 What is the The new Llano Estacado Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists began in August, 2006. The chapter draws its members from the cities of Big Spring, Midland, Odessa, and other communities of the Southern Llano Estacado. The first members became Texas Master Naturalists in December 2007 by attending monthly meetings at the Sibley Nature Center in Midland and performing volunteer activities. The 2008 and 2009 classes have been completed. The members in the current program will complete their training and required volunteer hours in December, 2010. Please contact Burr Williams at bwilliams@sibleynaturecenter.org for further information and to reserve a place in the 2010 class. The Website of the Llano Estacado Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists is at http://www.llanoestacado.org/masternats/
The Facebook page of the Llano Estacado Chapter of
the Texas Master Naturalists is at The 2009 Texas Master Naturalist Class has finished 2010 Chapter Meeting Schedule Quarterly Chapter Meetings, second Monday of the month, 7:00 p.m., Sibley Nature Center, 1307 E. Wadley, Midland, Texas, near the corner of Hogan Park. Typically, one hour of advanced instruction by a guest speaker is offered and then a short business meeting. To continue as Texas Master Naturalists, each member must attend 8 hours of advanced instruction and perform 40 hours of volunteer work each year. There are many opportunities for volunteer work. The 2010 Texas Master Naturalist Class will begin in January Contact Burr Williams by phone at (432) 684-6827 or at bwilliams@sibleynaturecenter.org for information about the 2010 classes. Class participants are taking 40 hours of instruction and 8 hours of advanced instruction about the flora, fauna, geology, and archaeology of the Llano Estacado. In exchange, they will be asked to perform 40 hours of volunteer public service for state parks, non-profit conservation groups (such as the Sibley Nature Center), and local schools. The cost is only $75 per person or $125 for a couple to pay for the printed materials and some instruction. Most instruction is volunteered. This is an outstanding way to learn about your local natural environment and greatly enrich your life and the lives of others! 2010 Master Naturalist Instruction Schedule (one Saturday a month, meet at Sibley)
2009 Chapter Volunteer Opportunities
Chapter Contacts
Past Chapter Schedules
Chapter Resources
What is the Texas Master Naturalist Program? The Texas Master Naturalist program is a venture directed toward developing local corps of "master volunteers" to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities. Many communities and organizations rely on such citizen volunteers for implementing youth education programs; for operating parks, nature centers, and natural areas; and for providing leadership in local natural resource conservation efforts. In fact, a short supply of dedicated and well-informed volunteers is often cited as a limiting factor for community-based conservation efforts. In For an individual to gain the designation of a Master Naturalist, he or she must participate in an approved chapter training program with a minimum of 40 hours of combined field and classroom instruction, obtain 8 contact hours of approved advanced training, and complete 40 hours of volunteer service. Upon their start of the initial training program, trainees have a maximum of one year in which to complete their 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training. To retain the Texas Master Naturalist title during each subsequent year, volunteers must complete 8 additional hours of advanced training and provide an additional 40 hours of volunteer service coordinated through their local chapter. The program currently supports greater than 2750 Texas Master Naturalist volunteers in 27 local recognized chapters across the state. The program continually expands each year so if there isn't a chapter near you contact the Texas Master Naturalist Coordinator or your local TPWD biologist or TCE county agent. Since its establishment in 1998, Texas Master Naturalist volunteer efforts have provided over 334,000 hours of service valued at more than $3.38 Million. This service has resulted in enhancing 75,000 acres of wildlife and native plant habitats; reaching more than 530,800 youth, adults and private landowners and the discovery of a new plant species by a program volunteer. The program has gained international state and local recognition with 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. Links to Web Resources Texas Master Naturalist Program
Texas Master Naturalist Chapters (not a complete list)
Texas Natural History Resources
Texas Birding Resources
National Natural History Resources
National Birding Resources
Llano Estacado Information
Llano Estacado Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists Website administrator: infoATcybercomputingDOTcom (help stop spam: substitute @ for AT and . for DOT before mailing) Last updated: 2009 December 5 |
