TEXAS PANHANDLE CHAPTER OFFERS MASTER NATURALIST TRAINING THIS FALL

AMARILLO -– The Panhandle chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program will begin a new training class this fall. The class will start Sept. 11 and end Nov. 20.

The deadline for applications is Aug. 28. Enrollment costs $75 for a compact disc curriculum, or $90, for a print copy.

The 10-week course offers classroom instruction and field trips, typically taken Saturday mornings. Locations for classes will be at the discretion of the instructors, with some scheduled at the Wildcat Bluff Nature Center in Amarillo.

The Texas Master Naturalist Program is a collaborative effort of Texas Cooperative Extension and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. The partnership seeks to broaden the natural world experience for everyone through education and training.

Through the master volunteer-training program, participants can help children and adults in their community learn about Texas’ natural resources. Advanced training is available to those who want to learn about special subjects of interest.

To become a certified Master Naturalist, trainees participate in classes and field trips related to their local natural environment. They are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service and receive a minimum of eight hours of advanced training in approved classes. To maintain their certification, Master Naturalists must complete 40 hours of service and eight hours of advanced training each year.

For more information about the Texas Master Naturalist Program and to see if a class is scheduled nearby, go online to: http://masternaturalist.tamu.edu

To learn more about the class in the Panhandle, contact chapter representative, Lynn Rosa at (806) 358-2052, or Extension agent, Leon Church in Potter County at (806) 373-0713.

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