Become a Texas Master Naturalist: What to Expect

Thank you for your interest! Becoming a Master Naturalist is an incredibly rewarding commitment to improve the management and conservation of the natural resources of Texas through education, outreach, and service in our communities. Whether you want to build and maintain trails at Miller Springs Nature Center, photograph and track Monarch butterflies on the iNaturalist app, inspire kids on a hike at Mother Neff State Park or play bird ID games at a nature event, if you love nature and being outdoors there are a hundred ways for you to share that passion as a Texas Master Naturalist. Your commitment of at least 40 hours of volunteer service each year to help our communities understand, appreciate and protect our natural environment will make a difference.

Trail Construction and Maintenance Advanced Training Class at Miller Springs Nature Center

Training and continuing education is a crucial part of becoming a Texas Master Naturalist. The Central Texas Chapter offers training annually in the Spring. Our 2024 Volunteer Training Course begins March 19th and ends June 4th with classes on most Tuesdays. Our Volunteer Training Course includes classroom sessions and field trips with over 40 hours of instruction from subject matter experts. Applications are now closed and will reopen for the 2025 class in January, but please consider attending one of our meetings.

Want to learn more? Our monthly chapter meetings are open to the public and attending is a good way to hear about our projects and meet our hard-working volunteers. We meet at the Belton Church of Christ (3003 N. Main in Belton) except in December. Upcoming chapter meeting programs are generally posted on our website Homepage. There is more information on the chapter under the “About Us” tab above and you can also browse “The Tracker” archive under the Newsletter tab. 

Check out the What Will I Learn and the What’s Next pages next for more details on the Volunteer Training Course and the Application requirements and process!

Have more questions? Contact Zoe Rascoe, our Chapter Registrar.