The Washington State Naturalist program aims to educate individuals seeking to volunteer with organizations doing environmental education, stewardship, and research. This is a WSU legacy-program that is a collaboration between WSU Extension and the WSU School of the Environment. The program works to increase public awareness and knowledge about the environment, conservation, scientific inquiry, and ecosystem function to promote stewardship. The program graduates will gain skills and knowledge to make informed decisions on environmental issues and be able to serve their communities as environmental educators, stewards, and community scientists. Please note, this is still a burgeoning program, so we are only able to accept applicants who can commit to volunteering with our partner organizations in select areas. We’re working to secure more partnerships statewide so that we can then offer this program to anyone in Washington.
What does the course look like?
As a Washington State Naturalist apprentice, you are starting an extensive research-based training program designed to give you a background in ecology and ecosystem management. As a certified Washington State Naturalist, you will have the credentials to offer your services as a volunteer to park districts, land-trusts, local jurisdictions, and environmental not-for-profit organizations. The Washington State Naturalist training consists of a series of online modules and supplemental field learning experiences. The field learning experiences include both WSU Extension-sponsored field tours and experiences independently sought out by program participants.
There are two tracks that program participants can follow within the Washington State Naturalist Program.
Track 1
This track is funded by an EPA environmental education grant; therefore, tuition is waived. The funding can only support a handful of participants, so there is a comprehensive review and selection process for those who chose this track on the registration form. If you are not selected, you may still be considered for Track 2 if you are willing to pay the tuition fee.
Track 2
This track requires a tuition fee to participate. If you register for Track 2 you will be admitted to the program on a first come and first approved basis. You will have three days to pay your course fee and register. Currently, we have a wait list from 2025, and those applicants will have priority. If you are not accepted this year, you will be added to the wait list.
Track 1
| Program components | Track 1 Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | Free |
| Canvas online learning requirement | Must complete 7 Canvas modules, which includes the core 4 modules and the 3 water-based modules |
| Field learning requirement | Must complete 20 hours of field learning |
| Volunteer requirement | Must complete 25 hours of volunteering with the partner organizations below. Volunteering must include water-based education for youth |
| Partner organizations involved | Wenatchee River Institute, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group |
| Number of participants selected | 10 – 15 total, 5 – 7 per organization |
Track 2
| Program Components | Track 2 Information |
|---|---|
| Cost | $325 for online learning due once accepted to program, $100 for field experience and continuing education fee due January 2026 |
| Canvas online learning requirement | Must complete 6 Canvas modules, which includes the core 4 modules and the 2 other modules of your choice |
| Field learning requirement | Must complete 20 hours of field learning |
| Volunteer requirement | Must complete 20 hours of volunteering with the partner organizations below. Volunteering can include environmental education, stewardship and/or participatory science |
| Partner organizations involved | Great Peninsula Conservancy, Dishman Hills Conservancy, Spokane County Water Resources |
| Number of participants selected | 30 – 40 total, 5 – 15 per organization |
Program requirements
Core Modules
There are four core modules and four advanced modules. The track you are on will dictate how many advanced modules you are required to complete. Each module may consist of WSU faculty presentations, readings from the WSU Naturalist Manual, curated videos, exercises, and other resources.
Core modules include:
- Ecosystems of Washington | Module Author: Dr. Mark E. Swanson
- Introduction to Ecology | Module Author: Dr. Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens
- Scientific Inquiry and Methods | Module Author: Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott
- Watershed Management | Module Author: Sue Blake (retired)
Advanced modules include:
- Stream Ecology | Module Author: Dr. Katherine Strickler
- Limnology (Lake Systems) | Module Authors: Dr. Barry Moore (retired) and Dr. Sarah Roley
- Oceanography | Module Author: Dr. Gretchen Rollwagen-Bollens
- Forestry (in development) | Module Authors: Oregon State University Extension staff and faculty: Glenn Ahrens, Daniel Leavell, John Punches, Jacob Putney, John Rizza, and Thomas Stokely
- Adapted for Washington State forests by Dr. Patricia Townsend. Edited by Jacob O’Brien.
Attend Zoom Meetings every other week
Discuss the material, share resources, and meet others in the course from across Washington State.
Field Learning
Complete 20 hours of professional and self-guided learning out in the field. Learn more at our Field Learning page.
Volunteer Commitment
Connect with a partner organization in your area to fulfill your volunteering requirement. The track you are on will determine which partner organizations you can work with, what type of volunteering you can partake in, and how many hours you must complete. See the tables above for the difference in volunteer requirements between the two tracks. Learn more about the partner organizations at our Partners page.
Where are we located?
The Washington State Naturalist Program currently operates in four counties through our partner organizations and online through WSU Global Campus. When reviewing applications, priority is given to applicants that reside in the same counties as the partner organizations.
The program is partially funded by an environmental education grant from the EPA, which waives tuition for those undertaking Track 1. Those on Track 1 must volunteer with one of two partner organizations that operate in three counties: Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group in Kitsap and Mason, and Wenatchee River Institute in Chelan.
Participants of the program through Track 2 must volunteer with at least one of our other four partner organizations located in two counties: Great Peninsula Conservancy in Kitsap, and Dishman Hills Conservancy, Spokane County Water Resources, and Spokane Conservation District in Spokane.
More information on each of these communities and the organizations that we are working with is available on our Partners page. The Naturalist Program will be available to more locations in Washington State in the future.