OUR MISSION
The Texas Master Naturalist 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.
VOLUNTEER SERVICE IS THE REASON FOR OUR EXISTENCE
Chapter members must contribute 40 hours of volunteer service annually to retain certification in the Texas Master Naturalist program. Our members make a difference in more than 115 chapter-approved volunteer projects across our ten-county service area and contribute thousands of hours each year towards the preservation of our Hill Country environment. For approved projects, please click here.
HOW TO BECOME A TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST AND MEMBER OF THE HILL COUNTRY CHAPTER
For information on becoming a Texas Master Naturalist and member of the Hill Country Chapter, click here. Our 2022 class started on Feb 22nd and is going strong with day-time in-person classes and field trips all around the Hill Country. This class will have their Commencement on May 10, 2022. Click on the “Class of 2022” tab above to read more about our classes.
ATTENTION COMAL AND KENDALL COUNTY TMNS: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR DOVE TRAPPING AND BANDING
Ben Olsen, TPWD, Wildlife Division, District Wildlife Biologist – Comal and Kendall Counties, is looking for folks that are interested in attempting to capture doves on their own property, specifically Kendall County or near vicinity, to help with local white-wing and Mourning Dove trapping and banding efforts. In recent years, doves have been difficult to capture in the eastern part of the Hill Country. To combat this, he is looking for volunteers to assist our local efforts. He is in most need of some new places to try to capture birds. Your level of effort can depend on your own interests. This can be as hands on or off as you would like or as your time allows. If you want to be more involved, he would be happy to show anyone how the whole process works.
If you are interested in helping out, please shoot Ben an email (Benjamin.olsen@tpwd.texas.gov). Banding cannot start for white-wing doves until June 1 and July 1 for Mourning doves and both “seasons” end on August 15th. So, there is some time, but it helps catch rates if we spend some time pre-baiting prior to attempting to trap birds.
MAY 23 CHAPTER MEETING: MANAGING YOUR PIECE OF TEXAS – WHAT CAN TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT DO FOR YOU?
VMS Code: AT22-248 Hybrid Hill Country Chapter Meeting: “Managing Your Piece of Texas – What Can TPWD Do for You?” The meeting will be a hybrid session (in-person at UGRA, Zoom, & Livestream).
Presenter: Joyce Moore (AT=1h)
Presenter’s Bio: Joyce Moore is a 39-year tenured Biologist for TPWD. She is the Technical Guidance Biologist (also known as a Senior Biologist) for the western 1/2 of the Edwards Plateau Regulatory District (covering 12 counties). She has been the Technical Guidance biologist since 2004 when she moved back to the Hill Country from South Texas. Joyce works with roughly 100 plus separate properties in the western Edwards Plateau on a regular basis, 4 Wildlife Management Associations in Gillespie County, plus additional properties for Wildlife Tax Valuation. Joyce earned her BSF (Bachelor of Science in Forestry) from Stephen F. Austin University in 1983 and began work with TPWD several weeks after graduation. She spent 20 years as a field biologist in the Brush Country of South Texas prior to moving back to the Hill Country. Joyce and her sister own and operate their 150 year-old Century Ranch near Boerne. Joyce has one son who is currently a student at Sul Ross State University majoring in Wildlife/Range Mgmt.
Picture below: Joyce Moore (center) with son (right) and two ranch hands last fall bringing in the hay from field on their 150 year-old ranch.
