General VSP Information

What Members Should Know About Service Work

What is a Volunteer Service Project?

Volunteer service is the mission of the Texas Master Naturalist Program.

… to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the state of Texas.

Chapter members are volunteers whose efforts help to achieve the Texas Master Naturalist mission. Members may choose from a variety of chapter-approved Volunteer Service Projects (VSP). These count toward the requirement by the Master Naturalist Program for initial certification and subsequent annual recertification as a Texas Master Naturalist.

The chapter designates certain projects as “Signature Projects” which offer broader group participation by all members. They are selected periodically at chapter meetings by a majority vote of those members present.

The chapter could not exist without members serving in administrative capacities, such as holding an elected office, or chairing/serving on a committee. Time spent performing these important functions is considered volunteer service, just like time spent in the field or in schools.

Why and How are VSPs Approved?

The Volunteer Service Projects (VSP) Committee is responsible for steering the approval process for VSP. The committee relies on guidelines provided by the Texas Master Naturalist Program in considering which projects will be approved. Projects may either be created by the chapter (usually referred to as Chapter Projects) or an ongoing effort by one of the chapter’s partner organizations in which members participate and receive volunteer service credit toward re-certification.

Members may propose projects for approval consideration by the VSP Committee. A form is provided for that purpose on Slack, #forms channel. If you are unable to locate it, reach out to your Volunteer Director.

Once the project details are worked out, the VSP Committee Chair presents the project proposal to the Board of Directors for review and discussion prior to final approval. 

Here is a sampling of pre-approved volunteer service opportunities:

How do I get involved with a project?

First, find a project that interests you from among those posted to the website calendar, listed on Tuesday’s Weekly Bulletin (emailed), otherwise advertised by the chapter. Contact the project leader or attend a publicized meeting or event. It’s as simple as that!

Do I need to report my service hours?

Yes. The Texas Master Naturalist Program state sponsors, Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, receive funding from the state legislature and are accountable to the state legislature. They must establish measurable goals related to their missions and are reviewed based on measurable outcomes, and time spent by active members performing volunteer service activities is transmitted to the Texas Master Naturalist Program through an annual report to the State of Texas. State auditors representing the comptroller’s office review the report and assess whether or not goals are being met then relate that to future funding.

On a local level, Fort Bend, Waller, and Wharton Counties’ extension programs are accountable to their respective county commissioners’ courts.  Agents may use chapter activity reports to relate the program’s success. Local leaders appreciate volunteer programs that involve local citizenry.

Always report your service hours digitally in a timely manner. 

Become a Project Leader!

The responsibilities of a project leader include: providing an annual project budget to be reviewed by the VSP Chair and presented to the Board for approval; and working with the VSP Chair and chapter members to achieve the project’s objectives.