Next Course: August - October 2026
We are offering two sessions of this course. Because the in-person workshop dates are two weeks apart, the online coursework will follow the same structure. You will either register for session 1 or session 2 in their entirety. There is no mixing and matching.
Online coursework:
- Session 1: August 31 - September 21, 2026
- Session 2: September 14 - October 5, 2026
Live virtual welcome session (via Zoom): 1-hour virtual session during the first week of the online course.
In-person workshop days:
- Session 1: September 24-25, 2026
- Session 2: October 8-9, 2026
LINK to registration pages: TBD
- REGULAR registration opens August 12, 2026 at 10am ET.
- EARLY registration is only available for previous NATA graduates**. You must email the NATA Training Coordinator by August 4, 2026 to request early registration access; access will expire the day before regular registration opens.
- Registration will close when capacity is reached or by August 21, 2026; we expect course will fill to capacity quickly!
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Course Description:
This is a NATA Core workshop, leading to a 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.
Assignment Checklists: CSAP Session 1 Assignment Checklist & CSAP Session 2 Assignment Checklist
Attend 1-hour live virtual 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.
Draft of Agenda: CSAP Agenda Fall 2026
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 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-minute 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
