
Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit
Start a quest to deepen your knowledge of one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Join a community of adult learners who are dedicated to understanding the natural sciences, ecology and culture of the Southern Appalachian region through the Blue Ridge Naturalist (BRN) Certificate of Merit program. Classes meet year round online, onsite and in the field. Students work to complete 240 hours in core courses on ecology, botany, geology and plant identification as well as electives on animals, lichens, insects and more. All students will complete and present a final project prior to graduation. Projects often take the form of service learning, empowering students to tackle needs in their own communities, including establishing pollinator gardens for public enjoyment or researching the effects of stream sedimentation.
Sign up online today to understand your place in the natural world and how to preserve, protect and care for our common home.
There is a one-time, non-refundable $75 application fee. Members of The North Carolina Arboretum Society receive additional discounts on all classes taken for certificate credit.
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