The Texas Master Naturalist Program

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TM

The Mission

“To develop a corps of well-educated “Master Volunteers” to provide education, outreach and service dedicated toward the beneficial

management of natural resources within their communities.”

Program Goals

• To improve public understanding of natural resource ecology and management.

• To enhance existing natural resource education and outreach activities.

• To develop a Master Naturalist™ volunteer network that is eventually self-sufficient.

Statewide Funding Partners

Who “owns” the Program

The natural resource community, through a partnership.

Public State Agencies

Private Entities

Non-profit Assoc.and Orgs.

InterestedCitizen

Volunteers

Texas MasterTexas MasterNaturalistNaturalistProgramProgram

Addressing an Urbanized Society

• 82% of Texans live in Urban Areas.

Organizational History

• March 1997 – 1st Local Chapter Established in San Antonio.

• March 1998 – 2nd Chapter Established in Dallas.

• Spring 1998 – Established Statewide Advisory Committee.

• Summer 1999 – 1st Statewide Local Coordinators Training.

• August 1999 – 1st Statewide Program Coordinator

• August 2004 – 1st Assistant Program Coordinator

Why a New Program? Recognizing the Need

• We have a large supply of potential volunteers.• Meaningful volunteer opportunities are in demand.

• We have an under-supply of qualified adult volunteersfor “Natural Resources & Outdoor Education programs.”

• The availability of training recruits high-qualityvolunteers.

• We need natural resource ambassadors and urbanambassadors.

• Many natural resource and conservation organizationshave similar education, outreach and service missions.

Organizational Structure

Local Local ChapterChapter

Local Local ChapterChapter

Local Local ChapterChapter

Local Local ChapterChapter

Local Local ChapterChapter

Local Local ChapterChapter

Volunteers Representative

Council

Master Naturalist Advisory Committee

Texas Parks & Wildlife

Texas Cooperative Extension

State & Asst. Program

Coordinators

Committee Roles

• Advisory Committee – Advise the Program Coordinators on the development and maintenance of the volunteer training, including curriculum development, policies, and procedures for effective operation of a statewide natural resources volunteer effort. • Volunteer Representative Council – Represent the varied interests of the local chapters by providing a communications link to the Program Coordinator and Advisory Committee.

Local Chapter StructureNew Chapters: Pre-training phase

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

*Organizes and implements initial local training and Chapter framework for:

The Volunteers

Chapter Coordinating Committee

Local Chapter StructurePost-training phase

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

Chapter Partner

*Guides local training and Chapter framework on an as-need basis with:

Trained Volunteer Executive Board

Chapter Advisory Committee

*Further develops chapter framework, membership for:

Volunteermembers

Volunteermembers

Volunteermembers

Class/Training Coordinating Committee

Master Naturalist Certification Minimum Requirements

• 40 hours of combined classroom and field instruction.

• 8 hours of approved advanced training.• 40 hours of approved volunteer service

projects.___________________________________

After certification, requires 40 hours volunteer service and 8 hours advanced training annually.

“Basic Training”

• Present day and Historical Naturalists. • Traditional Naturalist Disciplines. • Land management and Land use History.• Ecological Concepts.• Ecoregions of Texas.• Management of Natural Systems.• Interpretation and Communication.

40 hours of combined classroom and field experience:

Ecoregions of Texas

Ecological RegionsBLACKLAND PRAIRIECOASTAL SAND PLAINEDWARDS PLATEAUGULF COAST PRAIRIES & MARSHESHIGH PLAINSLLANO UPLIFTOAK WOODS & PRAIRIESPINEY WOODSROLLING PLAINSSOUTH TEXAS BRUSH COUNTRYTRANS PECOS

“Advanced Training”

• Focuses on volunteers’ area of interest.

• Is mainly field oriented.• Takes advantage of local

partnerships.• Is directed at specific

programs in need of trained volunteers.

8 hours of advanced training:

Volunteer Service Projects

• Are self-directed.• Are coordinated by the local

Chapters.• Consist of opportunities

developed by local partners.• Take advantage of individual

skills.

RX Fire Education at Dripping Springs High

School

Hays County Roadkill Survey

Blackland Prairie Restoration.

Local Speakers Bureau

40 hours of volunteer service projects that:

Project Examples

• Wildscape Maintenance and Demo Areas• Construction of Interpretive Trails and Maintenance• Streambank, Marsh and Prairie Restorations• Brush and Exotic Plant Control• Fish, Wildlife and Plant Inventories• Native Plant Seed Collections & Rescues• Natural Resource Youth Camps• Interpretive Tours

The Benefits

• Helping to make a difference for Texas’ Natural Resources – now and in the future.

• Learn from experts in their field.

• Providing important and valuable natural resource information.

• Gaining appreciation for and understanding ofnatural environments.

• Building new friendships and workingrelationships.

• Individual Awards and Recognition

The Benefits

Rules?!? We don’t need no stinkin’ rules!

Thou Shalt Not...• Miss Class

• Profit

• Take the title of Master Naturalist in vain

• Cultivate personal biases or agendas

But, I Don’t Feel like a “Master” of Anything…

What’s in a name?...

Master ... 2 : to be come skilled or proficient in...*

Masterful…inclined and usually competent to act as a master…*

*SOURCE: The New Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Ferdinand LindheimerFerdinand Lindheimer

I’m Legal, Now What?

Maintaining certification is your responsibility

• Stay involved in your local Chapter meetings and projects.

• Take advantage of the Advanced Training offered through your local Chapter partners.

• Keep accurate records

Progress So Far….!

38 local Chapters • Other local Chapters in development.

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Progress So Far….!

- 38 Chapters

- 300+ Partners

- 174 counties

- Over 70% of Texas

- 4,000 volunteers

Progress So Far….!

• 500+ Volunteers have trained annually.

• 88,000+ hours of community outreach & service projects annually--with a value of more than $1.5 Million annually.

• 100,000+ youth and adults and private landowners reached by Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer efforts annually.

• Developed or enhanced 430+ miles of interpretive trails

Progress So Far….!

• 30,000 acres of native habitat enhanced.

• 270+ organizations have developed partnerships with local Texas Master Naturalist Chapters.

• 16 National, State and Local Awards for Program and Chapter Efforts

• A volunteer’s discovery of a new plant to science.

• Raised $120,000 in grants and donations for program and projects support.

Program Accomplishments (1997 through 2005)

• Over 450,000 hours of volunteer service valued at $8 Million

• Over 100,000 hours advanced training • Approx. 1.25 million people reached• Over 50,000 acres of habitat enhanced• Over 700 trail miles developed or improved

Awards and Recognition

• • Wildlife Management Institute’s President’s 2000 AwardWildlife Management Institute’s President’s 2000 Award

• • 2 TPW Lonestar Legends Volunteer Awards 2 TPW Lonestar Legends Volunteer Awards

• • TAMU Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence (2001) TAMU Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence (2001)

• • TCEQ 2001 Environmental Excellence Award TCEQ 2001 Environmental Excellence Award

• • National Audubon Society’s Habitat Hero’s Award 2001National Audubon Society’s Habitat Hero’s Award 2001

• US Dept. of Interior’s Take Pride in America Award 2005US Dept. of Interior’s Take Pride in America Award 2005

Statewide Annual Meeting & Advanced Training

October ??, 2007October ??, 2007San Antonio, TXSan Antonio, TX

The Future Looks Bright!

• National Master Naturalist Program– Texas has trained other states in establishing

programs – 25 other state programs exist as a result

For More Information:

Michelle Haggerty, Prog. Coord. Michelle Haggerty, Prog. Coord. Texas Master Naturalist ProgramTexas Master Naturalist Program

Texas Parks & Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks & Wildlife Department309 Sidney Baker South309 Sidney Baker South

Kerrville, TX 78028Kerrville, TX 78028Ph: 830-896-2500Ph: 830-896-2500

Email: mhaggerty@wfscgate.tamu.eduEmail: mhaggerty@wfscgate.tamu.edu

Sonny Arnold, Asst. Prog Coord. Sonny Arnold, Asst. Prog Coord. Texas Master Naturalist Program Texas Master Naturalist Program

Texas Parks & Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks & Wildlife Department111 Nagle Hall, 2258 TAMUS111 Nagle Hall, 2258 TAMUS

College Station, TX 77843-2258College Station, TX 77843-2258Ph: 979-458-1099Ph: 979-458-1099

E-mail: sarnold@ag.tamu.eduE-mail: sarnold@ag.tamu.edu

State Website: http://masternaturalist.tamu.eduState Website: http://masternaturalist.tamu.edu