Utah Master Naturalist Mountain Adventures - Utah's Hogle Zoo

This Mountain Adventures course is a partnership with Utah's Hogle Zoo and will take place at the zoo, as well throughout the canyons of the Wasatch Front and the Uintas. Class times are 9 AM - 5 PM starting August 2nd and ending August 4th.

You will be given access to the Mountain Adventures online course approximately 6 weeks prior to the start of the first field day. You will need to complete the online course before the first field day begins.  

This is an adult education program that is open to participants 18 years of age and older.  Exceptions for teens as young as 15 may be made if a parent/guardian is also registered for the course.  Please email utahmasternaturalist@usu.edu if you would like to bring a child as young as 15.

Course Description

Some of Utah's greatest ecological diversity and scenic beauty exist in its forest and alpine environments. Throughout these systems, temperature, elevation, and precipitation play an important role in defining plant and animal communities and their interactions.

During this Mountain Adventures course, you will study climate, geology, and plant & wildlife communities as we climb higher in elevation. Also, you'll discover Utah's rich history of mining, grazing on National Forests, and use of mountains for recreation.

Each Utah Master Naturalist course consists of 40 hours of instruction, with approximately 16 hours covered in the online course, and the remaining 24 hours spent outdoors in a field course.  Field course activities will include instructor-led discussions, guest presentations on relevant resource issues, small group activities, and open discussions. Class size is small in order to maximize your opportunities for learning and having fun!

Due to the nature of the Mountain Adventures course, we will be walking and hiking over uneven terrain, often in rocky environments.  While we do our best to accommodate people of all abilities, please contact utahmasternaturalist@usu.edu if you have any concerns.  Participants should be comfortable hiking in steep terrain.

Course Materials

All course materials are available for download here.  It is highly recommended that you read them before the start of the course. Physical copies of the manual are distributed on the first day of the field course. If you would like to have a physical copy of the manual shipped to you before the course, please pay the $5 shipping fee under "Add-Ons" during checkout and include your address in the order form. You can also request to pick up a physical copy of the manual at the Swaner EcoCenter in Park City - to do this send an email to utahmasternaturalist@usu.edu.

Course Fees

The $250 registration fee covers the cost of both the online course and the field course. If you have previously completed the online portion of this course, email utahmasternaturlist@usu.edu before you register to receive a discount code. USU credit is no longer available for Utah Master Naturalist courses. There is an opportunity to earn three Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from USU for an additional recording fee of $90. If you would like to receive this credit, please indicate so on the order form at check out.

Cancellation & Refunds

If you cancel at least two weeks prior to the start of the course, you will be refunded your course registration, less a $30 administrative fee. Canceling less than two weeks prior to the course results in a refund of 50% of the registration fee (less processing fees). We are unable to issue any refund if a registered participant is a no-show at the start of the course. Cancellation & refund requests can be sent to utahmasternaturalist@usu.edu.