Master Naturalist Training Offered

Master Naturalists provide education and information at events.

Since 1997, the Texas Master Naturalist™ program has grown to include 46 chapters and more than 9,600 volunteers serving Texas communities throughout 76 percent of the state’s counties. The mission of the 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. (http://txmn.org/about/)

Master Naturalist Larry Vargus leading youth program at HNWR on endangered species.

Anyone interested in plants, animals, weather, geology and preserving our natural systems can join in this effort; registration is now open for the fall session of training as a Texas Master Naturalist, Bluestem Chapter, serving Grayson County. Classes will meet on the Saturdays as shown in the schedule below, and this year the training venues vary from week to week covering a larger portion of Grayson County.

Master Naturalists on field trip. (photo courtesy Ginger Mynatt)

Tuesday, August 23,  Grayson County Courthouse, second-floor meeting room

6:00 – 9:00 p.m. Orientation




Saturday classes meet from 9:00 – 4:00 on the following dates:


August 27, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge

Ornithology with focus on Shorebirds, History of Hagerman; Wetland Ecology and Management, History and Archaeology of Hagerman, Reporting System


September 10, Eisenhower State Park,
Prairies, Entomology, Forestry



September 24, Austin College IDEA Center (Science Bldg)
Herpetology, Ecological systems, Mammalogy,


October 1, Grayson College Science Lab
Geology and Regions of Texas, Gems and Minerals, Advanced Training, Nature of Naming


October 22, Gardenland Nursery, Sherman
Urban Systems, Aquatic Systems, Ichthyology


October 29, HNWR
Weather, Interpretative Teaching, Class Project.


All classes are taught by qualified presenters, experts in their field, many of them in the field as well as the classroom. Click Presenters to learn more about the faculty for the Fall Training.  Registration closes August 18, 2016. The cost of classes is $100. Interested people may contact the chapter through http://www.friendsofhagerman.com/Contact. Scroll down the web page to "Contact Bluestem Master Naturalists".

Master Naturalists Dave Parsons, Ginger Mynatt, at "Art in Nature" youth program at HNWR.

Master Naturalist Roxie Wilson volunteers as tram driver/guide at HNWR.

Master Naturalists (shown here - Pat Crone) lead Butterfly Garden programs at HNWR for youth and adults.

Master Naturalists organized and staffed Nature O'logy 2016, outdoor experience at HNWR for 10 year-olds. (photo courtesy Bluestem Chapter)