Junior Master Naturalists

LEJMN is designed to help children understand the human relationship to the environment around them.

New Junior Master Naturalist program for 2024!

For children in grades 3-5, the program has classroom activities, outdoor activities, special field trips, and volunteer opportunities so that young people of our unique West Texas region can explore their natural surroundings, identify the most common plants and animals in their environment, learn the natural and human history of the region, and become more involved in community conservation projects.

The curriculum emphasizes hands-on activities, enriching outdoor experiences and fun crafts.

Schedule

Classes meet on the first Tuesday of the month, 3:30-5:30 PM, September-December in the Fall, and February-May in the Spring. Classes will be held at different locations including the West Texas Food Bank in Midland, Sibley Nature Center, and others.

Date	Session	Location
Fall Semester	Reptiles, Rocks & Ruins
September 3	Herpetology	West Texas Food Bank
October 1	Mammalogy	West Texas Food Bank
November 5	Geology	West Texas Food Bank
December 3	Archeology	Sibley Nature Center
Spring Semester	Birds, Bugs & Buds
February 4	Ecology	West Texas Food Bank
March 4	Ornithology	West Texas Food Bank
April 1	Botany and Forestry	West Texas Food Bank
May 6	Entomology	Sibley Nature Center

Required Registration

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED TO ATTEND! Class size is limited to 12 and is on a first come, first served basis. To start the registration process, please click the link below, fill out the form and submit it. Registration cost is $80 for the entire year which can be paid in full after submitting a registration form and receiving payment information. You can also choose to pay by semester, so $40 for the Fall Semester and $40 for the Spring semester. Keep in mind that your child’s spot is not reserved until payment is received. We are currently accepting PayPal and checks. Other payment options may become available in the future.

Link to Registration Form

Certification Requirements

Your child can just enjoy attending and participating in the program, or they can participate to become a Certified Junior Master Naturalist. Children become a Certified Jr. Master Naturalist by completing the following:

Attend 7 out of 8 Classes offered in the FALL and SPRING
Complete 10 hours of Volunteer Service (opportunities provided and approved by LETMN)
Complete Field Training Hours corresponding to their grade level: 3rd grade=3 hours; 4th grade=4 hours; 5th grade=5 hours.

Rewards

Attending 4 classes will earn a T-shirt
Completing certification requirements will earn a Lanyard, Pin and Certificate. If children attend multiple years and complete requirements, they can get a new pin each year.

Information Sheet and Schedule