wisconsin master naturalist program
The Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program is a statewide initiative aimed at cultivating well-informed volunteers who champion conservation, citizen science, and environmental education through leadership and lifelong learning. It includes 40 hours of training delivered through a mix of classroom learning and immersive field experiences led by professional natural resource educators and scientists.
Training is delivered by a blend of Discovery Center naturalists and visiting experts, ensuring well-rounded insight into topics like ecology, wildlife, geology, and conservation practices. The hands-on sessions allowed participants to explore the diverse ecosystems of the Northwoods and an overview of the area’s history.
This program equips individuals with the knowledge and tools to actively contribute to Wisconsin’s environmental stewardship. From interactive learning to community-led service, it builds not just understanding, but action, answering nature’s needs with informed care and commitment.
2026 Wisconsin Master Naturalists
Laura Duncan
Laura grew up in Mississippi but has spent 35 years moving between South and North Carolina, from the sandhills, to foothills, to midlands, to the inner banks of the Albermarle Sound. Laura is a retired educator and lover of the natural world. "Twenty years ago, I found a passion with my young students pursuing sea turtle conservation through a yearly sea turtle initiative research project and fundraising effort. It changed my life." She was encouraged by a Virgina Master Naturalist friend to pursue the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program. Lauras favorite day of the program was the day she visited the bog. "We stood on moving mauve and light green sphagnum mosses, with pitcher plants and wild cranberries, beside a blue kettle lake, I felt like I was standing on an artist's palette...it was all just breathtaking.."
Pete giogianni
Pete was born in Indiana, and has lived and worked all over the world before calling Wisconsin home. He decided to sign up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program because he wanted to be able to volunteer and educate people on the importance of our environment and our collective responsibility to take care of it. Pete says his favorite animal is a honey badger, and he most admires their fearlessness.
Vanessa haese-lehman
Vanessa is from Rhinelander but splits her time between the Northwoods and Winona, Minnesota. She decided to sign up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program because she wanted to learn more about the world just outside her door. Vanessa says "The program that stuck out to me the most was our time with John Bates. His concepts of place and time resonated deeply and tied into the concept of beings on the move with Cat Techtmann." After that Vanessa says "The whole series of programs and field trips meshed into a cohesive feeling that we can coexist and help our fellow beings in this world."
Gene McLinn
Gene is from Madison, Wisconsin, but enjoys spending time in the Northwoods. In his free time he likes to learn about nature and natural systems, and says "The Wisconsin Master Naturalist program weaves together all different disciplines." He says after the program he plans to volunteer and participate in citizen science projects. Gene says his favorite concept he learned while in the program was the presentation of the art exhibits at the Trout Lake Research Station, along with the aquatic ecology sessions with Susan Knigth and Carol Awarden, where he got to learn about zooplankton and aquatic plants of Wisconsin.
Diane milligan
Diane was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, but spent a lot of time as a child in Dane and Iowa County. She has been coming up to the Northwoods since 2003, and has a cabin on the Manitowish River, where she enjoys spending her time. She has always loved learning about nature and the natural world and says "I've collected knowledge through a Natural History concentration at Carleton College, and Environmental Studies MS at UW, and while working with and for the DNR as an attorney. I've long said I aspire to be an "old lady naturalist" and now almost have the time and capacity to pursue that path." Diane says she is looking forward to finding ways to share and gain knowledge from others. She wants to use nature as a way to connect with communities of people who care.
Joan knoeble
Joan is a Wisconsin native, but now splits her time between Northern California and Northern Wisconsin. Joan is a former biologist and says she signed up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program to brush up on her knowledge of the Northwoods, and to find a way to engage with others who love this area. She says her favorite part of the program was getting to reconnect with the Northwoods, "I feel like a duckling who imprinted on this very special part of the world, or a salmon returning to her home stream." She says this program taught her how to engage a group, grab their attention, and get them asking questions.
Carol phillips
Carol is a Wisconsin resident from Presque Isle. She decided to sign up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program to learn more about ecology and pass the information on to others. She says, "Those who understand ecology, are more likely to protect it." Her favorite part of the program was learning about glaciers, and how much of an impact they had on the ecology of Wisconsin. Carol says after the program she is looking forward to volunteering at the North Lakeland Discovery Center. As a retired civil engineer, Carol says her favorite animal is the beaver, because they are the “civil engineers” of the natural world.
Sandy Schlosser
Sandy was born and raised in Wausau, Wisconsin where she spent her childhood camping and fishing with her family. She graduated from UW-Madison with a degree in Natural Science and continued to work there but moved to Lac Du Flambeau six years ago. She says she signed up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program because “The classes covered everything I love, and I enjoy getting to be around people who share my passions. The more people who appreciate the wild, the more will be vested in protecting it.” She says one of her favorite parts of the program was learning about the geology of Wisconsin.
Mary Beth Schultz
Mary Beth moved to the Northwoods four years ago and now lives in Winchester. She decided to sign up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program to learn more about the area that she calls home. “We live in such a magical place, with so much beauty” Mary Beth says, “I needed to learn more about it!” Her favorite part of the program was learning something new every day. “Whether it was geological findings, tree identification and why those trees were growing there, or invasive species in our beautiful lakes.” Mary Beth plans to share her knowledge with guests that come to the North Lakeland Discovery Center as she works at the front desk as a nature guide.
Maria Snarski
Maria grew up in northern Illinois, but spent many summer and winter vacations in Vilas county, and now calls the area home. Maria signed up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program to better understand the ecology of the Northwoods. "I was surprised how little I knew about the ecology and phenology of this area despite visiting northern Wisconsin for several decades" Maria reflected. Maria currently volunteers for the Clean Boats Clean Water program and thinks the visit to Trout Lake Station and the hands-on activities that day will definitely help with AIS identification and advocacy for lake health in the area. Maria plans to look for additional volunteer opportunities that will reinforce the knowledge and skills the Master Naturalist program provided as well as find ways to share what she learned with others. Her favorite animal is the loon, and she says “In addition to loons being beautiful and iconic of the area, their presence on the water is an indicator of a clean, healthy, and functional lake habitat.”
Jane Stegmiller
Jane is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, but is currently residing in Presque Isle, Wisconsin. Her family has been coming to the Northwoods for four generations, but she became a full-time resident in 2025. She says she decided to sign up for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program “To learn more about the natural world, and this was an excellent opportunity to focus both binoculars and a microscope on my new home.” She says that after the program she wants to volunteer to help with conservation and education in the outdoors, and to “Continue blabbing to family and friends about various plants and animals along the trails!”
Wolfran Weinberg
Wolfram is originally from Germany and became a physicist in West Germany before immigrating to the United States. He worked in physics applied to medicine and biology at universities and in industry in Texas and California. He now lives in Wausau, Wisconsin. Wolfram joined the Wisconsin Master Naturalist program to develop a hands-on understanding of nature and was inspired by books such as Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard. Wolfram hopes to apply his experience in observation and thinking as a physicist to citizen science projects in the area. One thing that resonated with him in the program was the concept of nature as therapy through guided interpretation.
