Master Naturalist Program Seeks Applicants

Tom Harvey, 512-389-4453, tom.harvey@tpwd.texas.gov

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AUSTIN, Texas – Twenty chapters of the Texas Master Naturalist program are conducting spring training classes for volunteers wanting to learn about natural resource and conservation management.

The Texas Master Naturalist program, with 30 chapters located across the state, aims to develop a corps of well-informed citizen volunteers who educate their communities about the management of natural resources.

The main qualification needed to become a Certified Texas Master Naturalist is an interest in learning and playing an active part in conservation. Volunteers will receive a minimum of 40 hours training from educators and specialists from places such as universities, natural resource agencies, nature centers and museums. Training topics include interpretation and management of natural resources, ecological concepts, eco-regions in Texas and natural systems management.

Volunteers are expected to give 40 hours of service a year in community education, demonstration and habitat enhancement projects. They are also expected to pursue a minimum of eight hours of advanced training in other, related areas of personal interest.

The chapters with volunteer training this spring are as follows:

  • Abilene—Big Country Chapter. Training begins April 29. Call (325) 672-6048 or e-mail melissa.owen@aisd.org
  • Amarillo—Panhandle Chapter. Training begins April 11. For more information, call (806) 352-7463 or e-mail suthomps@sbcglobal.net
  • Bastrop—Lost Pines Chapter—Training begins Jan. 10. Call (512) 321-5073 or e-mail carolreidy@hotmail.com
  • Beaumont—Upper Coast Chapter. Training begins April 5. Call (409) 835-8461 or e-mail tslooney@tamu.edu
  • Bellville—Lincecum Chapter. Training begins March 7. Call (979) 865-8047 or e-mail deborahlansley@juno.com
  • Bryan—Brazos County Chapter. Training planned for April. Call (979) 458-1099 or e-mail sarnold@ag.tamu.edu
  • Conroe/Huntsville—Heartwood Chapter. Classes begin April 16. E-mail texasnaturelover@earthlink.net
  • Dallas—North Texas Chapter. Classes begin Feb. 15. Call (214) 904-3050 or e-mail xxxsharp@aol.com
  • Edinburg—Rio Grande Valley Chapter. Training begins Feb. 10 with a registration deadline of Jan. 26. Call (956) 364-1410 or e-mail rgvctmn@aol.com
  • El Paso—Trans Pecos Chapter. Spring dates are pending. Call (915) 859-7725 or e-mail r-bader@tamu.edu
  • Galveston—Galveston Bay Area Chapter. Training begins Feb. 24. Call (281) 534-3413, ext.3 or e-mail jk-massey@tamu.edu
  • Junction—Western Edwards Plateau Chapter. Classes begin April19. Call (325) 446-2301 or e-mail martha.richardson@ttu.edu
  • Harlingen—Rio Grande Valley Chapter. Classes begin Feb.16 with a registration deadline of Jan. 26. Call (956) 354-1410 or e-mail rgvctmn@aol.com
  • Houston—Gulf Coast Chapter. Classes begin Feb. 28. Call (281) 855-5600 or e-mail gcmn@tamu.edu
  • New Braunfels—Lindheimer Chapter. Classes begin April 5. Call (830) 620-3440 or e-mail elee@gutc.com
  • Port Lavaca—Mid Coast Chapter. Training begins in February. Call (361) 552-5187 or visit http://midcoast.tamu.edu
  • San Antonio—Alamo Area Chapter. Classes start March 24 with a registration deadline of Feb. 24. Call (210) 698-2397 or visit www.alamomasternaturalist.org
  • San Marcos—Hays County Chapter. Classes begin Feb. 8 with a registration deadline of Jan. 14. Call (512) 393-2120 or e-mail jp10@swt.edu
  • Tyler—East Texas Chapter. Classes begin Jan. 22. Call (903) 566-9394 or e-mail irene.hamel@tpwd.texas.gov
  • Waco—Heart of Texas Chapter. Training begins March 23. Call (254) 799-7170 or e-mail nadawaco@yahoo.com
  • Wichita Falls—Rolling Plains Chapter. Training begins in March. Call (940) 766-2383 or e-mail mark.howell@tpwd.texas.gov

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas Cooperative Extension co-sponsor the Texas Master Naturalist Program statewide. For more information about existing chapters or forming a new chapter, contact Sonny Arnold, Assistant Program Coordinator, 111 Nagle Hall, 2258, TAMU, College Station, TX 77843. Or you can call (979) 458-1099 or e-mail sarnold@ag.tamu.edu.