Writer: Kay Ledbetter, 806-677-5608, skledbetter@ag.tamu.edu
Contact: Megan Eikner, 806-373-0713, megan.eikner@ag.tamu.edu
AMARILLO – Anyone interested in spending time outdoors and helping manage natural resources and natural areas can sign up for the next Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Texas Master Naturalist training class set to begin April 6.
The Texas Master Naturalist program is a collaborative effort between AgriLife Extension and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said Megan Eikner, AgriLife Extension agriculture and natural resources agent for Potter County.
Enrollment fee is $95, and the first class will meet at the Southwest Amarillo Public Library, 6801 SW 45th Ave., Amarillo. For the full class schedule, go to the Panhandle Chapter website at https://txmn.org/pc/, and click on the “Join Us” tab.
The program trains citizen volunteers on the management of natural resources and natural areas in their communities, Eikner said. Class training topics include habitat, conservation, water resources and history, animals and insects.
The main qualification for a Texas Master Naturalist certification is an interest in learning about and playing an active part in conservation, she said. Volunteers will receive a minimum of 40 hours of basic training from educators and specialists from universities, natural resource agencies, nature centers and museums.
Once certified, Eikner said, volunteers must provide 40 hours of service a year in community education, demonstration and habitat enhancement projects to maintain certification. They are also expected to pursue a minimum of eight hours of advanced training in areas of personal interest.
The Panhandle Chapter encompasses 26 counties and includes a diverse assortment of locations of interest. Three of the largest are Palo Duro Canyon, Caprock Canyons State Park and the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.
For more information, contact Eikner at 806-373-0713 or megan.eikner@ag.tamu.edu, or Susie Wheeler at susiewhe@hotmail.com.
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