Now’s your chance to become a Texas Master Naturalist. Here’s how.

Special to Beneath the Surface News

If you’ve dreamed of becoming a certified Texas Master Naturalist, you’re in luck.

The Prairie Oaks Chapter of the program is offering a new spring class beginning in January and registration is now open. (Click here.)

The chapter gives residents of Comanche, Erath, Hamilton and Palo Pinto counties the opportunity to join a corps of volunteers dedicated to the beneficial management of the natural resources and wildlife in the region.

Participants will include a combination of local community members and Tarleton State University students from a wide array of backgrounds and experiences, providing rich opportunities for networking, learning and collaboration.

Certification as a Texas Master Naturalist requires that students complete 40 hours of initial training, 40 hours of community service and 8 hours of advanced training.

Texas Master Naturalists can be involved in anything from prairie restoration to bird hikes, trail management and education.

Trainees can volunteer for projects in the area including Lake Mineral Wells, Palo Pinto Mountains, Dinosaur Valley State Park, local school educational programs, and the Chapter’s signature projects: The Bosque River Nature Center and Nature Fest.

The classes will meet from 5-8 p.m. every Wednesday beginning Jan. 17 through April 24 at the Tarleton State University Agriculture Center.

The cost to participate is $100 per person or $75 per person for couples or family members sharing a textbook.

Financial assistance and payment plans are available upon request.