Access everything you need to log advanced training hours and discover learning opportunities that strengthen your impact across Lee, Colorado, Washington, Austin, and Fayette counties. There are many opportunities for completing advanced training. Opportunities are posted on this website’s calendar. If the opportunity has been approved as AT for the Gideon Lincecum Chapter, the AT category is included at the top of the calendar event.
- TMN GLC AT programs – The Gideon Lincecum Chapter is committed to providing at least 8 hours of advanced training every year. Most chapter meetings include an AT program.
- TMN ListServ – The state office of Texas Master Naturalist emails notices regarding statewide conferences and classes. If you are not already on the distribution list to receive emails from the state office, then visit Texas Master Naturalist ListServ and follow the instructions for subscribing. If the program is not listed on the TMN GLC website as approved for AT for our chapter, a request to have the course approved for AT may be submitted to the AT Committee (see below).
- TMN Annual Meeting – A statewide meeting of Texas Master Naturalists is held in October of every year. This 3-day conference is a great way to complete the advanced training requirement and meet other master naturalists from around the state.
- Programs sponsored by other TMN chapters, or other state or conservation groups – Other groups such as Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Agrilife, or the Native Plant Society sponsor conservation-oriented training programs. Approved Advanced Training programs are always displayed on our chapter calendar. If the program is not listed on the TMN GLC website as approved for AT for our chapter, a request to have the course approved for AT may be submitted to the AT Committee (see below).
Requirements for Certification
Once you complete your basic training, to become certified as a master naturalist, you are encouraged to complete 8 hours of advanced training within a year of graduation. To be re-certified, you must complete 8 hours of advanced training each calendar year.
We hope that as you complete a training session, you will share some of what you learned by writing an article for the newsletter, posting pictures and a short report to our Facebook group, or giving a report at a Chapter Meeting.
Be sure you log your AT hours into the Volunteer Management System.
Guidelines
1. All advanced training opportunities must be approved by the chapter PRIOR to participation. If an AT opportunity is posted on our website calendar and an AT category is included in the event listing, it has been approved as AT for our chapter.
2. Educational television shows do NOT count toward advanced training.
3. Travel time is NOT included in counting advanced training hours.
4. The training opportunity must meet the following criteria:
- promote the learning and development of naturalist skills
- provide the knowledge and skills to work in volunteer efforts
- provide the opportunity to focus interests in one or a few specific topics
- build on the core curriculum provided during the chapter’s basic training
- provide natural resource management issues and information applicable to Texas
Getting Approval for AT
AT PreApproval Request Form. Submit to the Advanced Training Committee at least 7 days prior to the training date. This is only necessary if the training falls outside of the approved events listed on the Chapter website calendar.