Texas Master NaturalistTexas Master Naturalist™™ ProgramProgram

Sponsored bySponsored by::

The MissionThe Mission““To develop corps of well-trained “Master To develop corps of well-trained “Master

Volunteers” to provide education, outreach and Volunteers” to provide education, outreach and service dedicated toward the beneficial service dedicated toward the beneficial

management of natural areas and resources management of natural areas and resources within their communities for the State of Texaswithin their communities for the State of Texas.”.”

Program GoalsProgram Goals

To develop a statewide Master Naturalist To develop a statewide Master Naturalist volunteer network that efficiently and volunteer network that efficiently and effectively :effectively :

• Improves public understanding of natural resource Improves public understanding of natural resource ecology and managementecology and management

• Enhances existing natural resource education and Enhances existing natural resource education and outreach activitiesoutreach activities

Program HistoryProgram History

• March 1997March 1997 – – 11stst Local Chapter est. in San Antonio Local Chapter est. in San Antonio

• March 1998March 1998 – Statewide program est. through a – Statewide program est. through a

TPWD-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension PartnershipTPWD-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Partnership

• August 1999 August 1999 –– 11stst State Program Coordinator State Program Coordinator

• 2008 2008 –– TMN State Program celebrates 10 TMN State Program celebrates 10 thth year year

• 20132013 –– TMN State Program celebrates 15 TMN State Program celebrates 15 thth year year

Present DayPresent Day

- 42 Chapters

- 370+ Partners

- 200 counties

- Over 78% of Texas

- 8,850+ volunteers

- 82 chapter advisors-TPWD- AgriLife Extension

What Master Naturalist Volunteers What Master Naturalist Volunteers do for our Sponsoring Agencies do for our Sponsoring Agencies

• Assists in addressing our agency missions

• Help to Improve public access to the outdoors

• Increases support and awareness for conservation on public and private lands

What Master Naturalist Volunteers What Master Naturalist Volunteers do for our Sponsoring Agencies do for our Sponsoring Agencies

• Supports Urban Wildlife Biology and Natural Resources

• Promotes Conservation Partnerships

• Improves Science and Data Collection

Program ImpactsProgram Impacts““Bit by bit builds to bunches…”Bit by bit builds to bunches…”

• 8,852+8,852+ VolunteersVolunteers have been trained have been trained

• 2.434 Million+ hours2.434 Million+ hours of community outreach & of community outreach & service projects--with a value of more than service projects--with a value of more than $47 $47 Million Million to dateto date

• Over 200,000+ youth and adultsOver 200,000+ youth and adults reached reached annually and overannually and over 4.1 Million to date 4.1 Million to date

Program ImpactsProgram Impacts

““Bit by bit builds to bunches…”Bit by bit builds to bunches…”

• 206,300+ acres206,300+ acres of habitat enhanced of habitat enhanced

• Over Over 1,850+ miles1,850+ miles of interpretive trails developed or of interpretive trails developed or improvedimproved

• 31 National, State and Local Awards31 National, State and Local Awards

Certification RequirementsCertification Requirements

• 4040 hours of classroom and field instructionhours of classroom and field instruction

• 88 hours of approved advanced traininghours of approved advanced training

• 4040 hours of approved service projectshours of approved service projects

____________________________________________________________________

After certification, requires After certification, requires 4040 hours volunteer hours volunteer service and service and 88 hours advanced training annuallyhours advanced training annually

““Basic Training”Basic Training”

• Present day and historical naturalists Present day and historical naturalists

• Traditional naturalist disciplines Traditional naturalist disciplines

• Land management and land use historyLand management and land use history

• Ecological conceptsEcological concepts

• Ecoregions of TexasEcoregions of Texas

• Management of natural systemsManagement of natural systems

• Interpretation and communicationInterpretation and communication

40 hours of classroom and field experience:

““Advanced Training”Advanced Training”

• Focuses onFocuses on volunteers’ area volunteers’ area of interestof interest

• Is mainly field orientedIs mainly field oriented

• Takes advantage of local Takes advantage of local partnershipspartnerships

• Is directed at specific Is directed at specific programs in need of trained programs in need of trained volunteersvolunteers

8 hours of advanced training:

““I’m ‘Legal’ now What?”I’m ‘Legal’ now What?”

• Stay involved in your local Chapter meetings and projects

• Attend initial trainings and take advantage of AT offered through your local Chapter and partners

• Keep accurate records

• Don’t cultivate personal biases or agendas

• Use the Texas Master Naturalist title and certification appropriately

Maintaining certification is your responsibility

““But I don’t feel like a Master But I don’t feel like a Master of Anything…”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

The Benefits: What’s in it for you?The Benefits: What’s in it for you?

Opportunity! •Help make a difference in Texas Natural Resources—now and for the future

•Learn from Experts in the field

•Provide important and valuable natural resource information

•Gain an appreciation for and understanding of natural environments

•Develop new friendships and working relationships

•Obtain Individual awards and recognition

Statewide Annual Meeting Statewide Annual Meeting and Advanced Trainingand Advanced Training

October 24-26, 2014 Mo Ranch Conference Center, Hunt, TX

Learn more/register on line at: http://txmn.org

Volunteer Service ProjectsVolunteer Service Projects

• Are self-directedAre self-directed

• Are coordinated by the local Are coordinated by the local ChaptersChapters

• Consist of opportunities developed Consist of opportunities developed by local partnersby local partners

• Take advantage of individual skillsTake advantage of individual skills

40 hours of volunteer service projects that:

Statewide Statewide ProjectsProjects

• Wildscape maintenance and demo areas

• Construction of interpretive trails

• Interpretive tours

• Brush and exotic plant management

• Fish, wildlife and plant inventories

• Volunteer Monitoring Projects

• Small acreage landowner consultation

• Native plant seed collections & rescues

• Natural resource youth camps

• Habitat restoration

Statewide Statewide ProjectsProjects

Local Chapter ProjectsLocal Chapter ProjectsTMN Volunteers Assist Staff by:TMN Volunteers Assist Staff by: – ““Providing outreach that otherwise would not be done…Providing outreach that otherwise would not be done…

Providing assistance in taking data, reducing the cost to Providing assistance in taking data, reducing the cost to agency or enabling research that otherwise could not be agency or enabling research that otherwise could not be funded”funded”

– ““Assisting local landowners with becoming familiar with the Assisting local landowners with becoming familiar with the resources they have on hand through their Land resources they have on hand through their Land Management Assistance Program”Management Assistance Program”

– ““They help with species checklists and monitoring, help They help with species checklists and monitoring, help with educating the public, support wildlife conservation with educating the public, support wildlife conservation and are willing to help me in any way they can”and are willing to help me in any way they can”

What Staff say about the Program What Staff say about the Program

- “Texas Master Naturalists provide high quality - “Texas Master Naturalists provide high quality volunteers who are conscientious and reliable…”volunteers who are conscientious and reliable…”

- “A great volunteer base for your state park. This - “A great volunteer base for your state park. This can include everything from park maintenance to can include everything from park maintenance to park interpretive programming…”park interpretive programming…”

What Staff say about the Program What Staff say about the Program

“…“…Working with the MN’s is my favorite part Working with the MN’s is my favorite part of my job! Plus they are making huge of my job! Plus they are making huge impacts on local natural resources through impacts on local natural resources through restoration and education activities!... restoration and education activities!... Lives are being changed because of the Lives are being changed because of the TMN program! Working with the MN’s is TMN program! Working with the MN’s is the most important thing I have done in my the most important thing I have done in my 22 year long career in natural resource 22 year long career in natural resource protection and education!”protection and education!”

Awards and RecognitionAwards and Recognition• Wildlife Management Institute’s President’s AwardWildlife Management Institute’s President’s Award

• TPWD Lonestar Legends Volunteer Award TPWD Lonestar Legends Volunteer Award

• TAMU Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence TAMU Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence

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

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

• TCEQ Environmental Excellence Award TCEQ Environmental Excellence Award

Questions? Questions?

Michelle Haggerty Michelle Haggerty

Texas Master Naturalist Texas Master Naturalist

State Program Coordinator State Program Coordinator

830-896-2504830-896-2504

mhaggerty@ag.tamu.edu

http//:txmn.orghttp//:txmn.org