The Texas Master Naturalist program is designed to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers who provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the State of Texas. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and Texas Parks and Wildlife serve as sponsors for the program.  Many communities and organizations rely on such citizen volunteers for implementing youth education programs; for operating parks, nature centers, and natural areas; and for providing leadership in local natural resource conservation efforts. In fact, a short supply of dedicated and well-informed volunteers is often cited as a limiting factor for community-based conservation efforts.  Trained Master Naturalists are instrumental in providing valuable educational opportunities in the counties they serve for both youth and adult learners.  Come join the movement, share your passion, and extend the education of natural resource management and conservation.

The Gideon Lincecum Chapter, covering Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lee, and Washington Counties, will begin its 2016 certification training course on January 25th at the Windeale Heritage Center near Round Top.  Classes will be held every Monday evening from 6:00 to 9:00pm through April 25, 2016.  Most classes are held at the Winedale Heritage Center near Round Top.  In addition to the classroom training, hands-on field trips are held throughout the 5 county areas on four separate Saturdays.  Registration for the course is $175.00 per person or $325.00 per couple sharing class materials.  You will learn from expert and talented specialists and educators about Texas eco-regions; native fauna and flora identification; preservation and conservation techniques; and natural resources management in our region of Austin, Colorado, Fayette, Lee and Washington Counties.  Have fun and learn about this diverse and intriguing Central Texas region.  For more information and to view the class schedule please visit our website at http://txmn.org/glc or call Jerry Gips (979.378.2938), or Cindy Hobbs (979.338.9374).