🌿 Spring 2027 Training Class
Prairie Oaks Chapter
Learn Texas nature. Give back to your community. Find your people.
Why Become a Texas Master Naturalist?
No science degree required. All you need is curiosity and a love for the outdoors. Here is what you will get:
Local Knowledge
You will learn the plants, animals, geology, and ecosystems of Palo Pinto, Erath, Hamilton, and Comanche counties right in your own backyard.
Real Community
You will join a chapter of nurses, teachers, biologists, farmers, and curious people of all kinds who share a passion for Texas nature.
Hands-On Learning
You will learn by doing alongside experts who love to share what they know through field trips, bird counts, geology walks, and native plant digs.
Volunteer Impact
You will work on real conservation projects, including stewarding the Bosque River Nature Center and running Nature Fest each October. You will also have opportunities for public outreach throughout our community at farmers markets, libraries, and nature events.
Earn Your Certification
You will work toward becoming a certified Texas Master Naturalist, a statewide credential that recognizes your training, service, and commitment to Texas nature.
Nature Fest is our flagship free community event held every October at the Bosque River Nature Center, our very own native prairie and pollinator garden in Stephenville.
Join us Saturday, October 10 to meet our members, learn about the training class, and experience firsthand what Prairie Oaks is all about. Learn more about Nature Fest 2026.
What are we training you to do?
Become a regular volunteer in your community by certifying as a Texas Master Naturalist.
We encourage participants to complete all requirements by December 31, 2027. Hours must be pre-approved and logged within 45 days.
Training Overview
Our training program is a semester-long course that combines weekly evening classes with hands-on field experiences. It is offered in partnership with Tarleton State University, where community members and students learn side by side.
📚 In-Classroom
- Wednesday nights, 5:15 to 8:15pm
- Tarleton State University, Stephenville
- In person or live via Zoom
- At least 45 hours available
🌾 Field Experiences
- March and April
- Wednesday afternoons and weekend mornings and afternoons
- In person only
- At least 10 hours available
📋 See the Sample Class Schedule
This is an example schedule. The final schedule is distributed on the first night of training.
| Week | In-Classroom Topics (Wednesday Evenings) |
|---|---|
| 1 | Orientation & Texas Ecological Regions |
| 2 | Mammals of Texas & Forest Ecology and Management |
| 3 | Ecology and Diversity of Insects & Plant Biology |
| 4 | Fish Ecology & Wetland Ecology |
| 5 | Bird Ecology & Historic Naturalists |
| 6 | Urban Ecosystems & Citizen Science |
| 7 | Geology & Soil Science |
| 8 | Public Outreach & Volunteer Opportunities |
| 9 | Ecological Concepts & Interpretation |
| 10 | Archaeology & Rangeland Management |
| 11 | Ecosystem Management & Weather and Climate |
| 12 | Aquatic Systems Ecology & Texas Groundwater Resources |
| 13 | Laws, Regulations, and Ethics & Land Stewardship |
| 14 | Reptiles and Amphibians & Makeup/Ice Day |
| 15 | 🎓 Initial Training Graduation and Celebration |
| Activity | Field Experience Topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | Local Geology |
| 2 | Soil Morphology and Ecology |
| 3 | Aquatic Ecology and Assessment |
| 4 | Birding and Bird Ecology |
| 5 | Forest Ecology |
| 6 | Rangeland Plants |
Applications Open October 1 – November 20, 2026
Space is limited. We review applications on a rolling basis and recommend applying early.
with Textbook
with Shared Textbook
(per person)
with Borrowed Textbook
Financial assistance available with limited slots. Contact us to ask.
Explore More
Questions? We’d love to hear from you.
[email protected]