Naturalist Certification Program

     The certification program is run by Highlands Center education staff, supplemented by local professors and experts in their fields of study. Classes and field trips focus on the natural history of the Central Arizona Highlands and can include such topics as reptiles and amphibians, geology, weather and climate, the practice of natural history, ornithology, entomology, flora and fauna, and a large component on the Center's method of teaching and guiding people to their own discoveries in nature.

      Graduates of the program go on to lead Naturalist Field Walks both on site at the Highlands Center and at participating City of Prescott trails. In addition, Naturalists may participate in an on site, ongoing phenology study due to begin in the spring of 2013.

      Naturalists participating in the program are required to take all of the Community Nature Study classes, every Tuesday and Thursday in February, as well as attend full day classes every Tuesday in March and April. Check out the Naturalist Field Notes Blog here to see what our naturalists have been up to!

      For more information contact Jill in the Education Department at 928-776-9550.
Download the Naturalist application here.
Return by fax, mail or drop it off!

Download the Naturalist handbook here.