prog orientation.01.09
TRANSCRIPT
The Mission
“To develop a corps of well-educated “Master Volunteers” to provide education, outreach and
service dedicated toward the beneficial management of
natural resources within their communities.”
VOLUNTEERSOUTREACH / EDUCATION / SERVICE
COMMUNITY
Program Goals• To improve public understanding of
natural resource ecology and management.
• To enhance existing natural resource education and outreach activities.
• To develop a Master Naturalist™ volunteer network that is eventually self-sufficient.
WHAT THE PROGRAM
IS NOT
RADICAL ENVIRONMENTALISTS
NUDISTS
Addressing an Urbanized Society
• 82% of Texans live in Urban Areas.
Why a New Program? Recognizing the Need
• We have a large supply of potential volunteers.• Meaningful volunteer opportunities are in demand.
• We have an under-supply of qualified adult volunteersfor “Natural Resources & Outdoor Education programs.”
• The availability of training recruits high-qualityvolunteers.
• We need natural resource ambassadors and urbanambassadors.
• Many natural resource and conservation organizationshave similar education, outreach and service missions.
“Ten Years of Tending to Texas”Tami Davis
I
March 1997
Alamo Area Chapter holds its
first training
II1998
North Texas, Capital Area &
Hays County Chapters Developed
1999
State Program Coordinator hired
Cross Timbers Elm Fork &Gulf Coast
Chapters Developed
“Ten Years of Tending to Texas”Tami Davis
I2000 First State
Meeting Held
Wildlife Management Institute’s
President’s 2000 Award
East Texas, Lindheimer,Lost Pines
& Mid-Coast
Chapters Developed
“Ten Years of Tending to Texas”Tami Davis
I2001
Brownwood, Cradle of Texas ,
Galveston Bay Area & Trans Pecos
Chapters Developed
I2002
TPWD Lonestar Legends Award
Jeff Quayle discovers Senecio quaylei
TAMU Vice Chancellor’s Award
National Audubon Society’s Habitat Heroes Award
Hill Country, Rio Grande Valley
Rolling Plains & South Texas
Chapters Developed
TNRCC Environmental Excellence Award
“Ten Years of Tending to Texas”Tami Davis
I2003
2000 Volunteers Trained
Big Country Heart of Texas, Highland Lakes,
Panhandle, Upper Texas Coast Chapters Developed
I2004
Coastal Prairie, Post Oak, &
Western Edwards Plateau
Chapters Developed
Assistant State Coordinator hired
Introduced the State Curriculum Manual
Conducted Formal Program Evaluation
Implemented Milestone Awards
First 5,000 hr. service award given
Celebrated our 5th Anniversary
“Ten Years of Tending to Texas”Tami Davis
I2005
Brazos Valley, Gideon Lincecum, Heartwood, Red River, Rio Brazos, Tierra
Grande Chapters Developed
I2006
1 Million Public contacts made
White Rock Lake Project receives Lonestar Land Steward Award
US Dept. of Interior‘s Take Pride in America Award
Blackland Prairie, Llano Estacado, & South Plains
Chapters Developed
½ Million Service Hours Recorded
2nd National Training
“Ten Years of Tending to Texas”Tami Davis
I2007
TEA Environmental Educator of the
Year Award
Cinco TierraChapter Developed
I2008
Cypress Basin & El Camino Real
Chapters Developed
1 Million Service Hours in 10 years? (Will we make it?!?)
Celebrated our 10th Anniversary
28 States have developed a Master Naturalist
program based off of ours!
Master Naturalist Certification Minimum Requirements
• 40 hours of combined classroom and field instruction.
• 8 hours of approved advanced training.• 40 hours of approved volunteer service projects.___________________________________
After certification, requires 40 hours volunteer service and 8 hours advanced training annually.
Important Rules to Follow“Do Not”
• Miss Class
• Profit
• Take the title of Master Naturalist in vain
• Cultivate personal biases or agendas
“Basic Training”
• Present day and Historical Naturalists. • Traditional Naturalist Disciplines. • Land management and Land use History.• Ecological Concepts.• Ecoregions of Texas.• Management of Natural Systems.• Interpretation and Communication.
40 hours of combined classroom and field experience:
“Advanced Training”
• Focuses on volunteers’ area of interest.
• Is mainly field oriented.
• Takes advantage of local partnerships.
• Is directed at specific trained volunteers.
8 hours
Volunteer Service Projects
• Are self-directed.• Are coordinated by the
local Chapters.• Consist of opportunities
developed by local partners.
• Take advantage of individual skills.
RX Fire Education at Dripping Springs High
School
Hays County Roadkill Survey
Blackland Prairie Restoration.
Local Speakers Bureau
40 hours of volunteer service projects that:
Project Examples
• Wildscape Maintenance and Demo Areas• Construction of Interpretive Trails and Maintenance• Streambank, Marsh and Prairie Restorations• Brush and Exotic Plant Control• Fish, Wildlife and Plant Inventories• Native Plant Seed Collections & Rescues• Natural Resource Youth Camps• Interpretive Tours
The Benefits
• Helping to make a difference for Texas’ Natural Resources – now and in the future.
• Learn from experts in their field.
• Providing important and valuable natural resource information.
Benefits
• Gaining an appreciation for and an understanding of natural environments
• Building new friendships and working relationships
• Individual & chapter awards and recognition
Popular Vote Contests:
Photo & Art Plants: 2nd Place
Katherin Bedrich, El Camino Real Chapter
Popular Vote Contests:
Photo & Art Chapter Projects/Master Naturalists at work or play:
3rd Place
Paula Englehardt, El Camino Real Chapter
Popular Vote Contests:
Photo & Art Scenery: 2nd Place
Paula Englehardt, El Camino Real Chapter
ONCE CERTIFIED?Maintaining certification is your
responsibility• Stay involved in chapter meetings and
projects
• Take advantage of advanced training opportunities
• Keep accurate records
Progress So Far….!
- 39 Chapters
- 300+ Partners
- 174 counties
- Over 70% of Texas
- 4,000 volunteers
Progress So Far….!
• 500+ Volunteers have trained annually.
• 88,000+ hours of community outreach & service projects annually--with a value of more than $1.5 Million annually.
• 100,000+ youth and adults and private landowners reached by Texas Master Naturalist Volunteer efforts annually.
• Developed or enhanced 430+ miles of interpretive trails
Progress So Far….!
• 300+ organizations have developed partnerships with local Texas Master Naturalist Chapters.
• 16 National, State and Local Awards for Program and Chapter Efforts
• A volunteer’s discovery of a new plant to science.
• Raised $120,000 in grants and donations for program and projects support.
Program Accomplishments (1997 through 2007)
• Over 650,000 hours of volunteer service valued at $8 Million
• Over 100,000 hours advanced training • Approx. 1.25 million people reached• Over 50,000 acres of habitat enhanced• Over 700 trail miles developed or
improved
Statewide Annual Meeting & Advanced Training
October 23 - 25, 2009October 23 - 25, 2009Mo RanchMo Ranch
Hunt, TexasHunt, Texas
The Future Looks Bright!
National Master Naturalist Program– Texas has trained other states in establishing
programs – 28 other state programs exist as a result
For More Information:
Michelle Haggerty, Prog. Coord. Michelle Haggerty, Prog. Coord. Texas Master Naturalist ProgramTexas Master Naturalist Program
Texas Parks & Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks & Wildlife Department309 Sidney Baker South309 Sidney Baker South
Kerrville, TX 78028Kerrville, TX 78028Ph: 830-896-2500Ph: 830-896-2500
Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
Sonny Arnold, Asst. Prog Coord. Sonny Arnold, Asst. Prog Coord. Texas Master Naturalist Program Texas Master Naturalist Program
Texas Parks & Wildlife DepartmentTexas Parks & Wildlife Department111 Nagle Hall, 2258 TAMUS111 Nagle Hall, 2258 TAMUS
College Station, TX 77843-2258College Station, TX 77843-2258Ph: 979-458-1099Ph: 979-458-1099
E-mail: [email protected]: [email protected]
State Website: State Website: http://masternaturalist.tamu.eduhttp://masternaturalist.tamu.edu