization for a few years (Great River Greening) and I thought that this course would be a great way to supplement my volunteerism.

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Greetings! I've lived in Minnesota all my life. Currently I'm a data analyst, but I've done science at a molecular level in my past. I would like to explore and help interpret natural world at a macro level. We love to hike, bike, and explore state parks and nature preserves- during the pandemic we've traveled and explored so much outdoors. I've swam with Lake Trout in Lake Superior and flown (very well above) eagles over the Minnesota River valley. This is an amazing world and I just want to learn more.

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I love to learn new things! Since recently retiring I've decided this was the time to start learning more about my passion with native plants, trees and water. I love sharing what I learn with family and friends. This is one way I can do my part to address climate change through education. Big Woods/Big Rivers is my second biome course.

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I live in the Central neighborhood of South Minneapolis with my partner, endlessly curious 5-year-old kid and frisky cat. I've lived in MN all of my life and didn't grow up "outdoorsy" but have slowly been trying to develop more of a relationship with this land, especially as a settler on occupied Dakota territory. While I like learning from field guides or books, I think I learn even more by being part of a class, and I really appreciate getting to hear others' experiences and perspectives. My kid is learning so much about the natural world and I want to be able to keep up with them, and I'd like to be a knowledgeable volunteer working toward environmental and reparative justice. I enjoy hiking, biking, camping, making music, stories, cooking, board games, and experimenting with different creative projects like ceramics, printmaking, and natural dyes and pigments. I'm working toward an Ethnobotany certificate from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and will begin a Masters in Public History at the University of MN this Fall.

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I was also bored one summer and taught myself how to play the bagpipes.

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I was born an Army Brat in Seoul, South Korea where my next door neighbor eventual became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. I grew up in Brainerd and spent all day exploring the Mississippi River flats on the South end of town and my summers on Lake of the Woods outside of Sioux Narrows, Ontario. I attended the U of MN (the West Bank), was in the Marching Band and performed in the Superbowl Halftime show. I then enlisted in the US Army, became a Combat Medic & Intel Analyst and was deployed to Greece during the Bosnian Conflict. I've been an EMT for 25+ years and worked in the ER, OR, Dialysis & Pharmacy for the US Army, MN Army National Guard and Department of Veterans Affairs. I believe I'm also Scotch-Irish (see pic).

I now live in the City of Royalton (home of Treasure City and the only stop light between St. Cloud & Brainerd on Hwy 10) and am two blocks away from Dairy Queen - so there!

I am employed as a Case Manager (full-time) with The Salvation Army & as the Healthcare Manager (summertime) for The Salvation Army Northwoods Camp outside of Finlayson, MN. I am taking the Master Naturalist series of courses to educate my campers about the great outdoors in hopes that they will fall in love with it as much as I have!

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Hi! I'm Emily.  I live in Northfield with my partner and three kids and a cat.  I have lived in Minnesota for a long time, but I'm from Missouri originally.  I've been moving north ever since I left home for college, but I think I'm finally settled in this place, and its time to get to know it better. Im particularly interested in learning to identify and name all the non-human inhabitants of this region.
I teach at St. Olaf College in the biology and education departments. I'm interested in making connections with others in the environmental education world and volunteering more in my community.

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I'm Brian Schlattman, retired, my wife and I live in Little Falls Mn. Our son is a police officer in Bemidji Mn. Years ago I worked as a seasonal naturalist with the Mn DNR at Itasca State Park and the US Forest Service on the Chippewa Ntl Forest. I've volunteered at Lindbergh and Crow Wing State Parks and the Lindbergh Museum and Historic site. The previous two classes have been great and am looking forward to this one!

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Hi!  I'm Jeanne.  I live in Alexandria Minnesota.  I have been a Biology teacher at the high school here for 32 years.  My husband works for the DNR as a research fisheries biologist.  We have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.  Grandchildren are THE best!!  And we are owned by a black lab named Shadow :). We just bought a camper and plan to explore everywhere this summer!

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Hi!  I'm Jeanne.  I live in Alexandria Minnesota.  I have been a Biology teacher at the high school here for 32 years.  My husband works for the DNR as a research fisheries biologist.  We have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.  Grandchildren are THE best!!  And we are owned by a black lab named Shadow :). We just bought a camper and plan to explore everywhere this summer!

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Hi!  I live in Crystal, MN (Minneapolis NW suburb) and work at my day job managing an IT team. I have a small flock of 8 chickens who are a constant source of entertainment. I am more than a little obsessed with mycology; I feel like I missed the boat from a career perspective by not going into it and microbiology. Its never too late to continue learning so I wanted to take this class to be more engaged and active in my local ecology. I feel lucky to have so many great parks near me. I also enjoy cross country skiing, trail running, and kickboxing.

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Hi there! I live in Eagan, MN (south metro) and have spent these pandemic years taking Master Naturalist courses. I'm excited to take my final course (gotta collect all of the pins), and to finally learn about the biome in which I reside. This program has been such a wonderful experience, and I'm looking forward to meeting you all!

When I'm not working in arts nonprofits or teaching drumline and marching band, my husband and I love to get out and explore the many parks in our area.

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Hi I am Gloria Bauske. This is my third MN Master Naturalist course.

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Hi--my name is Allison and ever since I retired I have been considering the Master Naturalist program. The timing finally worked, and I am glad to be getting this chance to learn and eventually volunteer. I have a patchwork knowledge of ecology and related topics, after working for many years in environmental advocacy at the state Capitol. But I look forward to filling in the many gaps in my knowledge!. My love for nature grew from my immersion in the beauty of our state, especially during summers in the lake country of Crow Wing County and camping trips to the West. After reading that master naturalist folks tend to divide into plant people and bird people, I would say that I fall into the first category, with a particular interest in edible plants and fungi. If I can get this photo to post, it is of me on the beach at Madeline Island, where my family had an annual camping trip with others in our South Minneapolis neighborhood.

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Hi - my name is David and I live in South Minneapolis with my girlfriend, dog and cat. I'm originally from Houston, but came to Minneapolis for grad school, and stuck around despite the winter. While my undergraduate degree was in Ecology, my career has taken me elsewhere and I've recently become more interested in getting back to learning about the world around me and volunteering. This course sounded like a great way to get me started. I currently enjoy taking my dog hiking in nearby parks and wildlife areas, but am hoping to also use this course as a springboard to spending more non-dog time outdoors!

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Anne along the Mississippi River in Newport.

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Hello! I'm Anne and I live in South St. Paul with my partner and 6-year-old kid. I'm taking this course because it sounded like a great community where folks are actively engaged in stewardship and sharing our passions with others. You will understand why I am excited about finding rusty-patched bumblebees in my garden, why it is so easy to get side-tracked by cool mushrooms, and why part of the fun of fly fishing is the bugs! I work on climate change policy for the state and also have a background in prairie ecology and environmental policy.

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As a native Minnesotan I am familiar with my home state, however my background is not related to the themes of this course. I am a marketing professional currently working for Be the Match, a nonprofit organization that matches bone marrow donors to those in medical need.  I grew up in the City of Minneapolis so I am a city person. However, I did get a fair amount of exposure to the beauty, geography and natural history of our state while growing up.  This was through many family trips over the years and lately on my own to our State Parks, rivers and the BWCA. I enjoy camping, canoeing, hiking and just being outdoors in nature. My family also has a cabin on the shores of Lake Superior near Cornucopia, Wisconsin which has been a refuge from the daily grind of city life. My interest in this course is primarily self-enrichment. I would like to come away with a better understanding of the natural forces around me and how it shaped the landscape. Personally, there is more for me to know. My piecemeal knowledge of such things will be given context and background to appreciate better what I see in my future outdoor explorations.

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Hi!  I love biking (mountain, road and fat tire), kayaking, hiking and exploring the outdoors.

I took the Prairies and Potholes course last fall and loved it!  Have had a lot of fun with all the volunteer opportunities especially citizen science projects.

Looking forward to this class especially learning more about rivers. I have spent more time along the Mississippi the last 2 years and have been fascinated by how much it changes. Not only season to season but sometimes day to day.

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I am a busy teacher and mother of four who takes every opportunity to explore our fantastic state parks here in MN. My children will begrudgingly say they "have been born into a hiking family." Creation is a space of deep, life-giving breaths; always available but seldom utilized. My goal in taking this course is to familiarize myself even more with MN ecosystems to be able to educate and entice students to experience what we have here in the treasure of the MN state park system,

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Hi everyone! I've lived in Minneapolis most of my life. I'm a librarian by trade, which I enjoy because I get to both teach and learn every day.  However, that's indoors, and I've been looking for ways to get outside!

I've loved nature my whole life. As a child, I would happily spend hours outside watching animals, studying insects, and searching for interesting rocks. As grownup, I enjoy nature by hiking, growing a pollinator garden, and--very recently--birding. Now I want to give back. I've been interested in becoming a master naturalist volunteer for several years because I want to learn, teach, and work toward saving our environment. I'm happy to finally be part of this learning experience.

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Hello, I moved to the twin cities five years ago from North Dakota and have slowly spent more time outdoors each year.  I started by getting into hiking and camping on the north shore, then into rivers and now into fly fishing. Each hobby has brought me to a different part of the state. I grew up on a farm in North Dakota and got to spend so much time in nature but I regret not spending more time learning to identify the various species around me.

My favorite Minnesota bird is the barred owl.  I love walking through Roberts bird sanctuary by lake Harriet and seeing the huge raccoon that lives there.

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Hello all!  I live in Elgin, MN, not far from Whitewater and Carley State Parks.  I spend every moment I can outside.  Foraging, fishing, taking photos, walking with my wife, Sonia, birding, studying plants, watching bugs, collecting agates and fossils, and just observing.  I enjoy every corner of our state, but the Karst region is home and a source of constant fascination.  I am looking forward to learning more about this beautiful playground and finding opportunities to share my joy with others.

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One of my goals for retirement is to spend more time outdoors than indoors after 30+ years of being tethered to a computer. I would also like to work on my plant identification skills. I anticipate that this course will help with both goals.

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Domini in her garden standing in front of Joe Pye weed

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Hey there, I'm Domini. I'm located in south Minneapolis and have been here for about 10 years. It was difficult to choose the Big Woods, Big Rivers biome over Prairies and Potholes, but maybe I'll find time for another biome in the future. Like most of you, I love the outdoors. I consider myself mainly a plant person, but volunteering for other opportunities is also slowly turning me into a birder. I've come to this master naturalist program in hopes of expanding my education, connecting with others with similar interests, and giving back to the world in meaningful ways.

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Hello!  I grew up in Minnesota's Big Woods/Big Rivers area in Hubbard County. I currently reside in Brookings, South Dakota. I work at a water district studying watersheds and doing environmental education and outreach.  I enjoy the outdoors  - - there is always something new to learn!  I am looking forward to learning more about the BWBR area where most of my family still lives and where we spend a majority of our family time.

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Hi, I am excited to finally be taking my first Master Naturalist Course. I grew up in the Twin Cities but have spent all my summers at our cabin in Park Rapids. I love being outside no matter the temperature. I swim, ski, run, bike and hike. I have two daughters in college and finally have time to delve into my love of the outdoors and nature in a new way. My daughters tell me I am at my most patient when I am waiting/hoping to see or hear an animal of some kind. I've decided that I will take that as a complement. Recently I have been sending mystery "scat" pictures to a good friend. I am often stumped as to what I am looking at but so far I haven't stumped him. Hopefully, I won't need to rely on him so much in the future! I currently work as a Family Liaison for a Minneapolis Public Elementary school and I am lucky enough to live across the street from work. I am looking forward to seeing and meeting you all.

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Hello, my name is Charlie Krueger. I live in South St. Paul with my wife and our adopted hound. I work as a crew supervisor on the grounds crew at the MN State Capitol Complex, specializing in trees and ornamentals. I originally earned a degree in screenwriting during my first college stint, but as it turns out...you actually have to be good at screenwriting to make a career as a screenwriter. So, I went back to school in 2018 and got a degree in Environmental Science from Metro State. It gave me a great general understanding of the environment, but I decided to take this class to dive into more specifics here in Minnesota. The opportunity to volunteer and become a steward of the environment is just a bonus. Looking forward to the journey and meeting some great folks along the way.

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Hello!! I moved to Minnesota last summer and currently live in Minneapolis. I am from Michigan originally and am filled with curiosity and wanderlust - having lived in many places across North America in the past 15 years. I love both wild and urban spaces, and have an academic and professional background in sustainability. I currently work at an architecture firm and am taking this course so I can better understand how to design buildings that support and protect natural landscapes and resources. Another intention for this course is to make myself slow down and see, hear, listen, feel the world around me.. instead of only stopping when I reach the end. A lyric I recently heard by Louis Prima really resonated, "Enjoy yourself, it's later than you think."

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Hello all! I am looking forward to learning more about BW/BR. I live in the SW MN prairie for now, but we are trying to decide where we will be moving when my husband retires. This is my 3rd Master Naturalist biome. I retired in 2017 as director of a literacy organization that supported science literacy programs for families and integrated science into our tutoring programs. I went back to school to get a degree in environmental science in order to support the work of our family foundation we created to honor our son's memory. I will finish that degree this spring (hooray), which will give me more time to volunteer as a Master Naturalist. So far, I have helped in a middle school classroom learning about invertebrates, I serve on a working group to expand pollinator habitat at our local university, and hope to volunteer with our local Soil and Water Conservation District's outreach programs this summer. I love plants, pollinators, arachnids, aquatic macroinvertebrates, geology, and learning from other master naturalists.

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Hello, I am from Central Minnesota. I enjoy the outdoors: hiking, biking, observing the natural world. I am looking forward to the Spring season, observing the migration of the birds, and seeing the changes of the natural world as it transforms itself.
I am taking this class to learn about the Big Woods and Big River Biome and to share what I learn with others.

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Hello! My name is Matt Schneider and I live in Saint Louis Park with my wife.  Growing up in west central MN, I have always loved all things outdoors, with some of my favorite activities as of late being maple syruping, foraging, native landscape restoration, and birding.  My wife recently undertook a career change, going from marketing in the medical field to enrolling at the U to earn a masters degree in horticulture.  Seeing her excitement in continuing her education inspired me to want to expand my knowledge base, too!  I look forward to learning more about the natural world and then sharing that information with others.

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Hi there! I recently relocated back to Minnesota after living the past 10 years in Sonoma, CA. I am living in Minneapolis and I can't wait to explore the state as spring continues to creep in! I am an herbalist and am passionate about growing my own food and medicine and using it to help others. I am a forever student and am eager to learn as much as possible about the natural world around me!

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Hello, I'm Brian Raney.  I grew up in Appleton, Wi., but have now lived more than 40 years in the Twin Cities.
This is my second Master Naturalist class, the first being Northwoods, Great Lakes.  Also, I have done the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Detector certification.
Career-wise I'm a retired Large Computer Systems Integration Consultant.  However, my undergraduate degree was a BS in Biology.  So in many ways these courses and the volunteering has brought me full circle back to my biology roots.

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Hello! My name is Hayley and I live in the Twin Cities with my wife and animals. I grew up in Colorado and went to school at St Olaf. Since then, I’ve lived in Iowa and northern Colorado, but family drew me back here. I worked in the outdoor retail industry and now I am chasing my dreams as a freelance artist. I am a scientific illustrator by training, but I love exploring looser styles as well.

As a kid, I would romp outside in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and collect things my parents were not excited to see (i.e. bones, feathers). My childhood was formed around time outside, exploring creek beds, alpine summits, ski slopes, the Maine coast, and my own backyard. Where I lived backed up to an extensive forest so we would see bears, mountain lions, deer, foxes and coyotes just to name a few. One of my formative memories was while I was lurking in my dark house at night like the feral child I was, and I looked out our front window to watch a bobcat mother teach it’s cub to kill a rabbit.

I was always that kid watching Animal Planet, and this class is an extension of my deep connection to nature and desire to continuously learn.

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My name is Megan Plante and I live in the west metro with my family. After switching gears in my life, I took on a few volunteer opportunities that reconnected me to the natural world around me. I was energized by those experiences so much so that I signed up for this class. I hope to deepen my knowledge and gain some tools that allow me to better share it with those around me.

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Hello!  I have wanted to take a Master Naturalist course for years so I'm really excited to be here!  I have worked in science education (as a formal and informal educator) for two decades.  Currently I work for the University of Minnesota on a team that hosts teacher professional development on birds, pollinators, and ecology investigations.  I live in St. Paul and in my free time I love to visit Minnesota State Parks (and Recreation Areas) and visiting all 75 is a bucket list item for me.  My family has been to 46 so far and we have the nerdy stamped passport to prove it!  I have three kids (ages 13, 11, and 8) and I love getting outside with them.   I'm eager to fill the gaps in my knowledge (geology and plants!) and get to know all of you.

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Hi everyone. I'm a Minnesota returnee; I grew up in the Twin Cities, then left for nearly two decades. I lived in Atlanta, South Korea, and Northern Virginia before unexpectedly returning home for a PhD program at the U (in Curriculum & Education--graduating in December).

When I was a kid, my parents were very into outdoor activities, but I was more interested in reading books. As an adult, I've come to appreciate spending more time outside--and getting away from screens.

I'm a textile artist, a photographer, and a teacher. These identities all come together to make me curious about the stuff I see around me on my daily walks. (They also make for very slow hikes because I'm easily distracted by everything; my husband gets annoyed by all the stopping.) I've been wanting to find some nature-related volunteer activities, and I'm thrilled to take this course.

I live in St Paul with my husband and a very curious cat. Unrelated to nature--I absolutely LOVE the State Fair. We truly have the best one in the country.

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Hi! I'm Paige. I grew up in the Kansas City area and developed a love for that surrounding tallgrass prairie ecosystem as a kid (shout out to Girl Scouts for cultivating that).

I now live in SW Minneapolis and enjoy spending Saturdays finding new spots for a day hike - always looking for recommendations within ~1.5h of the Cities! I also love just seeing all the critters in my own backyard and neighborhood. Always on the lookout for my favorite bird, the brown thrasher - a more rare breeding-season sight here, but they were all over the place when I lived in North Carolina (sigh).

I'm excited to learn more about our local ecosystem, its history, and its conservation.

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Hello, I am Adam Novotny. I was born, raised and still live in St. Paul. My interest in this course came from my wife participating the Master Gardener Program. I have been an out of doors person since I was a child, only to have my work force me behind a desk. I still spend a significant portion of my time in the natural world when possible. I am interested in better understanding this world and soaking up as much knowledge as I can.

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Hi! I am a course assistant for the morning class (with an occasional drop in to the evening class, because I can't get enough!) I am very excited to get to help out with this class! I have been a Master Naturalist since 2014 when I completed the Prairies and Potholes class. I did Big Woods, Big Rivers shortly after and completed my final biome class, North Woods, Great Lakes, last summer. My full-time gig is as a homeschool parent, and I have enjoyed bringing my (now teenage) side-kicks with me to volunteer and explore. I currently reside in Savage, MN and Beloit, WI.

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Hi there! Here's a photo of me from November on my favorite couch, the rock formation near Father Baragas Cross in Schroeder, MN.
I live in the Hamline Midway neighborhood of St. Paul, and this is my 2nd biome of the naturalist program (I completed the North Woods Great Lakes last summer).
In my real life I'm the mom of a 3 1/2 year old, and communications manager for the Clean Energy Resource Teams (a partnership of U of M Extension, RSDP and several other organizations), among other things.
I'm so grateful to know about this program. It's been a new source of inspiration for me as I find more time to pursue things I'm interested in outside of my "real life."
Looking forward to meeting you all virtually!

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A black and white photo of Jamie sitting center on a chair. Her hands are together in lap. She is wearing her clergy collar and an all black outfit.

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Hello all,

I live in the Minneapolis and I'm from Chicago with a brief detour in South Florida. I've taken an interest in natural things since I was little. I loved snakes and in high school whenever we'd go on a walk it almost guaranteed that I'd catch a snake.  When I lived in Florida I tried to make the most of the rich diversity of wildlife. I could have spent my entire life just trying to witness all the incredible life there.

Now I have returned to the Midwest where your blood freezes for at least five months out of the year. The only possible good thing I can think of about all this getting to visit the Boundary Waters again. Oh, and perhaps the 15 different species of non-venomous snake in this great state (there are 17 total, 2 are venomous: Timber and Massasauga Rattlesnakes).

I'm taking this class to learn as much as I can about Minnesota ecology so that I can then turn around educate others. I believe education is a key component to building a sustainable and thriving world.

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Can not wait to share this class with you. I live in Afton and work park time at Afton State Park. This is my third class in the Master Naturalist series and each class has been fantastic. I have spent the winter exploring many of the State's SNAs. I learned about them in a Master Naturalist class. Can't wait to see what other gems I pick up in this class.

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Hi, my name is Dan and I live in Ramsey, MN with my wife and two kids (third is due in June). I love spending time outside and feeling a deeper connection with nature. I took my first biome class last fall for the Prairie and Pothole biome and loved it. I am looking forward to this class as I have spent most of my life in this biome and look forward to learning and sharing that knowledge with others.

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Good day!

As a youngling, I would run through the fields, make "homes" in pine forests, gather wood for the camp fires, catch poison ivy (Ugh!)... As I got older, scuba diving was a passion and biking was a mode of transportation.  Advanced education,  clinical practice and family took me out of the woods for a while.  Retirement and grown family give me the opportunity to get back into the woods.

Last year, my college room mate stayed with us.  She is a Master Naturalist in Virginia and, knowing my interests, highly recommended I look into the Master Naturalist program.  So, here I am!

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Hi All, I'm Ron or as my entire family has always called me, "Ronnie". Feel free to use either. My wife and I live in Maple Grove and have 3 kids in their 20's. I work as an Environmental, Health and Safety Specialist for a local Pharmaceutical company. I went to college at UMD and have always been an outdoor person. Growing up in Minnetonka when my friends were playing ATARI I was shooting archery, or snorkeling and fishing in local lakes. I love to fish, camp, hunt, snorkel and scuba dive. I spent 15 years as a scout leader in Scouting and am looking forward to continuing to educate others about the natural world around us.

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I am “new to nature.”   Used to be the only nature I saw was from my house to my garage.  I have been working on changing that!   I am obsessed with the SNAs and my goal is to visit ALL of them within the next five to ten years.

I regularly go to Uncas Sand Dunes, Helen Allison, and Boot Lake and then also Carlos Avery, because it’s so close by.  I grew up on the Iron Range and have lived in Minneapolis (and Boston) for the last 45 years.  I currently live in Blaine and work a corporate job by day; i like reading and also learning/practicing qigong..

I am excited about this course to help me learn more about nature and become more comfortable being in nature.  I also look forward to meeting all the interesting people who are drawn to a course like this!

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Hi everyone, I'm Matt. I live in Northeast Minneapolis. I grew up in Brainerd and spent a lot of time outdoors while living there. I had lost touch with nature until covid which forced me outdoors and rekindled my love of nature. I'm hoping to better understand and conserve the nature that surrounds me through this class.

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Hello. I live in Long Lake with my dog and daughter. We love spending time outdoors and we are very active in the scouting programs - both Scouts BSA and Girl Scouts. I am a Leave No Trace Trainer and looking forward to taking my Master Educator for LNT this summer in the BWCAW. I spend so much time out and about with youth in the woods and want to be able to better answer their questions and unpack more of the wonders around us as we backpack, hike, and explore. Now that my Doctorate in Education is complete, I finally have time to take this class! I look forward to learning from both the instructors and all of you as we work through this course.

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Hi everyone! I live in Duluth and feel fortunate to have over 400 acres of forest with trails galore right outside my doorstep. The Superior Hiking Trail is one of those trails and, for anyone looking for a great trail to hike, this one is nothing short of spectacular. My sister and I recently finished hiking all 310 miles of it and every mile had something remarkable to discover. This is my third Master Naturalist class and
I am excited to learn more about these two biomes as I am not as familiar with them. I enjoy the process of discovery and find that sharing knowledge with others creates a self-sustaining feedback loop. There’s always more to learn!

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I live in Maple Grove and volunteer much of my time with Three Rivers Park District. I'm involved with several programs at various nature centers, seed collection at several parks, paddling programs for youth & adults  and park patrol at district events, various parks and regional trails.
I am a Master Naturalist. I received my first certificate in Prairie Potholes in 2017. My next course is Big Woods/Big Rivers.

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Hi everyone, I'm Molly, and I live in the Twin Cities, on the traditional homeland of the Dakhóta Oyáte, with my husband and pup, Ziggy. I work at the Walker Art Center and although I don't have much formal training in ecology or the sciences, I'm passionate about the natural world and environmental sustainability. I spend my free time hiking, birding, taking photos, biking, canoeing, and exploring nature. I'm also learning about native plant gardening and am slowly putting what I learn into practice. I took my first MN Master Naturalist class (Prairies and Potholes) last fall, and loved it! Really looking forward to learning about BWBR, the biome where I grew up & where I currently live.

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Hi everyone! My name is Gary Christensen. I am a retired insurance executive who recently moved from the Twin Cities to Detroit Lakes. I am an avid hiker, backpacker, and kayaking enthusiast. I have been interested in the course for some time but, like all of us, was delayed due to COVID. Now that I have more available time and live near some great natural areas (e.g., the Tamarac National Wildlife Refuge), I am very much looking forward to learning more about the environment around me and sharing what I learn with others! I look forward to meeting you over the weeks and months to come.

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Hi all. I inherited my affection for the natural world from my father who took me everywhere with him as a child. I am closer to him in the natural world. The out of doors brings me a certain calm that I can’t find elsewhere

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Hi, I'm Bill Idzorek. I live in the Nicollet Island East Bank neighborhood of Minneapolis in a building that overlooks the Mississippi River and St Anthony Falls. I've been fascinated with natural history all my life and get my energy from exploring and being outdoors. I'm a Bell Ambassador at the Bell Museum of Natural History, a volunteer supervisor with Great River Greening, and I participate in various education, conservation, and restoration programs with Mississippi Park Connection and other organizations. For added fun, over the next 12 months I also hope to complete hiking all 68 hiking club trails in the Minnesota State Parks! I'm looking forward to taking the BWBR course to help me better understand our area environment and to be able to share that knowledge with family, friends, neighbors, and other volunteers.

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Hello!  I live in Roseville, MN.  A coworker told me about the Texas Master Naturalist program that she belongs to, and encouraged me to look into this program.  I am so glad that there is an online portion, so I can participate while on the road for work + also take it with my friend Kelli.
I have a background in biology and chemistry, and went to the U for an Environmental Health masters degree.  After participating in some city conservation activities, I have been looking for similar types of opportunities.

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While studying zoology at NDSU many years ago, I had the opportunity to work on a limnology study for 4 years. It was a wonderful job as we were at the lake every week for 8 months each year. We even spent a night on the water studying what happens in the dark!  In the 40 years since that time, I have been studying and practicing Medicine in Rochester.  We live on one of the few lakes in Olmsted County (man-made of course) where we raised our 4 children.  In the next few years, I hope to have more time work in and enjoy the outdoors. I am taking the Master Naturalist course to brush up some old knowledge and skills as I start this journey.

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Me with my pup, Banjo, at his first MN State Park hike in January.

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I live in Shoreview and am originally from Frazee. I am in the course because my good friend Amanda Rice told me about it less than a month ago. It sounded so exciting that I had to join her! I had never heard of the program prior to her telling me about it. Having grown up in Minnesota I feel I should know so much more about our natural environment but it is only in the last 9 years or so that I really began to explore the state. Can you believe I didn't even know we had waterfalls in Minnesota until relatively recently? I really enjoy being outdoors and always find myself wishing I knew more. There are those that think I am an outdoorsy adventurous woman but I often feel, sheepishly so, that I am not simply because I don't feel an intimate knowledge of my surroundings. I am looking forward to knowing better what is that I am seeing, observing changes, teaching others, contributing to the scientific data being collected and helping conservation efforts.

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Hi everyone! My name is Lynsey. I live on a lake near Spicer, MN. I work in sugar beet research meaning I’m outdoors a lot of my work week, but would love to get outside in nature more during my free time. I signed up for this class because I was looking for ways to get involved in helping my community. I’m really excited to be on this adventure with you all.

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I am located in Rogers, MN. I am taking this class for my career. I am am aspiring Naturalist. I work primarily in this region and hope it will help with programming and my knowledge. This year I am planning on doing a camping trip every month and take a hike every week. So I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any.

Thank you in advance!

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Greetings! My name is Jaime Souza, and I live in White Bear Lake. The Master Naturalist program has been on list of things to do, and I am happy to be taking this step. My entire career has been spent working in the outdoors. Every job I have had has given me the opportunity to serve as a naturalist, but it's not a title I am totally confident claiming. I think this course will give me the confidence, comfort-level and skills to finally call myself a naturalist (for real!). I look forward to learning with all of you, and to share what I learn with others. I now work as a classroom teacher at a small, nature-based charter school, so the timing for this course is right. I love our state, our nature, and I look forward to volunteering as a Master Naturalist.

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Me with my oldest, who also loves the outdoors.

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Hi all! I am currently living in Richfield with my husband and four kids. I graduated from the U of MN and worked for the US Forest Service, then moved away for awhile. We started our family while living in rural central MN. It was a great place for them to explore the woods and fields around us, while they were little. We moved back to the cities a few years ago, and still get out to explore… just looks a little different. I’m taking this course to learn, reconnect with the naturalist community, and to show my kids that we never stop learning. We’ve raised our kids to have curiosity and appreciation of the natural world around them. I also hope to strengthen that through the program.

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Hello everyone! I am passionate about all things nature, and I am taking this course to expand my knowledge on certain aspects of ecology/ natural history that I lack, such as botany and geology. I grew up in the Twin Cities, moved for college, and now I'm back and loving it more than ever. I am an early-career professional in the field of conservation and my background includes working in environmental education, wildlife research, wildlife rehab, and habitat restoration. I currently work for the MN DNR Scientific and Natural Areas program, where I lead interpretive (naturalist) events. I specialize in wildlife, because that's what my degree is in, but there is so much more for me to learn!

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Hi, I'm Brennan Blue. I live in South Minneapolis with my spouse, Laura, and our two little ones, Avery and Renee. My background is in faith-based community organizing, though I'm increasingly grounding my work in environmental advocacy and restoration work. I'm wrapping up my Ecological Restoration Training Cert. through the UofMN extension program this week and will soon begin serving as one of the Site Stewards for Savage Fen SNA. I come to the Master Naturalist program hoping to deepen my knowledge of the natural history of Minnesota and for the simple gift of connecting with others in the conservation sphere.

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Hello! So excited to meet you all! I am originally from Michigan, but I have been living in Minneapolis since 2018. During the pandemic, I have re-discovered the love for plants and nature that I had when I was 10 and wanted to be a botanist :) I love learning about our great state's flora and fauna and I want to learn more about resource stewardship and science education.

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Hi everyone, I will be the course assistant for the evening class. I took my first Master Naturalist Class (BRBW) in 2016 and last fall I took the Prairies and Potholes class on-line. I believe every educational opportunity is an opportunity to learn new things even if it seems I have done it before. I love being outdoors, I love observing the natural world no matter what time of the year it is or where I am. There is ALWAYS something to see and learn about. I look forward to working with Britt and Andrea and meeting (as much as the virtual world allows) all of you.

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Boats and boating--Equipment and supplies

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Hello. I am one of two course assistants for the morning session of the BWBR course. I have been a Minnesota Master Naturalist Volunteer since 2007, and I've earned my volunteer pin every year since then. I took the Big Woods Big Rivers course in 2007, thus it's been 15 years since I've studied this curriculum, and I'm looking forward to relearning about this wonderful biome. Last fall, I completed the Prairies and Potholes course. I love citizen science and all types of wildlife, from my backyard birds in St. Paul, Minnesota, to the river otters of the St. Croix River. I've been involved in insect, frog and toad, and bird surveys. During class I will be helping Brit and Andrea with taking attendance and answering questions in chat as well as any other assignments they might have for me.

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Hello! I retired from the UMN in 2019, and, like everyone else, have spent most of my time in pandemic mode. As a healthy coping strategy, I try to spend at least an hour each day walking through a nearby regional park that includes both wooded and wetland areas. I love watching the park cycle through the seasons, and I monitor and celebrate milestones. For example, yesterday I noted the first Great Blue Heron of spring, several pairs of courting mallards, and that lovely liquid trill of the redwing blackbird. It was a good day! I'm taking this class to become a better-informed observer, steward and advocate for "my" park, as well as Minnesota as a whole.

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Hi everyone! I am one of your instructors and I'll be seeing you each week from my dining room at my home in Rochester, MN. My professional background includes a a Master's Degree in education and jobs as a naturalist in several locations around the state. I love rambling around the big woods, though I've been laid up for a few months with a cast on my foot. Insider tip: keep an eye out for my beverage glass...you'll often see me drinking during class. I know, it looks a lot like a goblet of red wine...but I promise, it's just Diet Coke!

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Hello, all!  I'll be one of your (mostly) fearless leaders for your Big Woods, Big Rivers experience.  I grew up quite literally in the middle of the Big Woods (ours was the only house on a dead-end road) and spent a ton of time outdoors.  There was even a summer where I slept exclusively in a tent in the yard (my original goal included foraging, but I gave up on that by lunch time on day one).  I've bounced around the University for most of my professional life but have landed in Extension with the Master Naturalist Program. Depending on the time of day, you may see me Zoom-bombed by my toddler or attention-seeking cat.