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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
The chapter serves Bandera, Edwards, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr, Kimble, Mason, Menard, Real, and San Saba Counties. For information on becoming a Texas Master Naturalist and member of the Hill Country Chapter, click here.
MONTHLY CHAPTER MEETING, WITH SOCIAL TIME
The Texas Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter continues to have in-person Monthly Chapter Meetings. Our next Chapter Meeting and Advanced Training session is open to the public and will be held on Monday, July 22nd. The meeting is at The GUADALUPE BASIN NATURAL RESOURCES CENTER (GBNRC) Building located at 125 Lehmann Drive, Suite 100 in Kerrville. Doors open at 6 pm for socializing. A short business meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and the Advanced Training session is from 7:00 to 8:00 pm. There is no cost to attend. Our monthly Chapter Meetings and Advanced Training sessions are HYBRID. This means you have the option to attend in-person or via Zoom. Pre-registration is required to attend the chapter meeting session via Zoom. Click the link, shown below, to register.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsd-mtrj4jGtxFYzNkQoId0FVA05cYJyEF
The Advanced Training topic is: Texas Waters Specialist
Presenter: Deb Youngblood
Description: Are you concerned for our Hill Country waters and looking for a way to help? Do you have a passion for a river, lake, or stream? Then you may be a fantastic candidate for the Texas Waters Specialist program. This program, sponsored by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, trains volunteers who want to contribute to the beneficial management of aquatic resources & aquatic habitats within our Texas communities.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/water-education/texaswatersprogram/texaswatersspecialist
The curriculum covers aquatic habitats, karst geology, stream dynamics, and water conservation and is intended to support citizen science, water advocacy, and related volunteer activities. Deb Youngblood will explain how to get involved with the program, the training, and the various ways the Texas Waters Specialists are involved in water conservation and preservation efforts.
I encourage you to share this invitation with your non-TMN friends. There is no prerequisite for the program – a person need not have completed any Master Naturalist, Master Gardener, or other program. Any member of the public is welcome to take the training as a way to meet like-minded people and launch their volunteer work for Texas waters. Individuals who have completed a Master Naturalist or Master Gardener training program will find that the curriculum enriches their teaching and learning experiences.
Presenter Information: Deb Youngblood is a long-time volunteer with the Hill Country Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists. Deb shares, “I have always been interested in nature and learning. I share these interests with my grandchildren and others. I have found that TMN is a good fit for me because I can continue to learn and share what I learn. I enjoy photography, working with native plants, and learning how to identify butterflies, birds, and bugs. I love water and my goal each year on my birthday is to swim in a spring-fed pool. I am a Texas Waters Specialist because I hope to contribute to the preservation of Texas rivers.”
The June Advanced Training presentation is available on our Facebook channel. There may be a delay in getting it posted.
Disclaimer: This meeting is NOT endorsed by GBNRC.