A certified Naturalist?

Nature Talk
17

In Texas there is a program co-sponsored by Texas Parks & Wildlife and Texas AgriLife (Texas A&M University). There are about 50 chapters throughout the state. I’m with the Mid-Coast chapter. The initial training is a program specifically developed by each chapter to educate about the ecosystems, plants, animals and habitats, etc in that region. After completing the initial training, students complete 40 hours of volunteer work to become certified. To recertify each year we complete 40 hours of volunteer work and 8 hours of education. My husband & I have been certified since 2007. We put in hundreds of hours and love it. We lead school group field trips to our local wetlands, participate in Christmas Bird Counts, remove abandoned crab traps, monitor nesting oystercatchers, maintain monofilament recycling, maintain kayak trails and many activities which benefit the natural environment. The Texas Master Naturalist program is the original and the concept has spread. https://txmn.tamu.edu/