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OUR MISSION
The Texas Master Naturalist mission is 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 for the State of Texas.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE IS THE REASON FOR OUR EXISTENCE
Chapter members must contribute 40 hours of volunteer service annually to retain certification in the Texas Master Naturalist program. Our members make a difference in more than 115 chapter-approved volunteer projects across our ten-county service area and contribute thousands of hours each year towards the preservation of our Hill Country environment. For approved projects, please click here.
What is a Texas Master Naturalist?
Check out this three minute video created by the Texas Master Naturalist – Lost Pines Chapter.
HOW TO BECOME A TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST AND MEMBER OF THE HILL COUNTRY CHAPTER
The chapter serves Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Menard, Real, and San Saba Counties. Our ten-county service region covers 10,651.08 square miles.
The Texas Hill Country is located on the eastern portion of the Edwards Plateau, and is bound by the Balcones Escarpment on the east and the Llano Uplift to the west and north. The “Texas Hill Country” is not a precise geographic area but a vernacular term that describes an area of central Texas, characterized by karst topography with clear rivers, dense vegetation, and pure air.
For information on becoming a Texas Master Naturalist and member of the Hill Country Chapter, click here.
MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETING, WITH SOCIAL TIME
The Texas Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter continues to have in-person Monthly Chapter Meetings. Our next Chapter Meeting and Advanced Training session is open to the public and will be held on Monday, November 25th. The meeting is at The GUADALUPE BASIN NATURAL RESOURCES CENTER (GBNRC) Building located at 125 Lehmann Drive, Suite 100 in Kerrville. Doors open at 6 pm for socializing. A short business meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and the Advanced Training session is from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. There is no cost to attend. Our monthly Chapter Meetings and Advanced Training sessions are HYBRID. This means you have the option to attend in-person or via Zoom. Pre-registration is required to attend the chapter meeting session via Zoom. Click the link, shown below, to register.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsd-mtrj4jGtxFYzNkQoId0FVA05cYJyEF
The Advanced Training topic is: The Pollinator Garden Assistance and Recognition Program (PGARP) and the Land Management Assistance Program (LMAP)
Presenter: Sheryl Pender and Billy Guin
Description: This presentation will highlight two examples of excellence in HCTMN direct outreach services-our PGARP and LMAP programs. These two unique Hill Country chapter services are volunteer-driven, are growing, and offer hands-on consultation to private landowners, municipal parks/buildings, and non-profit groups. Learn about how each program works and how anyone can request the service. Gain insights on how we can talk with ranchers, property owners and gardeners regarding cedar, improving/restoring the soil, invasive plants, erosion, and subdivision lawns (among other topics!) without being critical or adversarial. You are invited to bring your tips and advice to share about how you have successfully influenced family, friends, and neighbors in a positive direction.
About Our Speaker(s): Sheryl Pender (Class of 2019) will lead the presentation for PGARP and Billy Guin (also class of 2019) will lead the presentation for LMAP. Sheryl has been a Hill Country resident since 2017 and is active in her neighborhood association at Tierra Linda as well as playing a key role in the New Class since she served as the New Class Director in 2021. Billy and his wife Patti (also a Hill Country TMN volunteer) settled near Fredericksburg in 2018 and have been working actively since then to steward their land for the benefit of the soil, water and wildlife.
The October Advanced Training presentation is available on our Facebook and YouTube channel. We are working to provide Facebook Live and hope it becomes available with the November meeting.
Disclaimer: This meeting is NOT endorsed by GBNRC.
