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.
Next Training Class (2026 Spring) Enrollment is Now Open
The 2026 Spring class enrollment is now open.
If you are interested in 2026 Spring training class, click the button below.
Monthly Chapter Program – February 5th 2026
“Creatures of the Aquifers: The Secret Life of Texas Groundwater” with Benjamin Schwartz
Join us on Thursday, February 5th, at 7 p.m. at the Rosenberg Civic Center for a fascinating presentation on native Texas groundwater creatures you’ve probably never heard of—organisms that inhabit deep, dark aquifers beneath our feet.
Our presenter, Benjamin Schwartz, is a karst hydrogeologist who will share his enthusiasm for how karst aquifers form and function, along with insights into the remarkable biodiversity hidden within Texas’ underground waters.
We hope you’ll join us for an evening of discovery and appreciation for some of Texas’ least-understood animals.
About Our speaker:
Benjamin Schwartz (PhD in Geosciences from Virginia Tech) is the Director of the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center and a Professor in the Department of Biology at Texas State University.
Being in a Biology Department facilitates interdisciplinary research, which Benjamin deeply enjoys. Current projects generally focus on studying the hydrogeology and ecology of subterranean ecosystems, with a focus on the karstic Edwards Aquifer and hyporheic zones (the interface between groundwater and surface water in streams) across Texas. In his spare time, he and other researchers slowly describe new species of groundwater invertebrates, but not nearly as fast as they find them. In his extra-spare time, he is a passionate student of Odonates and dreams of returning to the jungles of Borneo and someday visiting the Amazon.
Coastal Prairie Chapter programs are free and open to the public. This program will be held in-person at the Bud O’Shieles Community Center, 1330 Band Rd, 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!
- 1/18/26 8:00am Monthly Nature Walk at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
- 1/22/26 9:00am Monthly Insect Hike at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
- 2/4/26 8:00am Monthly Bird Hike at Seabourne Creek Nature Park
- 2/5/26 7:00pm Monthly Chapter Program: “Creatures of the Aquifers: The Secret Life of Texas Groundwater” with Benjamin Schwartz