By Maggie Edwards 

Standing on sandstone glades at DeSoto State Park, DeKalb County’s James Taylor noted the diverse changes in ecosystem from the Gulf Coast to Alabama’s northern border.

“For me, it’s about getting back to where I wanted to start — the woods,” James said. “This group produces nature ambassadors for Alabama.” 

He’s referencing the fledgling Alabama Master Naturalist (AMN) program. 

“I’m an IT guy, but I always wanted to become a forester,” James said. “Everyone wants to learn and do more, but this course of study forces you to succeed at it.” 

Similar to the Alabama Cooperative Extension System’s (ACES) Master Gardener program, the AMN certification includes online classwork, field days and 30 volunteer service hours. The ACES program strives to bring people like James closer to nature through awareness of and appreciation for the state’s diverse ecosystem. 

Extension’s Wesley Anderson said his hope is for AMN to reach citizens statewide. Almost 400 individuals are enrolled in AMN, which opened to the public less than a year ago.

The program costs $135 and is available to Alabama residents over the age of 18.

“AMN is just getting started, but the sky is the limit,” said Anderson, a forestry and wildlife sciences Extension specialist. “The program is open to anyone interested in the outdoors, nature and conservation.” 

Becoming a Master Naturalist requires hard work, dedication and a passion for the natural world, Anderson said. 

Knowledge developed through online training is key for field day hikes. The coursework paid dividends during the class visit to Fort Payne in September, as AMN participants identified plant species by common and scientific names while walking the DeSoto State Park trails. 

The goal is to take information from books and apply it to real-life situations. That’s why hands-on learning is an important factor in becoming a Master Naturalist, said Extension’s Dylan Taylor. 

“This state has tremendous diversity,” said Dylan, a forestry, wildlife and natural resources regional Extension agent. “It’s great to get people out to learn about that and see it firsthand.”

Partnering with Alabama State Parks provides a great resource since field days are essential, he added. 

“This is an opportunity for people to learn the beauty of Alabama,” said Dylan, who developed two courses for the curriculum. “If you know it, you will protect it. We have so much here to protect.”