Program Sponsored by What is a Naturalist He instilled in me the mind and the values of a naturalist to be open to all possibilities to be a close and careful observer to discipline my interpretation with facts and to work hard at my passions so that they might bear fruit ID: 692506
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Texas Master Naturalist™ Program
Sponsored by
:Slide2
What is a Naturalist?
“
He instilled in me the mind and the values of a naturalist: to be open to all possibilities, to be a close and careful observer, to discipline my interpretation with facts, and to work hard at my passions so that they might bear fruit
.”
Bernd Heinrich, The Snoring Bird
“A naturalist studies the natural environment, generally with a broad range of interests, rather than with a particular specialty”
-
Christopher Buddle,
What Is a Naturalist?
Vernon BaileySlide3
Becoming a
Texas Master NaturalistSlide4
The Mission
“To develop corps of well-trained “Master Volunteers” to provide education, outreach and service dedicated toward the beneficial management of natural areas and resources within their communities for the State of Texas
.”Slide5
Program Goals
To develop a statewide Master Naturalist volunteer network that efficiently and effectively
Improves public understanding of natural resource ecology and management
Enhances existing natural resource education and outreach activitiesSlide6
Program History
March 1997 – 1st
Local Chapter est. in San AntonioMarch 1998 –
Statewide program est. through a TPWD-Texas A&M AgriLife
Extension PartnershipAugust 1999 – 1st State Program Coordinator2008 –
TMN State Program celebrates 10
th
year
2013 –
TMN State Program celebrates 15th year
2014 –
Assistant State Program CoordinatorSlide7
Present Day
48
Chapters today
200
+ countiesOver
78% of
Texas
82
chapter
advisors
TPWD
A&M
AgriLife
ExtensionSlide8
What Master Naturalist Volunteers do for our Sponsoring Agencies
Assists in addressing our agency missionsHelp to Improve public access to the outdoors
Increases support and awareness for conservation on public and private lands Slide9
What Master Naturalist Volunteers do for our Sponsoring Agencies
Supports Urban Wildlife Biology and Natural Resources Promotes Conservation Partnerships Improves Science and Data Collection Slide10
Program Impacts
10,800 Volunteers
have been trained
3.69 Million+ hours
of community outreach & service projects--with a value of more than $85 Million to dateOver 400,000+ youth and adults
reached annually and over
5.6 Million to dateSlide11
Program Impacts226,200 acres
of habitat enhanced
Over 2,120 miles
of interpretive trails developed or improved36 National, State and Local Awards
2014 TCEQ Texas Environmental Excellence AwardSlide12
Awards and Recognition
Wildlife
Management Institute’s President’s Award
TPWD Lonestar
Legends Volunteer Award TAMU Vice Chancellor’s Award of Excellence
National
Audubon Society Habitat Hero’s
AwardSlide13
Awards and Recognition
US Dept. of Interior’s Take Pride in America
Award (2005)
TCEQ
Environmental Excellence Award (2014)Texas League of Women Voters – Environmental Awareness Award (2014)
Governor’s Volunteer Award for Community Leadership (2014)Slide14
Awards and Recognition
Outstanding Educational Materials Award – ANROSP (2016)
Innovations
in American Government Awards-“Bright Idea in American Government” (2017)
Keep Texas Beautiful Award-Civic Organization (2017)Outstanding Book Award-Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society (2017)Slide15
Certification Requirements
40 hours of classroom and field instruction
8
hours of approved advanced training40
hours of approved service projects__________________________________ After certification, requires 40
hours volunteer service and
8
hours advanced training annuallySlide16
Basic Training
Present day and historical naturalists Traditional naturalist disciplines
Land management and land use historyEcological concepts
Ecoregions of TexasManagement of natural systems
Interpretation and communication
40 hours of classroom and field experience:Slide17Slide18
Advanced Training
Focuses on
volunteers’ area of interest
Is mainly field orientedTakes advantage of local partnerships
Is directed at specific programs in need of trained volunteers8 hours of advanced training:Slide19
Learn more at: http://txmn.org Slide20
Volunteer Service Projects
Are self-directed
Are coordinated by the local Chapters
Consist of opportunities developed by local partners
Take advantage of individual skills
40 hours of volunteer
service projects that:Slide21
Statewide Projects
•
Wildscape
maintenance and demo areas
• Construction of interpretive trails • Interpretive tours • Brush
and exotic plant management
• Fish
, wildlife and plant
inventories
•
Volunteer Monitoring Projects Slide22
• Small acreage landowner consultation
Native plant seed collections & rescues
• Natural resource youth camps• Habitat restoration
Statewide
ProjectsSlide23
Project ExampleTexas Wildlife Association
L.A.N.D.S. Program 2013-2014100’s Master Naturalists28 LANDS Field Days
9 Chapters InvolvedSlide24
Project ExampleTexas Wildlife Association
Recognized as “Volunteers of the Year”
Paul & Charlie GrindstaffSlide25
“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 partnersKeep accurate records
Don’t cultivate personal biases or agendasUse the Texas Master Naturalist title and certification appropriately
Maintaining certification is your responsibility Slide26
“But I don’t feel like a Master of Anything…”
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
What’s in a name?...
Ferdinand LindheimerSlide27
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 recognitionSlide28
2018 is our 20th Anniversary!Slide29
Local Chapter ProjectsTMN Volunteers Assist Staff by:
“Providing outreach that otherwise would not be done…Providing assistance in taking data, reducing the cost to agency or enabling research that otherwise could not be funded”
“
Assisting local landowners with becoming familiar with the resources they have on hand through their Land Management Assistance Program”
“They help with species checklists and monitoring, help with educating the public, support wildlife conservation and are willing to help me in any way they can”Slide30
What Staff say about the Program
- “Texas Master Naturalists provide high quality volunteers who are conscientious and reliable…”
- “A great volunteer base for your state park. This can include everything from park maintenance to park interpretive programming…”Slide31
What Staff say about the Program
“…Working with the MN’s is my favorite part of my job! Plus they are making huge impacts on local natural resources through restoration and education activities!... Lives are being changed because of the TMN program! Working with the MN’s is the most important thing I have done in my 22 year long career in natural resource protection and education!”Slide32
Stay Connected with Us!http:www.txmn.org
Join the ListServ [TMN]
https://www.facebook.com/TexasMasterNaturalistProgramSlide33
Questions?
Michelle Haggerty Texas Master Naturalist State Program Coordinator
830-896-2504
mmhaggerty@tamu.eduhttp://txmn.orgSlide34
Questions?
Mary Pearl Meuth
Texas Master Naturalist Assistant State Coordinator
979-845-7294mpmeuth@tamu.edu
http://txmn.org