EMBARK ON A JOURNEY THROUGH TIME
In this nine-month program, 12–18 participants (ages 16–80) collaborate with VMN educators and conservation professionals to uncover the region’s natural history. Our “bedrock to birds” approach builds the local story from the ground up.
Five field days, each day building on the previous ones, cover topics like geology, glacial history, wildlife ecology, human settlement history, botany, natural communities, and more.
Come learn how the Green Mountains were formed, how alive the woods are in winter, and what a wildflower can tell us about the ground beneath our feet.
The fee for the year-long training is variable by program, and you’ll find details within the application form. Payment is due upon acceptance in the program, and application review will occur on a first come, first served basis, so apply today!
Candidates may qualify for a grant from Vermont Student Assistance Corp (VSAC) through their Advancement Grant program to cover program costs. This is the first step to seeking aid for tuition.
Anyone residing or working within the region of a program is welcome to apply. So too is anyone living in a region where a VMN chapter is not available to them. Candidates must be able to attend all field sessions, though arrangements may be made in the event of unexpected circumstances.
Tier I
Tier I programs are your introduction to the layer-cake approach to reading the landscape. This is your opportunity to discover the stories of your community and give back.
Lower Winooski River
9/27/26 – 5/2/27
✦ 5 Field days 10 am – 4 pm
✦ Program coordinator: Erin O’Neill
✦ Deadline to apply is May 15, 2026 or until full.
Upper Valley
9/19/26 – 6/5/27
✦ 6 Field days 9 am – 4 pm
✦ Program coordinator:
✦ Deadline to apply is May 15, 2026 or until full.
Winooski Headwaters
5/23/26 – 7/12/26
✦ 6 Field days 9 am – 4 pm
✦ Program coordinator: Sean Beckett
✦ Applications closed for 2026. Apply for 2027.
Tier II
Tier II programs are specially designed for graduates of the Tier I VMN training to continue their exploration of the layer-cake approach to reading the landscape.
Winooski River Corridor | Tier II
5/17/26 – 12/13/26
✦ 5 Field days 10 am – 4 pm
✦ Program coordinator: Erin O’Neill
✦ Applications are closed.
VMN For Educators
This unique collaboration between North Branch Nature Center and Vermont Master Naturalist is a place-based, integrated training in interpreting the local landscape and applying that training to the 5th-12th grade classroom and curricula.
VMN For Educators
2027
✦ Each day immerses in a different ecosystem, exploring the pieces, patterns, and processes driving local ecology.
✦ We’ll practice field-based activities and classroom-based extensions aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and Proficiency-Based Learning frameworks.
✦ This course will next be offered in summer 2027.
“I have gained an appreciation for just how different, different parts of Vermont actually are – from a sand dune community on Lake Champlain to an alpine forest on the top of Camel’s Hump or Mt. Mansfield.”
Chuck Hulse, Board Member South Hero Land Trust, VMN 2017
Vermont Master Naturalist Program 