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.

Initial Training Classes for 2024 will start January 20th.

There will be 60 hours of Initial Training classes scheduled from January to July in 2024. You will need to attend enough to earn 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, email us at llanoestacadotmn@gmail.com.

Initial Training Saturdays Schedule for 2024

This schedule will be updated and adjusted as we schedule speakers and accommodate any necessary changes. Training sessions will be on Saturdays from 9AM-3PM at Sibley Nature Center or in the field as required. Some times may be adjusted.

January 20, 9AM-3PM: First training session of 2024 at Sibley Nature Center*. 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 (12:30-1:30PM). We will wrap up this first session with other important information.
February 10, 9AM-3PM: Hydrology and Water topics. We will start off with more information on the program including volunteer opportunities and how to record them, the difference between Initial Training and Advanced Training, and other info. City Planner and civil engineer, Renee Hawkler, will present on the Origin and Destiny of Municipal Water in the Permian Basin (9:30-10:30AM). Raymond Straub, Jr., Principal Geoscientist from the Straub Corp. will present on West Texas Groundwater (10:45-12:30). Doreen and John Womack will discuss Water Conservation (1:00-2:00 PM). Kari Warden from I-20 Wildlife Preserve will speak about volunteer opportunities at the playa.
February 24, 9AM-3PM: NOTE: We will have this meeting at the Midland Extension Office, 2445 E Highway 80. We will start off with a review of volunteer opportunities and other certification information. Christy Curran, ConocoPhillips Sustainability Development Advisor, will present on Land Stewardship. Doug Spence from Native Seed will talk about Native Plants of our area. Doug Spence, plant specialist, will have a presentation on Plants.
March 9, 9AM-3PM: Archeology with Chris Lintz, Texas archeology researcher. The archeological history of Texas will be covered in addtion to recent archeological discoveries and current research sites. Chris is reknown across Texas for his knowledge and expertise and is a wonderful presenter. We will follow up on a later date in the field to learn how to throw an atlatl and rabbit stick with Michael Nickell from Sibley Nature Center.
March 23, 9AM-3PM: General Entomology with Michael Nickell, Sibley Nature Center Museum Scientist. A fascinating overview of the insect world and what you can observe in our area. Also learn about the important Native Bees of the Llano Estacado with LETMN Beeples. Observe bees in the field and lab, learn to photograph insects in the field, observe our extensive pinned bee collections made over the past several years and lots more!
April 13, 9AM-3PM: Susie Yarbrough, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist, will present on Forest Ecology, Tree Biology and Trees 101. Pat Hunter, Master Gardener and Master Naturalist, will discuss Midland Parks Tree Project and Tree Inventory.
April 27, 9AM-3PM: NOTE: We will have this meeting at the Midland Extension Office, 2445 E Highway 80. Mammalogy with LETMN Member Steve Gibson from 9:00-10:30 AM. Steve will be discussing the typical mammals we encounter in West Texas and cover topics from the textbook and the guidebook Mammals of Trans-Pecos Texas by Yancey, Schmidly, Manning and Kasper. There will be also be hands on displays of skulls and pelts from the Sibley Nature Center collection. Rangeland Management will follow with local rancher and photographer, Katy Hoskins. Find out the importance of the interactions of wildlife, stock and the land.
May 11, 9AM-3PM: Urban Ecosystems with LETMN member and Master Gardener Emmy Ulmschneider. Learn about the importance of our urban environments and what we can do as individuals to manage and conserve important resources like water. Diversity can exist and be promoted in your own backyard and even within our cities in order to conserve our beautiful native plants and wildlife.
June 8, 9AM-3PM: Volunteers as Teachers with LETMN Member Sarah Jones. Part of being an LETMN is doing educational outreach to teach others about the natural wonders of our area. Sarah will be presenting on ways to use your knowledge as an LETMN member to interact with families, adults and children with different programs in fun and educational ways.
June 22, 9AM-3PM: Ornithology: Bird Biology and Birding with Tom and Patsy Inglet from the Hill Country. We welcome these avid birders and volunteers at Cibolo Center for Conservation. A birding field trip will follow with the place TBD.
July 13, 9AM-3PM: Weather topics including a trip to the Weather Station at 2500 Challenger Dr, Midland, Texas, 79706. More details coming soon!
July 27, 9AM-3PM: Herpetology Field Session with Michael Price of Wild About Texas. We will meet at I-20 Wildlife Preseve. Times will be announced at a later date.

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

*Sibley Nature Center is located at 1307 E. Wadley, Midland, TX 79705.