New Item ButtonNew - Class of 2012 Texas Master Naturalist Central Texas Chapter is forming at this time, and orientation is scheduled for March 20, 2012!  Check the “Class of 2012“ page for more information.  Registration materials must be submitted by March 9, 2012, so hurry!

New Item ButtonThe Class Schedule for 2012 is now available.

New Item ButtonThe Central Texas Master Naturalists will have a booth at the Bell County Home and Garden Show, Expo Center, on February 24, 25, and 26, 2012. Displays and information about Texas Master Naturalists will be available. This is a perfect opportunity to obtain additional information if you are giving thought to being part of our 2012 Master Naturalist class! We will also be having one of our two permitted “tax-free” sales from 6:00 p.m. Friday (24th) through 5:00 p.m. Saturday (25th). Items for sale include: various glossy identification foldouts of local birds, mammals, trees, wildflowers, etc; bluebird houses, wren houses, and butterfly houses. All proceeds from the sale will go towards operating expenses of the Chapter.

Info ButtonIssues of our newsletter,”The Tracker” are available on-line.  Click here ”Newsletter“  to go there.

Our Next Meetings:

  • April 10, 2012, 6:00 p.m.  Bi-Monthly CTMN meeting, Speaker is to be annou0nced.  The public is invited.  One hour of AT will be granted for attending members. 
  • Please be reminded that membership dues ($24.00 per year) should be paid to our Treasurer (Gail Hughling); please verify your address and email address to Linda Young.

About Our Meetings:
Central Texas Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program will hold bi-monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of even numbered months (February, April, June, August, October, and December) at 6:00 p.m. at the Belton Church of Christ (3003 N Main) located off FM 317  in North Belton.  These meetings include a business meeting and an educational session which qualify for one hour of continuing education (AT) for Master Naturalists.  All Master Naturalists and the public are invited to attend.

 Mission: To develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Many communities and organizations rely on such citizen volunteers for implementing youth education programs; for operating parks, nature centers, and natural areas; and for providing leadership in local natural resource conservation efforts. In fact, a short supply of dedicated and well-informed volunteers is often cited as a limiting factor for community-based conservation efforts.

Become a Master Naturalist

Texas Master Naturalists not only get their feet wet and their hands dirty, but while doing so they spend time in a natural setting, learn about different plant and animal species, and maybe even find something new: One member, in fact, discovered a new plant species.

To become a Texas Master Naturalist, each volunteer:

  • Goes through an approved training program with at least 40 hours of combined field and classroom instruction, plus 8 hours of approved advanced training
  • Donates 40 hours of volunteer service back to the state and community. Trainees can complete their 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training within a year after their initial training.
  • Completes another 8 hours of advanced training and donates 40 hours of volunteer service every year after the first one.

Interested in joining? If you can’t find a chapter near you, contact the Texas Master Naturalist coordinator, a local office of Texas Parks and Wildlife or a local county Extension agent.

Become A Master Naturalist

Want to know more?
Here’s some facts:

Since the organization’s founding in 1998, Texas Master Naturalists have contributed more than 1,003,409 hours of service on 90,000 acres of wildlife and native plant habitats, and reached more than 1.2 million Texas residents of all ages. These volunteer efforts are worth more than $20 million.

Currently 5,306 Texas Master Naturalist™ volunteers serve in 39 local chapters across the state, and new chapters are opening all the time.

Currently 5,306 Texas Master Naturalist™ volunteers serve in 39 local chapters across the state, and new chapters are opening all the time.