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.

State TMN Program Site

Our chapter was established in 2004. This year we celebrate its 20th anniversary.

New Training Class – Spring 2025

The 2025 Spring class enrollment will open on January 7th, 2025. For more information, click below.

Click here for New Training Class Information

Monthly Chapter Program – January 9th, 2025

“Innovative Introductions- a new approach to Animal Ambassador Engagement” by Emily Essa and Sierra Merritt

To truly inspire conservation, people must feel connected to nature and recognize the vital role every living organism plays in the web of life. At the Houston Humane Wildlife Center, ambassador animals—non-releasable wild animals with incredible stories—help bridge this connection. While physical contact with ambassadors was once thought essential to fostering understanding, new research and a focus on animal welfare have guided us toward a no-touch policy. This approach prioritizes our animals’ health and happiness without diminishing the guest experience. Our ambassadors thrive, and we hope to inspire other facilities to adopt similar animal-first practices.

Our speakers:

Emily Essa has been an avid animal lover since birth! While studying Zoology at Texas A&M, Emily gained experience working with all sorts of wild and exotic animals ranging from a serval, zebra, lemur, and kangaroo. After graduating from A&M in 2020, Emily was offered an internship at Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary in Navasota where they gained experience caring for and training wolves and wolfdogs. Emily has been with the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center as the Lead Educator since 2022 and has personally seen many of the positive changes made to the ambassador program!

Sierra Merritt has been working in the animal care field since 2020, specializing in the training of both exotic and native wildlife through positive reinforcement techniques. She is also experienced in enhancing husbandry practices for animals in human care. Over the course of her career, Sierra has worked with a diverse range of species, from reptiles and birds to tigers. She currently works with the Houston Humane Society Wildlife Center as the Education Animal Coordinator, where she is responsible for training and caring for the center’s collection of native animal ambassadors.

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.

Check Back for the Zoom Link