Our Mission
The Texas Master Naturalist™ Program’s 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. Coastal Prairie Chapter members volunteer mainly in Fort Bend, Waller and Wharton counties.
Fall 2026 Training Class – Full

The Fall 2026 class is now full.
Monthly Chapter Program – August 6, 2026
“The Houston Toad Recovery Program: A Brief History and Current Outlook” with Chris Valdez

Before its distinctive nighttime call nearly disappeared from the Texas landscape, the Houston toad was a familiar part of the state’s native wildlife. Today, this endangered amphibian depends on the dedication of conservationists working to restore wild populations. Join us for an inside look at the Houston Toad Recovery Program at the Houston Zoo as we explore the species’ natural history, the factors behind its decline, and the innovative conservation efforts giving it a second chance. You’ll learn about captive breeding, reintroduction into the wild, the challenges and successes of recovery work, and discover how individuals can play a role in protecting one of Texas’s rarest amphibians.
About Our speaker:
Chris Valdez has spent more than a decade caring for reptiles and amphibians as a Zookeeper III in the Herpetology Department at the Houston Zoo. A Houston native who grew up in Sugar Land, Chris developed a passion for Texas wildlife that led him to earn a degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Texas A&M University in 2011. Since 2023, he has focused exclusively on the Houston Toad Recovery Program, where he helps breed, rear, and prepare endangered Houston toads for release into their native habitat. Chris is excited to share the remarkable story of this unique Texas species and the collaborative conservation efforts working to ensure its future.
Coastal Prairie Chapter programs are free and open to the public. This program will be held in-
person at the Rosenberg Civic Center, 3825 TX-36, Rosenberg, TX 77471 Please plan to arrive
at 6:00 pm for refreshments and social time. The program starts at 7pm.
A Zoom option is available. After registering below, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Current Projects
- Seabourne Creek Nature Park is our signature project. Come visit us!
- 7/18/2026 9:00am Monthly Mindful Meditation Walk
- 7/18/2026 10:30am Monthly Story Time
- 7/19/26 8:00am Monthly Nature Hike at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
- 7/23/26 9:00am Monthly Insect Hike at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
- 8/6/26 7:00pm Monthly Chapter Program: “The Houston Toad Recovery Program: A Brief History and Current Outlook” with Chris Valdez
- 10/7/26 8:00am Monthly Bird Hike at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
Coastal Prairie Chapter Blog
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Celebrating Spring, May 2026 Courier
Read the May 2026 Issue Courier here (Cover photo of a male Attwater Prairie Chicken: Garrett Engelhardt)
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Recognizing 2025 Membership Milestones and Certifications, a Special Edition
In lieu of the regularly scheduled April Courier, this annual Special Edition celebrates Coastal Prairie Chapter membership and volunteerism
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Acclimation Pens Give Endangered Chicks a Fighting Chance at Survival
Once numbering in the tens of millions, only a few hundred Attwater prairie-chickens depend upon the service of others for their very lives


