The Naturalist School

What The Naturalist School does

The Naturalist School is a non-profit nature education and training organization operating as a trademark initiative under Fig Tree Naturalist Foundation, a Section 8 company registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs in India. Founded in 2021 and headquartered in Bangalore, the school delivers three NCVET-, THSC-, and NSDC-accredited certification programs: a six-week online Citizen Naturalist course, a four-week in-person Certified Nature Guide course, and a six-month Certified Naturalist course. It also runs capacity-building workshops (including a GBIF-co-hosted Biodiversity Data Mobilization Workshop), corporate training for hospitality clients such as Evolve Back, Kabini River Lodge, and Waterwoods, and youth and community programs like 'Walk with the Pardhis' and Young Birders' Month.

The underlying 'technology' is a nature interpretation and citizen science methodology rather than a software product: curricula combine field-based ecological knowledge with storytelling, guiding techniques, and citizen science workflows using platforms like iNaturalist and GBIF. The school is the national convener for the City Nature Challenge in India, which grew from 20 to 200+ participating cities, and runs a steady cadence of branded events (Big Butterfly Month, The World of Mantises exhibition, Chirpy Tales birding events) in partnership with organizations such as WWF-India, GBIF, Last Wilderness Foundation, Ataavi Bird Foundation, and Taj Safaris.

Revenue mechanics rely on a mix of individual course fees (obtained via Expression of Interest forms, not publicly disclosed), workshop contributions (e.g., INR 1,500 for the GBIF workshop), enterprise training contracts with resorts and hospitality operators, and donations to the parent foundation. GTM is community-led and event-driven: an active blog, LinkedIn and Instagram presence, email newsletters, and recurring citizen science events feed top-of-funnel awareness, while direct outreach and partner-based delivery handle conversion for both individual learners and corporate cohorts.

Name

The Naturalist School

Legal name

Fig Tree Naturalist Foundation

Website

https://naturalist.school

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Naturalist School is a Bangalore-based non-profit that delivers NCVET/THSC/NSDC-accredited certification courses (Citizen Naturalist, Certified Nature Guide, Certified Naturalist) to aspiring nature guides, hospitality staff, and citizen scientists across India, alongside workshops, citizen science events, and community livelihoods programs under the Fig Tree Naturalist Foundation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Conservation Education and Nature Guide Training

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor & Wilderness Education Schools (Field-Based Learning) (THAAAOAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Certification & Training Providers (Wilderness First Aid, Lifeguard, Guide Training) (THAAAOAF), Education & Community Programs (Junior Ranger, Citizen Science, School Programs) (THAAAGAK)

Keywords

• Nature guide training
• Conservation education programs
• Wildlife tourism certification
• Citizen science workshops
• Naturalist certification courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Bangalore

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Course Fees: Revenue from certified nature guide and naturalist training programs including the Certified Nature Guide (4-week intensive), Certified Naturalist (6-month intensive), and Citizen Naturalist courses. Courses are accredited by NCVET, THSC, and NSDC.
2. Workshop and Training Fees: Fees from specialized workshops such as the Biodiversity Data Mobilization Workshop (₹1500 participant contribution), corporate training for resorts and hospitality businesses, and custom nature guiding programs for organizations.
3. Donations and Contributions: The Naturalist School accepts donations to support conservation through education and livelihood creation in green skills. Operated by Fig Tree Naturalist Foundation as a non-profit Section 8 company.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Naturalist School is a non-profit conservation education organization that delivers accredited certification courses (Certified Nature Guide, Certified Naturalist, and Citizen Naturalist) alongside corporate training, citizen science workshops, and capacity building programs for aspiring nature guides, hospitality professionals, and forest communities. Its primary revenue drivers are course and workshop fees, supplemented by donations, with offerings focused on building skills in wildlife identification, ecological interpretation, storytelling, and guiding for the wildlife tourism sector.

Product overview

The Naturalist School is a conservation and nature education organization that operates as a course and training platform. Its core offerings are three distinct certification courses: the Citizen Naturalist Course (a six-week online introductory program), the Certified Nature Guide Course (a four-week intensive in-person training), and the Certified Naturalist Course (a six-month comprehensive program). The school also offers supplementary educational workshops like the GBIF-sponsored Biodiversity Data Mobilization Workshop, citizen science events including Big Butterfly Month walks and City Nature Challenge coordination, youth programs like the Chirpy Tales Young Birders Month, and public exhibitions such as The World of Mantises photography exhibition. The school operates under Fig Tree Naturalist Foundation, a Section 8 non-profit company registered with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Certified Naturalist Course A six-month intensive program that provides comprehensive training in natural history interpretation. Equips trainees with in-depth knowledge and skills, culminating in a Skill India certificate. Designed for aspiring naturalists seeking deep expertise in ecology and guiding.
• Certified Nature Guide Course A four-week intensive in-person training program that equips trainees with skills to become expert nature guides. Provides Skill India certification and teaches guiding techniques, storytelling, and guest management for safari and nature walks. Targeted at individuals seeking employment in wildlife tourism.
• Citizen Naturalist Course A six-week online introductory course designed for nature enthusiasts wanting to explore the nuances of nature, covering native flora and fauna and ecological systems. Includes field trips for hands-on learning about living creatures and their coexistence.
• Biodiversity Data Mobilization Workshop An in-person training program jointly organized with GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) conducted in Bangalore. Offers hands-on training in preparing, sharing, and publishing biodiversity data using accepted community standards including Darwin Core Standard and GBIF's Integrated Publishing Toolkit. Participant contribution of ₹1500 per person.
• Capacity Building Programs (Corporate and Community Training) Custom training and professional development programs delivered for hospitality operators (e.g., Evolve Back, Kabini River Lodge, Waterwoods), conservation NGOs (e.g., KAAV), and forest communities. Focuses on nature interpretation, guest management, communication, and sustainable livelihood skills for resorts, NGOs, and community groups.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10 times more conservation awareness is created by good Interpretation
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fig Tree Naturalist FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023The Naturalist School is a trademark organization operating under Fig Tree Naturalist Foundation (FTNF), which is registered under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a non-profit Section 8 company. FTNF owns the intellectual property and operational framework of The Naturalist School.
• Last Wilderness FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the 'Walk with the Pardhis' training programme that channels traditional knowledge of the Pardhi community for nature-based tourism. The initiative also involved Taj Safaris for hosting training at their properties.
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint organization of the Biodiversity Data Mobilization Workshop in Bangalore (September 2025), providing hands-on training in biodiversity data preparation, sharing, and publishing through the GBIF platform.
• K. P. Poornachandra Tejasvi TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for 'The World of Mantises' photography exhibition at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, celebrating mantis diversity through global photo submissions.
• WWF-India Hyderabad OfficeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for Big Butterfly Month 2025 events, hosting guided butterfly walks across multiple venues in Telangana including Sanjeevaiah Park, Botanical Gardens, and KBR National Park.
• Ataavi Bird FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCollaboration for 'Chirpy Tales: Junior Bird Watch' event in Kolkata as part of Young Birders' Month program, commemorating Dr. Sálim Ali's birth anniversary.
• National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSDC accreditation for courses, providing national skills framework recognition for graduates of The Naturalist School certification programs.
• Tourism Hospitality Skills Council (THSC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTHSC accreditation for tourism and hospitality sector training standards, ensuring industry-recognized credentials for nature guides.
• Mangrove Cell of Maharashtra Forest DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorking relationship through UNDP-GEF project for mainstreaming coastal biodiversity, promoting alternative livelihoods including mangrove ecotourism for women's self-help groups.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Centre for Wildlife Studies: India conservation organization focused on research, education, and capacity building in human-wildlife coexistence. Comparable in combining scientific training with practitioner-level field engagement for conservation careers.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII): Government-affiliated premier training institution offering formal wildlife and conservation programs. Overlaps on training nature professionals and guides in India, though WII operates degree-level academic programs rather than short vocational certifications.
• WWF India: Large incumbent conservation NGO running education, citizen science, and capacity building programs across India (including the Big Butterfly Month work TNS partners on). Comparable on outreach scale, citizen science engagement, and nature education content.
• Earthwatch Institute: Global nonprofit connecting citizens with field research and conservation expeditions. Comparable on experiential nature learning, citizen science, and corporate ESG partnerships for environmental engagement.
• iNaturalist: Global citizen science biodiversity platform. TNS uses iNaturalist within its curriculum and events (City Nature Challenge); comparable as the upstream platform powering observation-based nature engagement that TNS trains people to participate in.
• Nature Conservation Foundation (NCF): Leading Indian conservation research and education organization running long-term capacity-building and training programs. Comparable in mission (science-based conservation training) and target audience (aspiring naturalists/researchers), but larger and research-led rather than certification-led.

Direct peers

• Bird Count India: India's primary citizen-science birding platform organizing community bird counts and eBird-driven events. Directly comparable as a citizen-science-community builder with overlapping events (birding walks, junior programs) and a similar volunteer-amplifier model.
• Indian Wildlife Club: India-based nature education and community platform promoting wildlife awareness among enthusiasts. Closely comparable target audience (nature enthusiasts, citizen scientists) and similar blog/event-led engagement model in India.
• Ataavi Bird Foundation: India-based bird conservation and education foundation; TNS is already a GTM partner for the Young Birders' Month program. Overlaps directly on junior birding programming and citizen science event execution.
• Last Wilderness Foundation: India-based conservation education and community-livelihood foundation. Closest direct peer: TNS is already a partner (Walk with the Pardhis, Taj Safaris), and both operate at the intersection of nature guide training, tribal community livelihoods, and eco-tourism capacity building.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-naturalist-school
• Instagraminstagram.com/thenaturalistschool

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Naturalist School