The Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) organization is a state-wide program designed to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach and service for the benefit of natural resources and natural areas within their communities.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service serve as sponsors for the program.

To date, there have been 9,676 TMN volunteers trained, provided more than 2,833,064 volunteer service hours logged, 446,850 Advanced Training hours obtained, over 218,000 acres impacted, 1,946 trail miles, and nearly 400 partnerships.  These volunteer hours are valued at more than 9.17 million dollars.

This service has resulted in enhancing thousands of acres of wildlife and native plant habitats, reaching more than 1.2 million youths, adults and private landowners. One Master Naturalist even discovered a new plant species.

Currently many projects are happening because of the work of Texas Master Naturalist chapters, of which there are now 46. This included helping renovating and restoring parks, waterways, rivers, streams, and wildlife habitat.  Many chapters host educational events for adults and children on topics like the use of native plants, wildlife management, and wetlands and stream restoration.

Texas Master Naturalist volunteers make a difference in the stewardship of natural resources across our great state and Bell County has its very own Texas Master Naturalist chapter-the Central Texas Chapter-founded in 2010.

Central Texas Master Naturalists have been involved with many community projects since its founding.

•Cleanup and trail building at Mother Neff State Park and Miller Springs Nature Center

•Planting more than 2,000 plants at Stillhouse Hollow Wetlands

•Hosting a Naturalist speaker series and book reviews at the Salado Library

•Installing public butterfly gardens and native plants in a sculpture garden

•Removal of invasive plants at Miller Springs Nature Center

•Hosted several Nature Fests in October

•Cleanup of Andy Wells and Nolan Creek Hike and Bike Trails

The Central Texas Chapter expands their ability to positively affect Bell County ecosystems by partnering with other local organizations such as Keep Salado Beautiful, Keep Temple Beautiful, Corp of Engineers and the program sponsors-Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

An individual becomes a certified Texas Master Naturalist after participating in a local chapter training course with 40 hours of field and classroom instruction, obtaining eight hours of advanced training and completing 40 hours of volunteer service.  To remain certified, advanced training and volunteer service hour requirements must be met annually.

The Central Texas Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists is currently taking applications for its 2016 class.  Registration fee is $150 which includes all training materials and annual chapter dues.  The deadline for registration is March 21, 2016.

Orientation will be Mar. 22, from 6 – 8 p.m. at Harris Community Center, 401 N. Alexander St., Belton. Classes begin Mar. 29, with some evening classes and some Saturday field trips. For more information on the Central Texas Master Naturalist Chapter, please visit the website at http://txmn.org/centraltexas or email ctmn.bell@gmail.com or call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office at 254- 933-5305.

Upcoming Events:

April 2, Bell County Master Gardeners Spring Plant Sale 8:00 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Belton Co. AgriLife Extension Service Building

1605 North Main Street

Educational programs of the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service are open to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status.

The Texas A&M University System, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the County Commissioners Courts of Texas Cooperating