Join our email list
Our Mission
The Maricopa County Parks Master Naturalist Chapter is a volunteer leadership training program designed to enhance the quality of educational, community science, and stewardship services that participants provide to community partners. We are a chapter of the Arizona Master Naturalist Association. Read more on our about us page.
The Arizona Master Naturalist Association is committed to developing Just, Equitable, Diverse, and Inclusive programs for everyone in the state of Arizona.
Land Acknowledgment
Our Chapter of the Arizona Master Naturalists resides on the colonized land of indigenous peoples. This land and its resources were successfully stewarded by indigenous groups for thousands of years, and the descendants of these groups still live on and steward this land. The land that is now called Arizona is the ancestral home of twenty-two federally recognized native nations: the land that our chapter does most of its work on is the ancestral homeland of several of these groups, including the Tohono O’odham, the Akimel O’odham, the Pee Posh, and the Yavapaiv Apache.
The area in which we do our naturalist work would not be habitable without the canal systems built to utilize the resources of the Salt and Gila rivers, and we acknowledge the generations of mathematicians, architects, artists, and agricultural experts who, prior to colonization, built the irrigation systems that made our presence here possible.
Get Involved
Become a MCPMN
Enroll for our next Cohort and learn from leading experts about our desert ecosystem to use what you’ve learned to protect, care for and teach others. You will learn how to interpret what you’ve learned in order to develop relationships with local partners and lead projects that will benefit the environment and the community at large.
Become a Partner
Our partners include a variety of groups, businesses, organizations, and government agencies that support, protect and maintain our desert ecosystem. By partnering with MCPMN you will have access to our community leaders who can help you develop, promote and facilitate your give-back projects and campaigns.
Give Back
There are lots of ways that you can support the MCPMN without having to become one. Some of our volunteer projects are open to the public and we encourage you join us. If you aren’t quite ready to take the course to become a Certified Master Naturalist we also have a “Friend Of” option. We are always on the search for any relevant subject-matter experts who are willing to share their wisdom with our cohorts whether its during our core 60 hr course or for one of monthly chapter meetings. And of course monetary donations are also appreciated.
What People Are Saying
Testimonials
I have learned so much about my local environment and ecology through this course. I am so grateful for the opportunity to use what I’ve learned to benefit my community.
Mariah Maynard – Cohort 3
I love all of the amazing partners I have been able to work with as a Master Naturalist. And being able to such a wonderful group of people while learning and caring for the natural world has been really awesome.
Kathy Balman – Cohort 1 – Chapter President 2021-2022
Stay Connected
News
May 2021 Newsletter
Check out what’s going this month with Maricopa County Parks Chapter of the Arizona Master Naturalists! Kicking the month of with City Nature Challenge, with lots of super cool advanced training opportunities. Don’t forget to join our sponsor, Maricopa County Parks, for their Native Seed Collection project…
Keep readingPurchase MCPMN Swag
You can now purchase our chapter’s shirts, sweatshirts, mugs, hats, bags, stickers, and more at our CafePress store here. All proceeds go back to supporting our organization’s projects and operations. Get yourself some new trail gear to represent your favorite Arizona Master Naturalist chapter!
Keep readingMCPMN Course Info Session
If you’re curious about what it takes to become an Maricopa County Parks Master Naturalist and weren’t able to make it to our first live info session, you can now check it out on YouTube! Enrollment for future cohorts begins in the Fall but you don’t have…
Keep reading
Become a Friend of MCPMN
You don’t have to be a Master Naturalist to get involved with our volunteer projects going on all the time, all around The Valley. Become a Friend of Arizona Master Naturalists to stay connected to our amazing community of educators, stewards & professionals for minimal dues without having to complete the course.
