2023 Initial Training for the South Texas Chapter will begin in August.
If you are interested in becoming a Texas Master Naturalist, please first review the State Website www.txmn.org. Please direct any questions about becoming a TMN to southtxtmn@gmail.com or Dawn Bissell, bissells@swbell.net
Your South Texas Initial Training Team includes these experienced naturalists:
Dawn Bissell, Initial Training Director; Phil Woods, Randy Bissell, Chad Huckabee, Aracely Negrete, Cornelia Gates, and David Niepert, Instructors; Cindy Frank, Volunteer Director; Jenny Daily, Class Representative. Plus, many guest lecturers, park officials, and knowledgeable TMN instructors!
To become a Texas Master Naturalist, you must complete the following:
- Enroll in Initial Training and Purchase a Texas Curriculum ($165). The text is also available used or as an eBook.
- Pass a Texas Parks & Wildlife background check.
- Complete 40 hours of Initial Training which is offered from August through December of 2023.
- Complete 8 hours of qualified Advanced Training.
- Complete 40 hours of approved Volunteer Service in the program.
- Trainees have until December 2024 to complete Volunteer and AT requirements.
In August 2023, Initial Training will begin and include:
- Virtual Zoom meetings – Thursday Evenings before Field Day Saturdays, August through December.
- Face-to-face field training at nature sites across South Texas – two or three Saturdays each month (see Schedule Below).
- The 2023 Initial Training will conclude in December of 2023.
- Approximately 80 hours of Initial Training will be offered, only 40 are required.
Tentative Schedule for Initial Training – South Texas Chapter 2023
* Virtual (Zoom) Meetings Precede Each Field Day on Thursday Prior
Sat., Aug 5 – Orientation – Location: Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens – 8:30 am (expect all day)
- TMN Mission
- TMN Ethics
- TMN Volunteer Management System
- Introduction to our Natural Regions
Sat., Aug 19 – Chapter Welcome party for New Trainees & Members – 4:00 pm
Sat., Aug 26* – Mustang Island State Park – 8:30 am & Island in the Son Conference Center
- Thursday, Aug 24 Zoom Presentation Topics: About the Park. Ocean invertebrates. What to expect in the field.
- Beach and Barrier Island Geology
- Volunteering in a State Park
- Beach Litter Mitigation
- Interpretation
- Nature Ethics
- Birding & Binoculars
Sat., Sep 9* – Padre Island NationPadre Island National Seashoreal Seashore Trail and dune plant hike – 8:00 am & Packery Flats (Mustang Island) Training – 1:00 pm (Two sites in one day)
- Thursday, Sep 7 Zoom Presentation Topic: PINS history and Invertebrates of the Gulf Coast
- Padre Island plant walk.
- Mustang Island washover walk.
- High profile vs. Low Profile Barrier Islands.
Sat., Sept. 23* – Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center – 8:30 am & Hans and Pat Suter Wildlife Preserve – 1:00 pm (Corpus Christi)
- Thursday, Sept 21 Zoom Presentation Topic: Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend
- Oso Bay Wetlands Mission
- Introduction to common plants.
- What is an estuary?
Sat., Oct 7* – Hazel Bazemore County Park Training – 8:30 am (west of the city, in Calallen)
- Thursday, Oct 5 Zoom Presentation Topics: Nueces River Authority & Riparian Into; Introduction to soils
- Hawk watch and intro to birds.
- Soil physical properties and soil biology.
– Nueces Delta Preserve Training – 1:00 pm (Near Calallen/Sinton)
- Reptiles, plants, landscape, and sea level.
- Nueces Delta Preserve’s unique mission and role
- Water quality and halophyte walk
Thurs. to Sat., Oct 12-14 – TMN State Annual Meeting in McAllen, TX. Trainees can attend for AT hours. (Offered In-Person and Virtually)
Sat., Oct 21* – Lake Corpus Christi State Park Training – 8:30 am (60 miles west near Mathis)
- Thursday, Oct 19 Zoom Presentation Topics: Soil geography and student soil samples
- Volunteering at a Texas State Park
- Introduction to interpretation.
- Advanced plants and landscape.
- Soil behavior and soil management.
TBD Oct 26 or 28? – Padre Island Stunned Turtle Training for AT Credit offered by the National Seashore.
Sat., Nov 4* – Kingsville: TAMUK, Materials Plant, Sand Sheet – 8:00 am
- Thursday, Nov 2 Zoom Presentation Topic: TBD
- Kleberg Wildlife Research Center Tour
- Center Outdoor Trail
- Materials Plant Tour
- Volunteer Opportunities
Sat., Nov 18* – Welder Wildlife Foundation Training – 9:00 am (near Woodsboro and Refugio)
- Thursday, Nov 16 Zoom Presentation Topic: TBD
- Unique WWF lab experience.
- Riparian walk.
- Indigenous peoples.
Sat., Dec 2* – UTMSI, the ARK, and Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center – 8:30 am (Port Aransas)
- Thursday, Dec 1 Zoom Presentation Topic: TBD
- UTMSI role and mission.
- ARK role and mission.
- Birding at Leonabelle Turnbull.
Sat., Dec 9* – Aransas Wildlife Refuge – 9:00 am (60 miles north of Corpus Christi)
- Thursday, Dec 7 Zoom Presentation Topic: Crane Foundation
- USFWS mission
- Heron Flats and Whooper walk.
- Journaling
CHECK OUT THE TRAINING HELPS PAGE FOR COOL FILES AND INFO