Junior Master Naturalist Program
The Good Water Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists is partnering with Georgetown Parks & Recreation and Hutto Parks and Recreation for Junior Master Naturalist programs this year. This program for 4th-6th grader aims to instill a sense of excitement, passion, and concern for nature, to offer students core knowledge of the natural world in Williamson County, and to bring children and their families into the natural world more frequently. There are 16 sessions – twice a month that include field trips. Junior Master Naturalists will explore the nature in Williamson County through presentations by Master Naturalist volunteers, hands on learning activities, and field trips. There will be one service project, creating a Monarch Waystation. The Georgetown program meets at the Georgetown Recreation Center twice a month on Thursday evenings and some Saturdays. The Hutto program meets at the Saul house, 10700 FM 1660 on Monday evenings and a few Saturdays.
Good Water Master Naturalist volunteers want to help children notice and appreciate the wonders of nature that surround them every day. In our overly busy world, we often fail to notice the beauty and intricacy of the birds, insects, reptiles, mammals, trees, weather, and stars that are readily visible to a trained observer. Children are natural explorers eager to see and experience these marvels.
According to the Texas Children in Nature organization (http://texaschildreninnature.org) studies have shown that children who spend time in nature:
1. Are healthier physically and mentally
2. Do better in school
3. Have higher self-esteem
4. Have good self-discipline
5. Feel more capable and confident
6. Are good problem-solvers
7. Are more cooperative with others
8. Are more creative
9. Feel connected with nature
10. Are tomorrow’s conservation leaders
The Children and Nature Organization (http://www.childrenandnature.org) also encourages children to spend time outdoors. Nature enhances academic achievement. Nature based activities improve behavior at school. Children improve cooperation skills when they spend time outside. Nature helps children focus. Children are healthier and happier when they spend time outside.
Topics for the 2013-2014 year are Monarch butterflies, spiders, backyard birds, hawks & Owls, paleontology, astronomy, ecology, geology, woody plants, camouflage, and dragonflies. Planned field trips include Inner Space Caverns, the Austin Nature Center, and Hutto Lake.
Participants will receive a T-shirt at the beginning of the program. For students who attend 90 % of the meetings will receive a Junior Master Naturalist pin, a patch and a certificate.
To register for Hutto’s program, swing by the Hutto Parks & Recreation building, 306 E. Live Oak Street, Hutto. Registration closes September 20.
To register for Georgetown’s program swing by the Georgetown Rec Center, 1003 North Austin Avenue, Georgetown.
The Texas Master Naturalist program is a joint venture between the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas AgriLife Extension service. Master Naturalists are trained volunteers who can do interpretation about the history, ecology, and natural elements of state and local parks, help build and maintain trail systems, help local residents and landowners learn best practices in managing their land and create urban wildlife habitats, and help with improvements in our parks. Each Master Naturalist takes a training class of over 40 hours of expert training about almost every aspect of the natural world – soils, backyard habitats, prairies, rangeland management, forest ecology, birds, mammals, fish, insects, botany, climate, geology and archaeology.