East Texas Chapter Master Naturalist Program
Now accepting applications for Spring 2026 Training
The East Texas Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program is holding new member training for people over 18 years of age who are interested in becoming a Texas Master Naturalist. Training classes will begin January 20, 2026, and are tentatively scheduled to be held on eight Tuesday evenings (Jan 20 and 27, Feb 17 and 24, Mar 24, Apr 21 and 28, May 19) and six Saturdays (Jan 31, Feb 7 and 21, Mar 28, Apr 25, May 23), five of which will include field trips. 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.
The program area of the East Texas Chapter includes Smith County and the nine surrounding counties. Communities and organizations in the program area, and adjacent areas where no active Master Naturalist Chapters exist, rely on trained citizen volunteers for implementing youth education programs; for assisting parks, nature centers, and natural areas; and for providing leadership in local natural resource conservation efforts. Annual dues for membership in the East Texas Chapter are $20 and are due in January of each year.
How to become a Texas Master Naturalist:
- Master Naturalist Trainees must successfully complete an approved training program with at least 40 hours of combined field and classroom instruction through a Texas Master Naturalist Chapter.
- While completing the training above, the candidate serves at least 40 hours of volunteer service in their community and engages in 8 hours of advanced training to advance their knowledge and connection with their ecoregion.
- In subsequent years, the candidate must complete another 8 hours of advanced training and donate 40 hours of volunteer service to maintain their certification (or to re-certify) as a Texas Master Naturalist.
The cost for the initial training program in the East Texas Chapter is $150 and includes a hardbound copy of the Texas Master Naturalist Curriculum and entry fees to most field trip sites, if applicable. Trainees may purchase digital versions of the curriculum directly from Amazon (Kindle) or Google (Google Play) and reduce the training fee by $50.