2007 Master Naturalist Training Class

Fall class is full. If you'd like to put your name on a wait list for next year's class, please contact us.

Join the Lost Pines Chapter

We invite you to join the Lost Pines Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program. The goal of this program is to develop a group of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources natural areas in their community. Our chapter serves primarily Bastrop and Caldwell Counties. To join our chapter, sign up for the fall training class (see application below). In the Master Naturalist program, you will enhance your love of nature with research-based, scientifc knowledge. You will learn about the plants, animals and natural history of Central Texas, meet other people who enjoy nature, find out how to attract wildlife to your property, and share your knowledge through volunteer activities in our communities.

About Master Naturalist Training

Introductory Master Naturalist Training includes over 40 hours of intensive classroom and field based instruction -- with an emphasis on our local ecosystems -- conducted by experts in:

• Ecology
• Geology
• Climate
• Wildlife diversity
• Native Plants
• Aquatic ecology
• Forest/wetland/prairie land management
• And other natural resource fields.

Quick Facts

When: Training begins with an orientation class on August 13, 2007 and ends with graduation on Dec 17. Evening classes are Mondays, 6:30 to 9 PM (2 or 3 times a month). There are also five Saturday morning field trips planned. Click here for a revised schedule. (PDF file, 224 Kb)

Where: Some classes, including the August 13 orientation, will be held at the Bastrop State Park Refectory ( click for map ). Other classes will be held at the Redrock Community Center ( click for map ) or Caldwell County Extension office in Lockhart ( click for map ). Field trips will be held at various natural areas and parks in the area.

Map to Luling Foundation Farm (PDF). You can also link to the MapQuest map from www.lulingfoundation.org.

Click here for detail map of Buescher State Park. General Mapquest map of Buescher State Park

Map to Cooper Farm Natural Science Laboratory. (Cooper Farm website)

Cost: The class fee is $85. This fee includes a binder containing a comprehensive Texas Master Naturalist Curriculum (several hundred pages of educational materials), various hand-outs and other resources during the course, and dues for your first year as a member of the Lost Pines Chapter.

Certification: After completing the class, trainees may continue their education with 8 hours of Advanced Training and 40 hours of local volunteer activities within 1 year of graduation. This qualifies you to be a Texas Master Naturalist, at which time you will receive a Master Naturalist name tag and dragonfly pin. Local volunteer activities include:

• Plant or wildlife surveys
• Leading nature walks
• Land restoration
• Demonstration projects
• Educational presentations
• and more!

Application: To apply for the 2007 Training Class, please download one of the application forms below and return as indicated in the forms. If you use a Microsoft Word-compatible word processor, you can download the Word version (.doc file), fill it out using your word processor, and return it by Email. Otherwise, you can download the Acrobat .PDF file, print it, fill out by hand and return by regular mail. Please return applications by July 31. Enrollment is limited; we will contact you after receipt of your application to confirm your admission. The class fee ($85) is due on or before the date of the first class (August 13).

Application form, Microsoft Word format. Download to your hard drive, open and fill out the form in Word and save the completed application. Return by Email to the address below.	Application form, PDF format. Download, print, fill in by hand and return by regular mail.
Return applications electronically to naturaltx@mac.com, or by regular mail to: LOST PINES CHAPTER TEXAS MASTER NATURALIST c/o Texas Cooperative Extension Service Bastrop County 901 Pecan St. P. O. Box 650 Bastrop, Texas 78602	Sample Curriculum. (A general guide to the subjects that will be included in the training class.)

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