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. Our chapter proudly serves Denton, Cooke and Wise counties.
If you’d like to learn more about educational opportunities and our chapter, we invite you to subscribe to our monthly email communication.
The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and other local partners.
Upcoming Events
Chapter Meeting – March 20, 2025
Denton County Administrative Courthouse (DCAC) – 3rd Floor Conference Room, 1 Courthouse Drive, Denton, TX
Our speaker for Thursday, March 20th will be Amy Martin.
The Trinity River: The Watery Tie that Binds North Texas
There is only one river in North Texas: the Trinity. Once rejected and forgotten, paid attention to only when it floods, the Trinity is transforming from a place of refuse to refuge. First, a short romp through our river follies, like when the West Fork was called River of Death and the insane attempts to turn the river into a barge canal. Then we’ll take a tour of the Trinity’s four forks—Clear, East, Elm, and West—exploring each one’s unique characteristics, plus the nature preserves and attractions they are home to. Learn why the Elm Fork is the absolute heart of the Trinity. This riverine network is home to the Trinity River Paddling Trail, a National Park Service recreation trail with over 120 miles of floating fun.
A journalist and writer for over 40 years, Amy Martin is the author of Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth (Wild-DFW.com) on Timber Press, a phenomenally popular book in North Texas. She also wrote Itchy Business: How to Treat the Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rash, Prevent Exposure and Eradicate the Plant (Itchy.biz). She is senior features writer for Green Source DFW (GreenSourceDFW.org). A current project is Ned Fritz Legacy (NedFritz.com), a biographical website of Ned Fritz, Texas’ most famous environmentalist. Find her writings at Moonlady.com. Martin sits on the board of Dallas County Open Space’s Trails and Preserves Program (https://www.dallascounty.org/departments/plandev/openspaces) and Friends of Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (FriendsofLLELA.org).
Our Community Services
FREE NATURE EDUCATION and LAND MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE!
Adult education is provided through our Speakers Bureau. Youth education is provided through the Science with Attitude (SWAt) program. We also provide technical guidance for small acreage landowners. Select a topic below for more information.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
Margaret meade
Contribute to Citizen Science
Each year during fall and spring migrations, nearly two billion birds travel through Texas navigating with the night sky in one of the planet’s great wildlife spectacles.
However, as they pass over big cities on their way, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights and skyglow, often causing them to collide with buildings or windows.
We encourage everyone to turn off non-essential lights at night from 11 pm – 6 am during the full fall and spring migration periods, and where conflicts apply, prioritize lights out during the critical peak migration periods.
LIGHTS OUT, TEXAS!
Providing Safe Passage for
Nocturnal Migrants
Volunteering has many benefits, including opportunities to share your talents, learn new skills, make an impact on your community, and reduce stress.
Not a Texas Master Naturalist, but want to volunteer?View volunteer opportunities in your area!
Our Partners and Affiliates
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
Carrollton Parks and Recreation
Denton County Master Gardeners Association
Denton Parks and Recreation
Friends of Furneaux Creek Nature Trail
Friends of LLELA
Keep Denton Beautiful
Keep Flower Mound Beautiful
Keep Trophy Club Wild
Lewisville Parks and Recreation
Native Plant Society of Texas – Trinity Forks
Native Prairies Association of Texas
Texas Conservation Alliance
Texas Nature Conservancy
The Flower Mound Foundation
Support TMN-EFC
Kroger Community Rewards program supports your favorite charity through the Kroger reward card. Select the link above to discover how to add Elm Fork Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists Inc to your card.
COVID Guidance (updated August 27, 2021)