Minnesota Master Naturalist

Course Registration

BWBR - Northland Arboretum, Baxter, MN

Northland Arboretum, Baxter, MN website

14250 Conservation Drive
Baxter, MN 56425

The Brainerd Lakes area rests in the transition of two major Minnesota biomes; the northern boreal and decidious forests. In this core training we will explore the deciduous forest biome including the diversity of plants and wildlife, the surprises of its geology, the complexity of the Mississippi River and its tributaries, and much more.

The setting of for this course is the beautiful Northland Arboretum with Whiskey Creek flowing through, as it makes it way to the Mississippi River. Attractions include include Jack Pine and Oak Savannas as well as many more attractions and 12 miles of hiking, snowshoe and ski trails. Landowners are Crow Wing County, The Nature Conservancy and Northland Arboretum.

The Northland Arboretum is a 583-acre non-profit arboretum and nature reserve in Brainerd, Minnesota. The arboretum was founded in 1972 when the Brainerd Landfill closed; that original 40-acre landfill site now supports a grassland with an ADA-compliant Accessible Wellness Fitness Trail. The Blanding's turtle, a state threatened species, is found in the savanna and nearby wetlands, along with the eastern hognose snake, a species of special concern. The Mississippi River corridor is home to the long eared bat which is a threatened species that occasionally makes an appearance. We also have native north woods wildlife like deer, porcupines, fox, fishers, beavers, coyotes, and black bear. The Arb has been named a "Important Bird Area" by the Audubon Society and has had over 130 species identified on the grounds.

We will meet weekly on Tuesday evenings with one full weekend (Saturday & Sunday) in the field experience exploring state parks and other natural and historic places. The course cost is $295 and includes course manuals and supplies.

The course cost is $295 and includes course manuals and supplies.

If the course cost is a hardship, please fill out the scholarship application. After the scholarship is fully processed, you will receive a code to be entered in the on-line registration process. Please wait until you receive that code to complete registration.

Course Dates:

Meeting from 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. on:

Instructor Information

Eleanor Burkett

Eleanor (Ellie) Burkett - lifelong learner, retired UM Extension educator in water resources and currently works for the Nature Conservancy. Ellie enjoys gardening for pollinators, backyard bird watching, biking, kayaking and hiking.

Peg Serani

Richard Meyer

I love learning about nature. My background is in Earth science education and technology. I became a Master Naturalist in 2011 and took the instructor training in 2017. Currently, I am working for Minnesota Extension - Brainerd Regional Office as one of the support staff. You can learn more about my interests at my blog/website - Meyer.FYI.

Sponsor Information

Brainerd Lakes Area


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