Next Course: January 2026
Online coursework: January 6-23, 2026
Live virtual welcome session: January 7, 2026 (2:30-3:30 or 3:45-4:45).
In-person workshop days (2 options): January 27-28 or January 29-30. See agenda below.
Link to registration pages: will be here soon
- REGULAR registration will open December 17, 2025.
- EARLY registration is available for previous NATA graduates*. You must email the NATA Training Coordinator before December 10 to request early registration access.
- Registration will close when capacity is reached, or January 2; we expect course will fill to capacity.
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Course Description:
This is a NATA Core workshop, leading to the Certificate in Natural Areas Management. This training builds a foundation of skills useful in conducting site assessments and developing resource management plans.
Participants will:
- Learn how to conduct a rapid site assessment
- Discover sources of information useful when conducting site assessments
- Gain experience classifying the condition of forest vegetation communities
- Identify site-specific threats to natural resources at small and large spatial scales
- Develop management objectives and design management strategies that effectively address these objectives
- Identify components of effective management plans based on program needs and goals
- Learn about a variety of management plans used by county, state, and federal agencies
This workshop is presented in a hybrid format (Both the online and in-person trainings are REQUIRED)
Online coursework:
Approximately 8 hours across 3-weeks (on your own, with weekly assignment deadlines); reliable internet connection and computer required.
Attend 1-hour live virtual welcome session (via Zoom), during the first week of the online coursework.
In-person training:
Two days of in-person training at University of Florida's Austin Cary Forest Campus northeast of Gainesville, FL.
2026 Agenda draft: CSAP 2026 Field Day Agenda
Registration Information:
$335 (does not include lodging)
- You must pay with a CREDIT CARD online at the time of registration on the Eventbrite website. The confirmation email from Eventbrite is your receipt.
- NO REFUNDS will be offered after registration closes.
- NO CREDITS will be issued for those who do not complete the course.
- Eventbrite processing fees are NONREFUNDABLE, meaning that if you need a refund, you will receive a partial refund, minus the Eventbrite processing fees. For more information, visit Eventbrite's policy .
*EARLY registration is available to any person who has graduated from one or more of the NATA core courses. Fire training (e.g., S130/190) is not considered a core course for early registration eligibility. You must email the NATA Training Coordinator before December 10 to request early registration access. Early access expires the day before regular registration begins.
Lodging:
Participants are responsible for securing their own lodging. When selecting lodging, note that Austin Cary Forest is located 20-25 minutes drive northeast of downtown Gainesville. For convenience, we recommend a hotel near downtown/central Gainesville (University Ave & Main St, or SW 13th St).
For more information, contact:
Training Coordinator
Natural Areas Training Academy
