Got an interest in flora, fauna, and all things outdoors?
Like to hang out with people who share your interests?
Want to help out with nature-related educational efforts and in state parks in the region?
The next round of training to become a Texas Master Naturalist is set to begin on Sept.9, and registration is underway now. Registration deadline is Aug. 26.
The purpose of the Texas Master Naturalist program 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.
The Texas Master Naturalist Program is sponsored by Texas A&M Agri-Life Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Training includes 40 hours of combined classroom and field studies taught by experts in their field.
Topics will include all aspects of the natural environment of the Panhandle eco-region.
Training sessions include Sept. 9 from 9:30 at 3 p.m. at the Potter County Agri-Life Building for Orientation, VMS, Citizen Science, and Butterflies from presenters including Bernice Blasingame, Misty Pierce, Joanne Toler, and Kathleen Guerrero.
Sept. 23 training will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Goodnight Historic Home at Goodnight covering Water Resources and Playas by Naturalists Joanne Toler and Jim Steiert.
On Oct. 14, training will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Alibates flint quarry covering Archaeology with Dr. Paul Katz.
Oct. 28 training will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Palo Duro Canyon State Park on Geology with Dr. Rick Hobbs.
Nov. 11 will see training from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Southwest Library on Weather, Ecoregions, and Water Resources – Rivers by Joanne Toler and Joanne Culen.
Sessions on Herpetology, Natural History, Mammalogy, Rangeland Management, Arachnids, Wildlife Management, Ornithology, and Plant Identification are all planned from January through May in 2024.
The Panhandle Chapter encompasses 26 counties of the Texas Panhandle and includes a diverse assortment of locations of interest.
Three of the largest are Palo Duro Canyon and Caprock Canyons State Parks as well as the Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.
Among other sites for learning are the region’s abundance of playas. Chapter meetings are typically the last Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Southwest Branch of the Amarillo Public Library.
Locations and dates vary a few times throughout the year, and can be checked on the chapter Facebook page for updated meeting information.