Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate of Merit

Blue Ridge Naturalist (BRN) Certificate of Merit students complete core and elective courses in ecology, botany, geology, zoology, plant identification and more — all focused on the unique ecosystem in Southern Appalachia to which we belong!

Many of our classes can also count toward Criteria II credit for the NC Environmental Education Certification Program.

Blue Ridge Naturalist At-A-Glance

Curriculum Overview

See Full Curriculum Overview Here

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I apply to either certificate program?

A: Enrollment is welcome at any time. An initial application and administrative fee is required, which covers student support, access to online learning management systems, and graduation costs. The one-time application fee is not discounted for members.

Q: What is the total cost of the program?

A: There is no set total cost of either Certificate of Merit Program. Once enrolled, students pay per class as they go. Registration fees may range from $35 for a one-session course to $250 for a multi-session course. Registration fees go toward paying our instructors while the remaining funds go to staff the program and maintain record keeping.

Q: How long does it typically take to complete the program? Is there a timeframe in which the program must be completed?

A: Most students are able to complete the Blue Ridge Eco-Gardener (BREG) program in one to two years, and the Blue Ridge Naturalist (BRN) in two to three years. There is no deadline at which those enrolled must complete their required credit hours and final projects.

Q: What are the required courses? Where do I find the courses described?

A: Our certificate programs are self-directed, and core and elective courses offered year round. The Curriculum Overview details which core classes are required as well as the number of elective courses necessary for each certification. New courses are listed as available on the main Adult Education website and announced in our Learn & Grow e-newsletter.

Q: Do I need to pay for parking for on-site classes?

A: Arboretum entry on the day of a class is included in your registration fee. Just stop by the gatehouse and identify yourself to the attendant. Members can enter through the member gate as normal.

Q: I’m a current member of the Arboretum. How do I redeem my 10% discount towards classes?

A: Members enter a “promo code” before checkout to access the member discount. The promo code changes each calendar year and it is announced in our member newsletter, The Insider. Email us at adulteducation@ncarboretum.org with any issues.

Q: I’m not sure I want to commit to a certificate program yet. Do classes I take now count toward a future certification?

A: Yes, students who begin taking classes and later decide to enroll in a certificate program can count any class taken within one year prior to enrollment as a certificate of merit student.

Q: Are there any opportunities for scholarships?

A: If the cost of a class is a financial hardship for you, please submit our Scholarship Application, and we will be in contact to follow up.

Enrollment

Enrollment in one of our certificate programs requires a one-time administrative fee of $150.

Ready to join us? Please fill out our application form here. Enrollment is welcome at any time.

Still not sure? Any applicable courses taken within one year prior to enrollment are eligible for retroactive credit.

For further information regarding BRN certification: Contact Adult Education Programs at adulteducation@ncarboretum.org

Student Records & Transcript

Please keep track of the courses you take throughout your journey in the BRN program using this template:

Excel Version of BRN Transcript Template 2026

PDF Version of BRN Transcript Template 2026

Final Project Guidelines

Current Guidelines and Instructions

BRN Final Project Guidelines

Final Project Proposal

Please complete this evaluation form upon completion of your final project. DO NOT complete this form if you have not completed your final project. Your final project supervisor (if you had one other than yourself) will complete a separate form. Let this form serve as a place for you to assess all aspects of your final project, including differences (if any) between your initial vision for the project and how the project ended up taking form.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There is no right or wrong about this. Evaluations are meant to serve as spaces for thoughtful reflections about final project experiences. Blue Ridge Naturalists can use this opportunity to provide reflections that will aid future students in designing their final projects.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Submission of your project evaluation and your supervisor’s evaluation constitutes completion of your final project for credit towards the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate Program. Please allow approximately two weeks for Adult Education staff to review and acknowledge receipt of your final project and associated evaluation(s).

Student First Name:(Required)

Student Last Name:(Required)

Student Email Address:(Required)

Student Mailing Address:(Required)

Primary Phone Number:(Required)

Project Completion Date:(Required)

Project Supervisor, Organization (if applicable):(Required)

Project Supervisor Email:(Required)

Project Supervisor Phone Number:(Required)

Project Title:(Required)

Project Overview & Outcomes:(Required)

Please provide a detailed overview of your project. This overview should include a description of your project as well as a discussion of what you originally proposed and what you actually produced (e.g., how you originally envisioned your final project compared to the project’s outcome

Project Assessment:(Required)

Please provide an assessment of your project. Did you complete your original objectives? Please include details on what worked, what you would have done differently, if anything, and what your recommendations would be for the future of this project or for future projects of a similar kind.

Additional Project Recommendations:(Required)

What are your thoughts upon completing this project? Who will continue to benefit from the project? What recommendations for future final projects would you make to other Blue Ridge Naturalist students?

Project Location:(Required)

Where is the project located? What area is impacted by your project?

Project Collaboration: Organizational & Human Resources:(Required)

Did you collaborate or consult with any individuals or organizations in completing this project? Please describe.

Project Funding & Other Resources:(Required)

What resources were needed to implement your project? How did you obtain the necessary resources for completing this project?

Project Implementation:(Required)

Was this project continuous, replicable, or a one-time event? As with the resources question above, please indicate any plan for your project’s perpetuation beyond implementation and your continuing involvement, if applicable.

Photos, Videos & Other Documentation:(Required)

Please upload a selection of 5 photographs, videos and/or other forms of documentation for your final project here. NOTE: The only files we will be able to review are those with the following extensions: jpg, jpeg, png, mp4, mov, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx. Please ensure your files are saved in one of these formats prior to attempting to upload and let us know if you encounter any issues with uploading!

Drop files here or

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, png, mp4, mov, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, pptx, Max. file size: 256 MB, Max. files: 5.

Additional Information:

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Final Project Evaluation for Blue Ridge Naturalists

Final Project Evaluation for Blue Ridge Naturalists
Please complete this evaluation form upon completion of your final project. DO NOT complete this form if you have not completed your final project. Your final project supervisor (if you had one other than yourself) will complete a separate form. Let this form serve as a place for you to assess all aspects of your final project, including differences (if any) between your initial vision for the project and how the project ended up taking form.
There is no right or wrong about this. Evaluations are meant to serve as spaces for thoughtful reflections about final project experiences. Blue Ridge Naturalists can use this opportunity to provide reflections that will aid future students in designing their final projects.
Submission of your project evaluation and your supervisor’s evaluation constitutes completion of your final project for credit towards the Blue Ridge Naturalist Certificate Program. Please allow approximately two weeks for Adult Education staff to review and acknowledge receipt of your final project and associated evaluation(s).

Final Project Evaluation for Project Supervisors

Final Project Evaluation for Project Supervisors
This form is to be completed by the final project supervisor/project counterpart within 2 weeks of the project’s completion. There is no right or wrong about this. Evaluations are meant to serve as spaces for thoughtful reflections about final project experiences. Please allow approximately two weeks for Adult Education staff to review and acknowledge receipt of this evaluation. Thank you!