PWLC TMN -- BASIC TRAINING

PINEY WOOD LAKES CHAPTER – TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST – BASIC TRAINING

Texas Master Naturalists not only get their feet wet and their hands dirty, but while doing so they spend time in a natural setting, learn about different plant and animal species, and maybe even find something new. Learn how to become a Master Naturalist, meet old friends and make new ones -- all interested in the Natural Texas.

The Texas Master Naturalist program is a natural resource-based volunteer training and development program jointly sponsored statewide by the Texas AgriLife County Extension Agency and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. The overall mission of the Texas Master Naturalist Program is:

“to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the state of Texas.”

The four county (Polk, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler) Piney Wood Lakes Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program will host their 2012 Certification Training Program January 14 - March 24. The class schedule is Saturdays, 1:00-5:00 p.m. with three Saturday morning sessions. Classes will be held at the Texas AgriLife Meeting Room behind their offices at 602 E. Church. Cost of the training is $150.

Classes will include such topics as the Ecological Regions of Texas, Forests, Wetlands, Urban Areas, Archeology, Ichthyology, Nature of Naming, Geology and Soils, Plants, Mammology, Ornithology, Entomology and Herpetology. You will learn what a naturalist is, how to develop your observation skills, how to conserve our natural environment and how to give back to the community as a volunteer.

Certification as a Texas Master Naturalist requires a minimum of 40 hours of classroom and field study, 40 hours of volunteer work and an additional 8 hours of advanced training. To maintain your certification each year you will need to perform an additional 40 hours of volunteer work and attend 8 hours of advanced training.

Class dates are: January 14, 21, 28, February 4,11,18,25 and March 3, 10, 17 and 24.

Special morning sessions (9-12) will be held January 28, February 25 and March 10

Deadline for Registration: Has been extended -

For more information contact your Texas AgriLife County Extension Office:

Polk Co. – 936-327-6828 Trinity Co. – 936-642-1421

San Jacinto Co - 936-628-6407 Tyler Co. - 409-283-8284