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.
What does it take to be a Texas Master Naturalist?
Texas Master Naturalists not only get their feet wet and their hands dirty, but while doing so they spend time in a natural setting, learn about different plant and animal species, and maybe even find something new: one member, in fact, discovered a new plant species.
To become a Texas Master Naturalist, each volunteer:
- Master Naturalist Trainees must successfully complete an approved training program with at least 40 hours of combined field and classroom instruction though a Texas Master Naturalist Chapter
- after completing the training above, to become a Certified Texas Master Naturalist, the candidate donates at least 40 hours of volunteer service back to the state and community. Trainees can complete their 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training within a year after completion of their initial training.
- in subsequent years, the candidate must complete another 8 hours of advanced training and donates 40 hours of volunteer service to maintain their certification (or to re-certify) as a Texas Master Naturalist.
Email our Training Class Coordinator with questions.