Scroll down for information on requirements for certification and schedule of training classes.

The following are the requirements to initially train and certify to become a Llano Estacado Texas Master Naturalist and recertify each year.

• Master Naturalist Trainees must successfully complete at least 40 hours of Initial Training provided by LETMN in combined field and classroom instruction.
• Master Naturalist Trainees must complete 8 hours of Advanced Training approved by LETMN or the State in addition to the 40 hours of initial training.
• The Trainee must complete at least 40 hours of Volunteer Service to the state and community. Trainees can complete their 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training within the year after completion of their initial training or while earning initial training hours.
• In subsequent years, the candidate must complete another 8 hours of advanced training and donate 40 hours of volunteer service to maintain their certification (or to re-certify) as a Texas Master Naturalist.
• ADA Statement: If you need any type of accommodation to participate in this program or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact our extension office at registration or at least 2 weeks prior to the program or event. Midland Extension #432-686-4700.

Initial Training Classes for 2025 will start January 25.

There will be 40+ hours of Initial Training classes scheduled starting in January of 2025. There will be a combination of classroom and field opportunities to earn your Initial Training hours. You will need to attend enough sessions to earn a total of 40 hours. We will have a variety of topics and speakers.

Cost for new trainees is $125 and covers a textbook, annual LETMN dues and speaker fees.

Couples that only need one textbook can go through the training program for $200.

If you are interested in becoming a member of LETMN fill out the following form or email us at llanoestacadotmn@gmail.com.

Initial Training Schedule for 2025

This schedule will be updated and adjusted as we schedule speakers and accommodate any necessary changes. Training sessions will generally be on Saturdays between 9AM-3PM at Sibley Nature Center, the Midland County Extension Office, Ector County Extension Office, or in the field as needed.

January 25, 9AM-3PM: First training session of 2025 at Sibley Nature Center, 1307 E. Wadley, Ave., Midland, TX, 79705. Our first session will allow you to register, get your textbook and become familiar with what it means to be a Llano Estacado Texas Master Naturalist. There will be a movie on Texas Naturalists (10-11AM). Dr. Rebecca Dodge, local scientist and instructor, will have presentations on the Ecoregions of Texas (11-12) and Ecological Concepts (12:30-1:30 PM). We will wrap up this first session with other important information.
February 8, 9 AM-2:30 PM: We will be learning alongside the Permian Basin Master Gardeners (PBMG) at the Midland Ag Extension Office, 2445 E. HWY 80, Midland, TX 79706. 9:00 AM-noon: Soil Basics. You will be learning about the types of soils in our area and how to test your own soil in order to plan your best native or adapted landscape. 12:30-2:30 PM: LETMN By-Laws and Handbook review. Then learn about the many exciting volunteer opportunities LETMN participates in and how to log volunteer hours in the VMS system.
February 22, 9 AM-3 PM: Sibley Nature Center. We will start off with a review of volunteer opportunities and other certification information. There will be a variety of Water topics and speakers. You will learn about groundwater, water conservation practices, use of water in the Permian Basin and more.
March 8, 9 AM-3 PM: We will meet in ODESSA at the Ector County Ag Extension Office 1010, E. 8th St., Odessa, TX, 79761-4634. We will be learning alongside PBMG in the morning and then venturing in the field in the afternoon. 9:00 AM-noon: Botany with Dr. Doug Spence. Be prepared to learn an amazing amount about plants while you draw along with Doug’s engaging presentation. 12:30-2:00: We will learn how to use iNaturalist with LETMN member Chris Mallery to record observational information, followed by a BioBlitz (2:00-4:00ish) at one of our newest field areas: Kellus Turner Park in west Odessa.
March 22, 9 AM-3 PM: Sibley Nature Center. 9:00 AM-10:30 AM: Geology with Joe Lindecke, Adjunct Instructor at Midland College. Learn about rocks, minerals and fossils and what makes the geologic history of the Permian Basin so special. 10:45 AM-12:15 PM: Archeology topics with Michael Nickell, Sibley Nature Center Museum Scientist. In addition to general archeology topics, you will get a tour of the megafauna Pleistocene display Michael has recently curated. 12:45-2:15 PM: Playas and I-20 Wildlife Preserve with Wes Fariss, Executive Director of I-20 Wildlife Preserve.
April 5, 9 AM-3 PM: Sibley Nature Center. 9:00 AM-noon: Entomology with Michael Nickell, Sibley Nature Center Museum Scientist. Enjoy a fascinating overview of the insect world and and the diversity we have in our area. 12:30-3:00 PM, Native Bees of the Permian Basin. LETMN Beeple will take you on a tour of the native bees of our area and their importance to our unique ecosystems. There will be insect displays, catch and release (weather permitting), microscope work, and identification techniques.
April 27 (Friday) 6-8 PM: Sibley Nature Center. Special Herpetology presentation with Michael Price of Texas Wild.
May 3, 9 AM-4 PM: 9:15-10:15 AM: Land Stewardship with Christy Curran, LETMN member and ConocoPhillips Sustainability Advisor. 10:20-11:20 AM: Mammalogy with Steve Gibson, LETMN Member. 11:25-12:30: Rangeland Management with Morgan Treadwell, Rangeland, Wildlife & Fisheries, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Services, District 7, San Angelo, TX.
May 9, 6:30-8:30 PM. Special Friday session at Sibley Nature Center on Ornithology with Patsy and Tom Inglet from Cibolo Center for Conservation.
May 10, 9 AM-noon: Ornithology field session in different areas including I-20 Wildlife Preserve, Sibley Nature Center, or possibly Big Spring State Park and places in Ector County. We will firm up locations as the time for the field session comes nearer!
May 17, ~3:00-6:00 PM: Weather at the NWS of Midland/Odessa. Times and schedule TBA.
August: Field Sessions TBA. Get ready to celebrate dragonflies at Sibley Pond, I-20 Wildlife Preserve, Kellus Turner Park, Big Spring State Park, and areas all over our region! Dragonflies like it HOT. You will learn about these special insects and see them close up, in the hand, and learn how to photograph and identify them.
October: Field Sessions TBA: Time for Monarch Migration! We track and tag monarchs as they venture to Mexico for the winter.
Herps Field Session TBA: At some point, we will be chasing lizards and reptiles in the field.

Curriculum Guides

For each Unit covered in the textbook, LETMN members have written Curriculum Guides (CGs) to help you take notes. You can use CGs to take notes during presentations or while reading the text. They are for you to keep with your personal notes and materials. After a training session, you will be sent a Google Form with an Online Review (OR) of about 10-15 questions taken from the CGs. These are voluntary and can be taken as many times as necessary to earn a 100%. If you choose to take an OR, you can earn 0.5 hours of Initial Training for a 100% score. These are meant to help you learn the material in another way.

Note: The CGs are in numerical order and not the order in which the Units are presented in Initial Training sessions.

Other links or files for Presentations or Units

If there are additional links, pictures or files to go with a Unit, they will be here!

Want to know what a Texas Master Naturalist is? Click on icon below

Interested in birds? Go to the Birding in West Texas area of the website for more resources and see what you will learn about birds in our area: https://txmn.org/llano/birding-in-west-texas/

Here is an example of one of our special presentations.

Example of flyer a member created to help learn about the area’s wildlife.

LETMN Volunteers as Interpreters