By Jo Cain
Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter program leads Haleigh Thornley and Jo Cain are pleased to announce a new Junior Master Naturalist training program launching in Wharton County, Texas. Classes for youth begin in September 2026 and will be held monthly in person at the Hesed House of Wharton community center through summer 2027. Participants earn a program certificate at the end of the series.
The mission of the Texas Junior Master Naturalist program is to help youth build a lifelong love of natural history and science while growing personal leadership skills and protecting sustainable goals in local communities. To grow the Texas Master Naturalist Coastal Prairie Chapter’s presence in Wharton County, the majority of enrolled students and accompanying adults are local residents of Wharton County. Classes are scheduled on the second Saturday of each month beginning September 12, 2026 and continue through June 12, 2027. Each class features a two-hour interactive session with a presentation followed by one hour of volunteer service outdoors. To earn a certificate, each student will need to complete six hours of classes and two hours of volunteer time. The goal is to have approximately forty-five minutes of class followed by outdoor activities to put new knowledge to work.
Each class will cover a wide range of naturalist topics. Feature presentations include Nature Journaling with Texas Master Naturalist Stephanie Wheatley, Herpetology with Texas Master Naturalist Nathan Heilman, Entomology with Texas Master Naturalist Jo Cain, Geology with local college Professor Peter Anderson, Mammalogy with Texas Master Naturalist Haleigh Thornley, Ornithology with Texas Master Naturalists Jan and Kevin Kolk, a special wildlife presentation by Texas Master Naturalist and Houston SPCA Wildlife Center volunteer Randolph Watson, Aquatic Insects with Texas Master Naturalist Kerry Padilla, and Botany and native plants with Texas Master Naturalist Cathy Kemper. The December class will feature a night of stargazing with two telescopes. The Ornithology and Aquatic Insect sessions will include field trips to Seabourne Creek Nature Park in Rosenberg, Texas. Additional themes such as Leave No Trace, Safety in Nature, using iNaturalist, and responsible interaction with nature are woven into each session. The core goals of the Junior Master Naturalist program include helping youth get outside to learn about nature, gain new knowledge and skills, and learn to lead in service to their community.
The involvement of the Hesed House of Wharton has been instrumental in building this program. Hesed House is a nonprofit community center and graciously offered to host classes in the Yellow House on campus. Additionally, Hesed House designed the registration system to support program enrollment. The Texas Master Naturalist Junior Master Naturalist program is grateful for the generosity and enthusiasm of Wharton County residents and the Coastal Prairie Chapter volunteers who stepped up to serve, advise, and assist in the launch of this new youth-focused program. We look forward to seeing you in September!