Registration is open for Texas Master Naturalist annual training program

Pharr, TEXAS—Winter Texans and residents over the age of 18 in Cameron, Hidalgo and Starr
counties are welcome to register to join the 2024 South Texas Border Chapter Texas Master
Naturalist training class.

Texas Master Naturalist is a unique educational volunteer program sponsored by Texas A&M
AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Sea Grant Program and the Texas Parks and Wildlife
Department.

Students attend weekly Thursday classes from 6 to 9 p.m. beginning January 11 through March
29, at St. George Orthodox Church Hall, 704 W. Sam Houston, in Pharr. Special field trips
arranged for trainees provide unique access and learning opportunities.

Classes are taught by local university professors, and other field experts, including those from
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
and U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Over 30 courses will be presented throughout the training. The program cost is $150 which
includes first year’s dues ($15) and the required textbook ($35). The rest of the funds cover
expenses for class supplies, training materials, venue rentals, field trip entrance fees, field trip
snacks/water and chapter t-shirts.

The class is limited to 30; apply soon if you are interested. The application is complete upon
payment of the $150 fee. Acceptance to the 2024 STBCTMN annual training is dependent on
successfully passing the TPWD background check.

For more information and to complete the registration visit our New Class Webpage:
https://www.stbctmn.org/the-next-class and follow instructions in the pdf icons. You may send questions to the new class director, Jim Gerry, at jimgerry@gmail.com or 630-464-4622. Check out the chapter website at https://www.stbctmn.org/.

Our chapter is based in Hidalgo County. Our sister chapter, Rio Grande Valley Chapter, is based
in Cameron County and can be contacted via riograndevalleychapter.tmn@gmail.com or class
signup at https://rgvctmn.org/2024-class.

Trainees join volunteer teams with other chapter members and work with special chapter
projects, federal and local wildlife parks as guides and docents, assist with coastal naturalist
programs, and opportunities about native plants and habitat, citizen science projects, bird
migration, shore birds and Gulf and beach inhabitants and trends.

The chapter advisors are Tony Reisinger, Cameron County Extension Agent for Coastal &
Marine Resources with Texas Sea Grant at Texas A&M University and the Texas AgriLife
Extension Service and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Park Superintendent Javier de Leon.