We are excited to announce that our 2025 Annual Report is officially live on the Natural Areas Training Academy website! We will discuss some highlights below, but be sure to check out the full report, especially for specific information on each course.
NATA in a Nutshell
The Natural Areas Training Academy (NATA) was founded in 2000 as a collaboration to provide work-force development for natural resource professionals from federal, state, county, city/municipal, non-profit, university, military, and private entities. Four core courses constitute the bulk of our program, and completing all of these plus a fire certification allows participants to earn a Certificate in Natural Areas Management. Our courses provide training in practical, field-oriented management techniques. Participants work in small groups to address real-life scenarios and realistic problems, becoming better prepared to manage Florida’s natural resources. The courses start with 3-weeks of online assignments, followed by in-person field days/workshops. The workshops are held at various sites throughout Florida, and each is intentionally matched to provide optimal teaching facilities and proximity to natural lands.
2025 Highlights
In 2025, we had 422 people enroll in NATA courses, representing over 100 different organizations. We were fortunate to have over 58 amazing instructors and experts from 29 organizations, who contributed their time to share their expertise in our 11 courses and field days. We could not offer these courses without them, so thank you! Finally, we had 25 people graduate with a Certificate in Natural Areas Management! This year represented a continuation in the high demand for NATA courses that we witnessed last year, and we offered our largest number of courses yet! We offered two sections of each of the core certificate courses and for Basic Wildland Firefighter.
Participant Quotes
“My [Natural Areas Training Academy] courses gave me experience and training that helped me with a job promotion! A new position in land management called Recreation Specialist. These courses are highly regarded in my county.”
“The [Certificate in Natural Areas Management] courses helped me build the confidence to lead more effectively and communicate clearly with stakeholders, visitors, and other agencies. The training gave me practical tools to assess natural areas, collaborate with partners, and ensure our work supports long-term conservation goals.”
Course Breakdown
| Course Name | 2025 Dates | # of Participants |
|---|---|---|
| Conservation Site Assessment and Planning | January | 39 |
| Managing for Diversity | March | 45 |
| Managing for Visitors and Volunteers | May | 47 |
| Collaborating to Manage Ecosystems | November | 46 |
| Basic Wildland Firefighter (S-130/S-190/L-180) | June & November | 221 |
| NATA Wildland Fire Chainsaws (S-112) | October | 24 |
Certificate in Natural Areas Management
In 2025, we had 25 Certificate in Natural Areas Management (CNAM) graduates, from 11 different organizations! The NATA Certificate is a huge accomplishment and can often take over a year to complete. To earn their CNAM, graduates took all four of NATA’s core courses, plus a fire training (Florida Prescribed Burn Manager or Basic Wildland Firefighter). Congratulations to these natural resource professionals for their dedication and hard work! See all of our graduates on our website and the 2025 list below:
- Conservation Florida: Brandon Evans
- Florida Department of Environmental Protection: Jasmin Linkutis
- Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission: Rudy Spirk
- Individuals: Alexander Fine & Elizabeth Regina
- Manatee County: Michelle Carlson, Ashley Blitz, Kyle Messina, & Nick Harkinson
- Merritt Island Wildlife Association: Rochelle Hood
- North Florida Land Trust: Aaryn Tarver & Chris Bebout
- Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District: Lucas Schaffer
- Pasco County: Jackie Jordan, Melissa Charbonneau, & Taylor Hays-Lankford
- Sarasota County: Ben Nussbaum, Caroline Dill, Sean McGrail, Elizabeth Gandy, & Teresa Good
- Volusia County: Daniel Gemeinhardt, Holly Giles, & Lance Mew
- Youth Environmental Alliance: Michelle Metzler
Thank You and Welcome New NATA Staff
After a busy year with NATA in 2025, we said goodbye to Hannah Wheatcraft in her role as NATA’s Training Coordinator. Her dedication and organization skills were a huge asset to the program. We thank her and wish her the best with her future career goals.
In January 2026, we welcomed Hannah J. Bokor as the new Training Coordinator. She graduated from the University of Florida in December 2025 with a B.A. in Environmental Science and minors in Agricultural and Natural Resource Law and Environmental Justice and Policy. She plans to attend law school and pursue a career as an environmental lawyer. If you take a NATA course in 2026, Hannah will be working diligently behind the scenes to keep everything running smoothly. We are lucky to have her!
Looking forward: 25 years of graduates!
2026 is already off to a great start and we predict another record-breaking year. It’s been 25 years since our first NATA graduates! This year, we will be focusing on documenting the positive impacts this program has had on natural resource management in Florida. Stay tuned for 2026 updates and check out the calendar on our website for upcoming courses.
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