The Piney Wood Lakes chapter was created to serve the counties of Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, and Tyler. Since the chapter was founded in 2010, over 100 local volunteers have together contributed more than 44,000 hours of service and have reached thousands of residents of all ages. These volunteer efforts are estimated to be worth more than $500K to our community.
But we can do so much more! We are always looking for new members and new ideas. Join the chapter, meet fellow naturalists, and become a force for nature!
Volunteers can choose from a wide variety of service projects. Here are just a few examples:
- Community outreach at libraries, schools and events
- Trail creation & maintenance
- Citizen science, such as wildlife and weather monitoring
- Habitat restoration and maintenance
- Seed collection and native plant propagation
- Recycling, cleanup & beautification
- Nature writing & photography
Master Naturalist certification requires only 40 hours of Basic training, 8 hours of Advanced training, and 40 hours of volunteer service earned within one year of beginning training. Topics covered in the training include interpretation and management of natural resources, ecological concepts, eco-regions in Texas, pollinators, bird and wildlife identification, natural systems management, and much more!
The fee to become a Texas Master Naturalist is $150*, which covers the textbook and other class materials, first-year chapter annual dues of $25, and a t-shirt for students who complete their certification. Each candidate will be required to pass a Texas Parks and Wildlife background check.
*Couples taking the class and sharing a textbook pay a discounted fee of $255.
Our next training session will be held from February 4 through May 6, 2026. The class schedule is currently being finalized; Most classes will be held on Wednesdays from 8:30am-1:00pm, and some will be held on Saturday mornings. Feel free to contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions about the program.
Ready to get started? Fill out our online Membership Application or download the PDF version and email the completed form to [email protected]
