Texas Master Naturalist
The 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 for the State of Texas.
The Need: 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.
Upcoming Events
Texas Master Naturalist SPRING 2019 Trainings
Many of the chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist program are conducting training classes in the spring months for volunteers wanting to learn about natural resource and conservation management. Find a chapter near you or see the 18 chapters listed below hosting these Spring 2019 trainings.
The main qualification needed to become a certified Texas Master Naturalist is an interest in learning and playing an active part in conservation. Volunteers will receive a minimum of 40 hours of basic training from educators and specialists from places such as universities, natural resource agencies, nature centers and museums. Training topics include interpretation and management of natural resources, ecological concepts, eco-regions in Texas, and natural systems management. Volunteers are then asked to provide 40 hours of volunteer service including enhancement projects in order to maintain certification as a Texas Master Naturalist. They are also expected to pursue a minimum of 8 hours of advanced training in areas of personal interest. However, many of the volunteers will go above and beyond their basic requirements once involved, and are encouraged to develop personal projects connecting to the mission of the chapter and statewide program.
The following Texas Master Naturalist chapters are offering volunteer training this spring. Enrollment is limited in most chapters. Some registration deadlines are fast approaching so contact a chapter near you to see if seating is still available. (Listed in alphabetical order by chapter name)
Chapter Name: Alamo Area ChapterTimes & Location: Thursdays, 5:00 to 9:00 pm; Phil Hardberger Park Urban Ecology Center
Class Limit (if applicable): 55
Registration Fee (if applicable): $200.00
Registration Deadline: January 31
Training Contact Name & Email: Apply@AlamoMasterNaturalist.org
and Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/alamo/
Chapter Name: Blackland Prairie Chapter
Times & Location: Class – Wednesdays, 6:00PM – 9:00PM at The Heard Science Resource Center, Field Trip locations and times vary.
Class Limit: 32 students
Registration Fee (if applicable): $150.00
Registration Deadline: January 15, 2019
Training Contact Name & Email: Greg Hayden, education@bptmn.org
Chapter Website: bptmn.org
Chapter Facebook Page: Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalist
Chapter Name: Central Texas Chapter
Times & Location: Begin 8-9, ending 3-4, depending upon subject matter and location
Class Limit (if applicable): 25
Registration Fee (if applicable): $150.00
Registration Deadline: Up to March 19, Orientation
Training Contact Name & Email: Mary Ann Everett, everett.maryann4@gmail.com or Lynn Fleming, lynn.fleming99@gmail.com, or Zoe Rasco, trascoe@hot.rr.com
and Chapter Website: https://www.txmn.org/centraltexas.
Chapter Name: Cypress Basin Chapter
Times & Location: All Friday dates: 6:00pm – 9:00pm. All Saturday dates: 9:00am – 5:00pm; Classes held at Caddo Lake National Wildlife Refuge and/or Caddo Lake State Park
Class Limit (if applicable): Minimum 8
Registration Fee (if applicable): $130 for individuals; $200 for a couple
Registration Deadline: 01/05/19
Training Contact Name & Email: Jill Wright jillmom8788@hotmail.com
and Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/cypress/
Chapter Name: Galveston Bay Area Chapter
Times & Location: 9:00 am — 3:00 pm; Various Locations
Class Limit: 22 Registration Fee: $150
Registration Deadline: December 7, 2018
Training Contact Name & Email: Janet Mason; jmason74@comcast.net
Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/gbmn
Chapter Name: Good Water Chapter
Time and Location: AgriLife, Georgetown,TX
Class Fee: $150.00
Contact Person: Nancy Phillips, anrjp1@aol.com
Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/goodwater/
Chapter Name: Gideon Lincecum Chapter
Times & Location: Mondays with a few Saturday Field Trips
Class Limit (if applicable): 20
Registration Fee (if applicable): The tuition and membership fee is $175 per person or $325 for a couple sharing materials.
Registration Deadline: ASAP
Training Contact Name & Email: Deb Hilton masternaturalistgl@gmail.com
and Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/glc/
Chapter Name: Hays County Chapter
Times & Location: 9 Tuesday Classes 6-9:30 pm and 3 Saturday Classes 9 am-12:30 pm in locations in San Marcos, Wimberley and Dripping Springs
Class Limit (if applicable):43
Registration Fee (if applicable):$250
Registration Deadline: January 7, 2019
Training Contact Name & Email: Mark Wojcik (mark.zima@yahoo.com)
and Chapter Website:www.haysmn.org
Chapter Name: Heartwood Chapter
Primary location: WG Jones State Forest Classroom, 1328 FM1488, Conroe
Times vary, with most beginning 8am.
Class limit: 25
Registration fee: $150.
Registration deadline: February 26
Contact: Teri MacArthur at texasnaturelover@earthlink.net
Chapter website: txmn.org/heartwood
Chapter Name: Longleaf Ridge Chapter
Dates- March 19th- July 2nd, 2019
Tuesdays, 6-9pm
Location- Martin Dies Jr State Park, 634 Park Rd. 48 South Jasper, TX
$140 tuition,
Contact email- lrmnchapter@gmail.com
Thanks, Sharon Lamoreaux
Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/llr/welcome/
Chapter Name: Lost Pines Chapter
Registration deadline: December 15th, 2018
Registration Fee: $130
Class Limit: 25
Training Contact:
Nancy Rabensburg, Training Coordinator, training@lostpinesmasternaturalist.org
Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/lostpines
Chapter Name: Mid-Coast Chapter
Times & Location: Multiple all-day sessions on various Saturdays at locations throughout the 8-county Chapter area;
see: http://midcoast-tmn.org/training/basic/
Class Limit (if applicable): 17
Registration Fee (if applicable):$150
Registration Deadline: January 10, 2019
Training Contact Name & Email: Membership Director, Rebecca Stapleton (philstapleton10@gmail.com)
Initial Training Director, Bob Cunningham (bob.cunningham@rocketmail.com)
Chapter Name: North Texas Chapter
Times & Location: Tuesday evening classes, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Brookhaven College, 3939 Valley View Ln, Farmers Branch, TX 75244. The March 12 class meets at Texas Discovery Gardens. Various locations and weekend days and times for field trips–details at http://public.ntmn.org/about/how-to-join
Class Limit (if applicable): 50
Registration Fee (if applicable): $200
Registration Deadline: December 20, 2018
Training Contact Name & Email: Laura Kimberly, lrkimberly@gmail.com
and Chapter Website: NTMN.org
Chapter Name: Panhandle Chapter
Times & Location: Sessions will be on various Saturdays beginning April 6, 2019 at locations in the Amarillo area (including Palo Duro Canyon)
Class Limit (if applicable): 20
Registration Fee (if applicable): $95 before April 1 —
Registration Deadline: April 1
Training Contact Name & Email: Susie Wheeler email: susiewhe@hotmail.com
and Chapter Website: www.pctmn.org Facebook: Texas Master Naturalist – Panhandle Chapter
Chapter Name: Piney Wood Lakes Chapter
Training Contact Name & Email: natuthill@sbcglobal.net, 713-882-6792
and Chapter Website: https://txmn.org/pineywoodlakes/
Chapter Name: Prairie Oaks Chapter
Times & Location: 5-7:50pm at Tarleton State University Horticulture Center
Class Limit (if applicable): 15 (community members) 15 (for credit)
Registration Fee (if applicable): $100
Registration Deadline: Passed
Training Contact Name & Email: Marsha Stephens prairieoaksmasternaturalist@gmail.com
and Chapter Website: www,Tx next.org/prairieoaks
Chapter Name: Rolling Plains Chapter
Times & Location: 7-9 pm Tuesday and Thursday night, Midwestern State University Bolin Science Hall Room 213
Class Limit (if applicable): 25
Registration Fee (if applicable): $100
Registration Deadline: March 1, 2019
Training Contact Name & Email: Terry McKee dgm59@aol.com
and Chapter Website: txmn.org/rollingplains
Chapter Name: South Texas Border Chapter
Times & Location: Classes meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. for twelve weeks. A wide variety of field trips will be offered primarily on Saturdays with some on other days.
Class Limit (if applicable): 25
Registration Fee (if applicable): $150
Training Contact Name & Email: Elizabeth Perdomo, mateliza@aol.com
and Chapter Website: http://www.stbctmn.org/the-next-class
For more information about existing chapters or forming a new chapter contact Mary Pearl Meuth, Texas Master Naturalist Program Assistant State Coordinator, by email: mpmeuth@tamu.edu or by phone at: (979) 845-7294.
Highlights of chapter’s projects, state-wide initiatives and program achievements can also be found on the Texas Master Naturalist Programs Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/TexasMasterNaturalistProgram
