Too Numerous to List!
There is a steady stream of announcements of Advanced Training opportunities. E-mails are sent regularly with announcements of upcoming training opportunities. If you are not already on the state TMN list-serve, then go to the state web site and sign up.

Note that all Advanced Training should be pre-approved.  If we send you a notice of a training opportunity, then it is approved.  If you find something on your own and you are not sure about it, please contact Dave Redden, Advanced Training Committee chairman for clarification.   Nature-related training outside our eco-region or study done by television will not count in most cases.

One of the best ways to get all your required AT hours is to attend the state meeting in October each year. The 2011 meeting will be held October 21-23, 2011 at MO Ranch in Hunt, TX .  For more information visit the conference web site.

Another good way is to attend training classes at the next training session (2012) .  Currently the schedule shown is the one we used last winter.  The upcoming training will likely be similar and on a similar schedule.  Check back later for updates to the next training session.   You can also check the chapter calendar found at this web site for upcoming events.

New Landowner Program
The Multicounty New Landowner Program sponsored by the AgriLife Extension offices in Austin. Colorado, Fayette, and Washington Counties is held on the third Friday of each month Feb-May and Aug-Nov. Each program starts at 1:30 pm and lasts until about 4:30 pm. There is a fee. Contact your AgriLife extension agent for details.

Houston Toad Count Training
The Houston Zoo and USFWS has asked for our help next spring with surveys for Houston Toad in our area.  This looks like a good opportunity for us to do some “citizen science” and help the community.  They are especially interested in Austin and Colorado counties, but are also likely to be interested in our other counties also if we have volunteers to collect data.  They are currently using Houston Zoo staff and are unable to adequately cover the area needed.

If you think you would like to help in surveys next February – early May, once per week at dark for a couple of hours, please contact Dave Redden.   We will keep you posted on when we will get trained.

Here is a link to some basic information on the Houston Toad