The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Texas Master Naturalist organization will be holding a new chapter rally on Dec. 16.
The event will take place from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center at 1619 Garner Field Road in Uvalde. Everyone interested is invited to attend, whether or not they are currently a Master Naturalist, coordinators said.
The potential new chapter would serve Kinney and Uvalde counties. Texas Master Naturalists was established in 1997, includes 48 chapters serving 203 counties, and has over 12,800 volunteers.
“This rally should be a great way to bring people together, gauge interest and kick-start the new chapter,” said Maureen Frank, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist, Uvalde.
The mission of Master Naturalists is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the state of Texas.
Many communities and organizations rely on Master Naturalists for implementing youth education programs, and to operate parks, nature centers and natural areas. Master Naturalists are key in providing leadership in local natural resource conservation efforts, Frank said.
The meeting is open to anyone interested in starting this new chapter, regardless of what county they reside in. There are training opportunities scheduled across the state for winter 2019 through spring 2020 for volunteers interested in getting certified to serve Master Naturalist chapters across Texas.
“Master Naturalists are an integral part in many Extension programs that we do and events that we put on,” said Emily Grant, AgriLife Extension agent for Val Verde County. “Master Naturalists are people who love nature and generously donate their time to share their knowledge with others.”
She said these trained naturalists have specialized knowledge of different species, ecosystems, habitats and environmental demands that is invaluable when deciding how to best manage the state’s natural resources.
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