Minnesota Master Naturalist

Course Registration

BWBR - Robert Ney Memorial Park - Maple Lake

Robert Ney Memorial Park, Maple Lake, MN website

5212 73rd St NW
Maple Lake, MN 55358

The nature center at Robert Ney Memorial Park — halfway between St. Cloud and the Twin Cities — will serve as our home base for this weeklong exploration of Minnesota's central biome. We'll offer a mix of classroom instruction, hands-on activities, and field trips within Wright County parks and Lake Maria State Park to discover the unique geology, birds, fungi, trees, plants and aquatic insects of the region. Excursions will include a visit to the banks of the Mississippi River.

During class, each participant will complete a team capstone project, culminating with oral presentations on Saturday morning.

A refrigerator and drinking fountain are available at the nature center. Bring a bag lunch and a water bottle.

Wright County Parks is our official host for the course. Please inform instructors of any accessibility or mobility needs when registering.

NOTE: Saturday hours are from 8:30 A.M. - 1:00 P.M.

Need help registering?
Please refer to the contact information and tutorial videos below.

Help Videos:
 Help with Online Payment Registration.
NOTE: The canvas link they are referring to is only for online classes, not "in person" classes.
Help with Online Payment Password Reset

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 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on:

Instructor Information

Amy Rager

Amy holds a BA in Elementary Education from the College of St. Scholastica and a MEd in Environmental Leadership and Learning from the University of MN. With over 30 years of experience in cooperative extension, Amy's career has been dedicated to intertwining her work with a passion for the environment. Since its inception in 2005, she has been an integral part of the Minnesota Master Naturalist program. Hailing from the Duluth area, Amy is a true native Minnesotan who has always cherished the outdoors, finding joy in sharing her love and knowledge with others.

Andrea Lorek Strauss

I am an Extension Professor with the University of Minnesota Extension with a MSEd in Curriculum and Instruction/Outdoor Education. Since 1992 my career has focused on environmental education in various forms, including past work for the International Wolf Center in Ely, MN, the Prairie Ecology Bus Center in southwest Minnesota, and various naturalist roles in the Boston area, northern Minnesota, and New York state. Ask me about participatory science, nature interpretation, universal program design, spring ephemeral wildflowers, or anything wildlife related! And by all means, let's talk about iNaturalist! Outside of work I enjoy anything crafty -- lately I am enjoying quilting, crochet and mosaic arts -- and riding my eBike.

Elizabeth Knuth

Has lived in Minnesota for 35 years. Has visited every Minnesota state park. College degree in photography. Is an iNaturalist ambassador. President of the Central Minnesota Chapter of Minnesota Master Naturalist.

Kirk Gebicke

Sponsor Information

Wright County Parks Administrator

Register Now!

Seats Taken: 21 of 22

Log in to register!