Master Naturalist

Quick navigation

The following courses may be taken individually and/or to meet curriculum requirements for STLCC's Master Naturalist program.

• Ecology
• Landscape and Gardening
• Nature

Learn more and register online now

Please call 314-984-7777 to register for classes by phone, or click the button above to register and pay online.

Ecology

Indoor Composting: Make and Take Home A Bokashi Bucket

Don’t throw away those scraps… up to 20 percent of household trash can be composted! The bokashi bucket system, which can be used year-round, is quick, convenient and produces no household smells. In this hands-on session, construct and learn to maintain an indoor composting system capable of decomposing food and house plant trimmings for a family of four. In a space-saving bokashi system, effective microorganisms transform all types of kitchen waste into a nutrient-rich soil amendment. All equipment, materials and handouts provided and included in fee. You’ll leave class with a working indoor composting system in the form of a bokashi bucket. Registration deadline 9/10. No refunds after this date. Offered in partnership with Missouri Botanical Gardens Earthways Center. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
ECOL:704 | 1 session | $49 AGE 60+ | $49 REG

Landscape and Gardening

Succulents

Succulents are hot and trending in both gardening and decorating. Perfect for both the seasoned and forgetful gardener, this group of plants offers easy-to-care-for choices for your home. What to grow, how to grow, where to grow—we’ll cover it all with plenty of inspiring images to get you ready to grow these low-maintenance plants, both indoors and out. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
HORT:722 | 1 session | $20 AGE 60+ | $25 REG

Go Native! Native Landscaping for Bees, Butterflies and Pollinators

Butterflies go wherever they please and please wherever they go. Along with bees and other insect pollinators, they are environmental barometers. Healthy landscapes boast large numbers and a wide diversity of pollinators. Contaminated or altered landscapes do not. The best plants lure pollinators to their flowers by offering pollen, nectar, resin and oil, and by evolving visual and olfactory cues such as nectar guides, color and fragrance. Come gain practical advice on getting started for optimal native selections attract various groups of pollinators. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
HORT:713 | 1 session | $21.50 AGE 60+ | $29 REG

Right Tree, Right Place: Selection and Planting Techniques

Many problems that our trees encounter can be traced back to selecting the wrong tree for a site or improper planting technique. Industry experts agree that fall is the best time to plant trees—after the summer heat and before the winter freeze. Come learn how to choose the correct tree to fulfill your landscape needs and how to set up your trees for success by utilizing proper planting protocol. Community forester, Tom Ebeling, will walk you through the basics of tree planting and choosing the right tree for the right place. Offered in partnership with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
HORT:708 | 1 session | $25 AGE 60+ | $25 REG

Nature

Introduction to Beekeeping

Bees play an important role in agriculture as pollinators of flowering plants that provide food, fiber, spices, medicines and animal forage. Beekeeping can be a hobby, a secondary business, or a full-time vocation. It is a relatively inexpensive hobby that provides a sweet bonus each year. Is beekeeping right for you? Come learn how to attract native pollinators and honeybees by installing a pollinator-friendly garden and nesting habitat. Course introduces getting started with beekeeping and honeybee products of the hive. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:733 | 1 session | $29 AGE 60+ | $29 REG 

Beekeeping 2.0: Maintaining Healthy Colonies

A main goal in keeping honey bees is overwintering with a healthy colony. This class covers honeybee beekeeping beyond the first year with instruction specific to our area regarding nutrition, pest and disease identification and management and swarm control of healthy, established colonies next spring. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:733 | 1 session | $29 AGE 60+ | $29 REG 

Insects of Missouri

Join research entomologist, conservationist and photographer Chris Brown as he shares information on the broad variety of insects with specific habitat associations within Missouri’s ecoregions. Through photos, learn about the fantastic diversity, introductory level morphology and taxonomy along with some of the fascinating natural history aspects of Missouri’s insects. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:715 | 1 session | $25 AGE 60+ | $25 REG 

Go Batty! Bats of Missouri

Missouri is home to at least 14 different species of bats. Learn about these different species, where they live, how common they are, methods used to research and monitor them along with neat facts about bats. Taught by Kathryn Womack of the Missouri Department of Conservation, explore and discuss the importance of bats to the environment and humans as well as current threats to these fascinating creatures. Course meets the curriculum requirements of the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:709 | 1 session | $29 AGE 60+ | $29 REG 

Introduction to Bird Watching

According to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, more than 45 million Americans list birding as a favorite pastime. Whether you are an amateur bird enthusiast or are simply interested in learning more about the identification and migratory patterns of the wildlife in your own backyard, this class is for you! Discover how to recognize bird species by sight, song, physical attributes and behavior. Also, learn about binoculars, how to use a field guide, feeder/landscaping strategies to attract more birds to your backyard and the best places to view an assortment of birds in the St. Louis area. Field trip on Saturday allows you to practice your new skills; details to be discussed in class. Provide your own transportation. Offered in partnership with the St. Louis Audubon Society. Course meets the curriculum requirements of the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:709 | 2 sessions | $35 AGE 60+ | $35 REG

Great Horned Owls: Hunting and Feeding

Join us for a fascinating insight into one of the most successful predators in the Americas. Instructor Mark H.X. Glenshaw, an award-winning naturalist, has been observing, documenting and delivering outreach with great horned owls in Forest Park since December 2005. Mark has learned many of the owls’ hunting perches and observed and documented many predatory attempts as well as seen the owls feed themselves and their many owlets. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:709 | 1 session | $25 AGE 60+ | $25 REG 

Forest Park Owls: Hiding in Plain Sight

Join award-winning naturalist and speaker Mark H.X. Glenshaw for an informative glimpse into the lives of a local mated pair of great horned owls in Forest Park. Mark has been closely observing and documenting the owls since 2005. Learn how he found the owls, basic facts about the species and various behaviors he observes and documents with photos and videos to illustrate these behaviors. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself looking for owls after this course in a follow-up, instructor-led owl prowl! Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:709 | 1 session | $25 AGE 60+ | $25 REG 

How to Find an Owl in Your Neighborhood

Do you ever see or hear an owl in your neighborhood and want to experience more of these beautiful birds? Award-winning naturalist Mark H.X. Glenshaw aka “The Owl Man” has studied great horned owls in Forest Park since 2005 and leads scores of owl prowls each year. Discover ways to find owls in your area whether in subdivisions, city neighborhoods, pocket parks or large public parks. Learn which owls you are most likely to see or hear, where and how to look for them, what to listen for and the importance of research and collaboration. Techniques taught mirror those he uses in his personal studies. For additional insights, he will also show via photos and videos some of the owl behaviors he has observed and documented. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:709 | 1 session | $25 AGE 60+ | $25 REG 

Crows

American crows, prevalent across much of the continent, are distinguished by their large, all-black features and cawing voices. Come explore the world of this exceptional bird including discussion of behavior and problem solving tactics they display as they interact with their habitat. Learn about food sources, nesting, and other interesting facts. Other local corvids (blue jays and fish crows) will be included in the discussion. Offered in cooperation with St. Louis Audubon Society. Course meets the curriculum requirements of the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:709 | 1 session | $35 AGE 60+ | $35 REG 

Woodpeckers

With the exception of Australia, almost every region in the world hosts woodpeckers. Closer to home, and depending on the season, Missouri is home to seven species. Take an in-depth look at our local woodpecker population including adaptations, anatomy, behavior, habitats, and more. Learn how to attract woodpeckers by providing places for the birds to feed and nest. Offered in partnership with the St. Louis Audubon society. Course meets the curriculum requirements of the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:709 | 1 session | $35 AGE 60+ | $35 REG 

Overview of Oaks: Local and Abroad

Explore the many varieties of native oaks and other interesting oak trees that live among us and around the world. Discover oak history; differences in red and white species commercial, ecological, urban and wildlife benefits; and much more. You will also learn how Forest ReLeaf grows all kinds of oaks and how you can too! Offered in partnership with Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Course meets the curriculum requirements of the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:722 | 1 session | $29 AGE 60+ | $29 REG 

Common Mushrooms of Missouri

Trametes veriscolor, lycoperdon perlatum, strobilomyces confusus, oh my! Put the fun in fungi and learn to identify some of the most common mushrooms in Missouri. Class combines lecture, discussion and field exploration. Bring sack lunch and hiking shoes. This course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist Certificate.
NATR:723 | 1 session | $25 AGE 60+ | $25 REG 

Even More Common Mushrooms of Missouri

Discover even more of Missouri’s hundreds of mushrooms. Starting with a presentation, learn how to identify several species before taking to the field hands-on exploration. Bring a sack lunch and hiking shoes. This course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist Certificate.
NATR:723 | 1 session | $25 AGE 60+ | $25 REG

Unique Animals and Plants of Australia

Australia has been geographically isolated for over 45 million years resulting in an abundance of plants and animals found only on this continent (endemic). An amazing 80% of the mammal, reptile, frog and flowering plant species are endemic to Australia. Australia’s diverse oceans support around 4,000 of the world’s 22,000 types of fish. With its temperate and tropical rainforests, deserts, grasslands and coral reefs, this unique continent accounts for almost 10% of the total biodiversity of Earth. Biology professor Dave Tylka will show photos and discuss the remarkable natural histories of the larger, more unique animals and plants. Course meets the curriculum requirements for the Master Naturalist program.
NATR:765 | 1 session | $21.50 AGE 60+ | $29 REG

NEW! Binocular Astronomy

What can you see with a pair of binoculars in the night sky? A surprising portion of the universe! Learn basics of binocular use, what kinds of night sky objects are discoverable, how to find them and how they will appear through binoculars. Recommended that students buy these materials / publications: “Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars” ISBN-10: 0961320710.
NATR:732 | 1 session | $20 AGE 60+ | $25 REG 

Exploring Fall and Winter Night Skies

Using the unaided eye, binoculars or small to medium sized telescopes, learn to find, identify and observe astronomical objects and events of late fall and winter including the moon, planets, artificial satellites, meteors, comets, stars, constellations and nebula. Bring a planisphere 35–45 degree latitude, such as Phillip’s planisphere 6” or larger, and current issue of “Sky & Telescope” ($5.99) magazine. One field trip on Friday 11/1 or other date; details to be discussed in class.
NATR:732 | 4 sessions | $29.50 AGE 60+ | $49 REG

 

Helpful CE Links:

My CE Account | Registration Options | General Information | Class Locations | Contact Us