2024 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
2023 Intial Training Class at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
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, Jon Brandt, and David Niepert – Instructors; Cindy Frank – Volunteer Director; Pat Clark – 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 ($190). 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 2024.
- Complete 8 hours of qualified Advanced Training.
- Complete 40 hours of approved Volunteer Service in the program.
- Trainees have until December 2025 to complete Volunteer and AT requirements.
In August 2024, 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 2024 Initial Training will conclude in December of 2024.
- Approximately 80 hours of Initial Training will be offered, only 40 are required.
Working Schedule for Initial Training – South Texas Chapter 2024
* Virtual (Zoom) Meetings Precede Each Field Day on the Thursday Prior
Sat., Aug 17 – Orientation – Location: South Texas Botanical Gardens – 8:30 am (expect all day)
- TMN Mission
- TMN Ethics
- TMN Volunteer Management System
- Introduction to our Natural Regions
Tuesday., Aug 20 – Chapter Meeting at South Texas Botanical Gardens – 6:30 – Meet the Membership.
Sat., Aug 24* – Mustang Island State Park – 8:30 am & Island in the Son Conference Center
- Thursday, Aug 22 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 7* – Padre Island National Seashore Trail and dune plant hike – 8:00 am & Packery Flats (Mustang Island) Training – 1:00 pm (Two sites in one day)
- Thursday, Sep 5 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. 21* – Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center – 8:30 am (Corpus Christi)
- Thursday, Sept 19 Zoom Presentation Topic: Indigenous Peoples of the Coastal Bend
- Oso Bay Wetlands Mission
- What is an estuary?
- Weather
- Karankawa Native People
- Etichs
Sat., Oct 5* – Nueces Delta Preserve – 8:30 am (north of Calallen, towards Sinton)
- Thursday, Oct 3 Zoom Presentation Topics: Nueces River Authority & Riparian Into; Introduction to soils
- Herpetology
- River Model Flume
– Hazel Bazemore County Park – 2:30 pm (west of the City, Calallen)
- Soils
- Hawkwatch
- Nueces River
Sat., Oct 19* – Kingsville: TAMUK, Materials Plant, Sand Sheet – 8:00 am
- Thursday, Oct 17 Zoom Presentation Topic: TBD
- Kleberg Wildlife Research Center Tour
- National Natural Toxins Lab
- King Ranch/Sand Sheet
Thurs. to Sat., Oct 24-27 – TMN State Annual Meeting in San Marcos, TX. Trainees can attend for AT hours.
TBD Oct 25 or 27? – Padre Island Stunned Turtle Training for AT Credit offered by the National Seashore. Required training for Turtle volunteers.
Sat., Nov 9* – Lake Corpus Christi State Park Training – 8:30 am (60 miles west near Mathis)
- Thursday, Nov 7 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.
Sat., Nov 16* – Welder Wildlife Foundation Training – 9:00 am (near Woodsboro and Refugio)
- Thursday, Nov 14 Zoom Presentation Topic: TBD
- Unique WWF lab experience.
- Riparian walk.
- Indigenous peoples.
Sat., Dec 7* – Port Aransas, the ARK, and Leonabelle Turnbull Birding Center – 8:30 am (Port Aransas)
- Thursday, Dec 5 Zoom Presentation Topic: TB
- Port Aransas Parks
- ARK role and mission.
- Birding at Leonabelle Turnbull.
Sat., Dec 14* – Aransas Wildlife Refuge – 9:00 am (60 miles north of Corpus Christi)
- Thursday, Dec 12 Zoom Presentation Topic: Crane Foundation
- USFWS mission
- Heron Flats and Whooper walk.
- Journaling
CHECK OUT THE TRAINING HELPS PAGE FOR COOL FILES AND INFO