Our Mission
The mission of the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is to promote awareness,
understanding, and respect of Florida's natural world among Florida's citizens and
visitors.
This mission is accomplished in part by FMNP Instructors, who teach students in
the program about Florida's environment using science-based information and interpretive
techniques that prepare students to share their knowledge with others.
This mission is also accomplished by FMNP graduates, who share their knowledge with
others and foster principles of sustainability, connectivity, and biodiversity to
assist others to understand and respect Florida's natural world as a community to
which we all belong.
In essence, the FMNP teaches those that teach others.
Description
The Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) is an adult education UF/IFAS Extension
program developed by the University of Florida and provided by many Extension offices
and participating organizations throughout the state of Florida. FMNP training will
benefit persons interested in learning more about Florida’s environment or wishing
to increase their knowledge for use in education programs as volunteers, employees,
ecotourism guides, and others.
The FMNP consists of three Core Modules
Each Module is 40 contact hours of classroom learning, field trips, and practical
experience. Each Module is $225 and includes detailed course manuals and, upon completion,
FMNP certificates, patches, and pins denoting their area of expertise (e.g., Wetlands
Master Naturalist) and registration in the online FMNP Graduate Database. Students
who choose to complete all three Modules will become Florida Master Naturalists
and will receive a plaque, Master Naturalist pin, and registration in the online
Master Naturalist Honor Roll Database. The FMNP does not provide
university credit toward a degree-seeking program.
The FMNP also offers four Special Topics
- Conservation Science
- Environmental Interpretation
- Wildlife Monitoring (Coming Soon)
- Habitat Evaluation (Coming Soon)