Why Join the Master Naturalist Program?
The Texas Master Naturalist™ program has earned more than 30 national, state and local awards to include: the Wildlife Management Institute’s Presidents’ 2000 Award, the National Audubon Society’s 2001 Habitat Hero’s Award, the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission’s 2001 Environmental Excellence Award, and Texas A&M University’s 2001 Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence in Partnership. In 2005 the program earned the U.S. Department of Interior’s “Take Pride in America” award and in 2010 the Texas Master Naturalist Program received the Alliance of Natural Resources Outreach and Service Program’s “Program of the Year” Award. In 2014, the organization earned the TCEQ Texas Environmental Excellence Civic/Community Award, and the Governor’s Volunteer Award-Community Leadership Award.
The Texas Master Naturalist™ organization is sponsored by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. Since the organization’s founding in 1997:
- relationships have been developed with over 400 partners
- there are presently 12,800 certified Texas Master Naturalist™ volunteers
- these volunteers have contributed more than 4.131 million hours of service
- more than 229,000 acres of wildlife and native plant habitats have been impacted
- reached more than 6 million Texas residents of all ages.
These volunteer efforts are worth more than $98 million to the State of Texas. Texas Master Naturalist™ volunteers serve in 48 local chapters across the state serving 194 counties, and new chapters are developing all the time.
Who can Join the Texas Master Naturalists?
Anyone who lives in Texas and is over the age of 18 can apply!
Find a Texas Master Naturalist Chapter Near You
Click here to see the map of current chapters. Click on the chapter serving your county or the county nearest you to be directed to that chapter’s website
Have additional questions?
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page or contact us directly.