CAMN Spring 2025 Application

Thank you for your interest in the Capital Area Master Naturalist (CAMN) program. CAMN is a chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) program, a statewide organization sponsored jointly by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. The mission statement of this 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. Our members participate in stewardship and preservation of our natural resources and educate the public to encourage their participation as well.

Sixty hours of classroom and field training will be provided to new CAMN members-in-training by experts who cover a wide selection of topics in Central Texas natural history. Attendance at all scheduled classes is required, although a missed class may be made up.

In exchange for this training, Master Naturalist trainees are expected to complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours advanced training in approved Master Naturalist projects and programs in their communities by the end of the calendar year 2025 and in each subsequent year. Only those completing all classes and the required 40 hours of volunteer service and 8 hours of advanced training will be awarded the Master Naturalist certification.

CAMN volunteers must complete 40 hours of approved volunteer service and 8 hours advanced training each year to recertify. As you strive to meet the annual commitments, you will have the opportunity to work with various experts and other volunteers on a variety of projects to benefit our community and promote stewardship of our natural resources. Additionally, your service time (valued at $23.00/hour) is used as in-kind match for a federal grant TPWD receives which supports the TMN program and other conservation and stewardship efforts in Texas.

The next CAMN training session will begin in January 2025 with a half day Saturday orientation meeting in early January and continue with classes on ten selected Saturdays through mid May 2025. Classes typically last 6 hours with a lunch break in the middle. Below you can see the tentative schedule. However, please be aware that these are tentative dates and subject to change. The final schedule of orientation and exact class days and times will be shared with those who have been selected. Although a class may be made up, make-up classes will not approximate the experience provided by class attendance.

Proposed 2025 training class schedule (class dates subject to change)

The following is a tentative schedule for the Spring 2025 In-Person class. Note, the actual schedule may differ in locations and topics.

The classes meet at various sites and each consists of both classroom and outdoor learning activities.

Volunteer opportunities will be available during the training period to allow students to complete a portion of the required 40 hours of volunteer service prior to completion of the training.

Registration fees of $140 are required from each accepted applicant to cover the cost of handouts, materials, park entrance fees, space rental, criminal background checks, and the graduation luncheon. Full or partial scholarships are available for those needing financial assistance.

Enrollment is limited to provide a quality experience for each trainee. Applications will be accepted from October 1 through October 31 and reviewed by a selection committee during the month of November. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance in early December. Strong applicants are those who express a commitment to stewardship of our natural resources and demonstrate a willingness and ability to contribute their time both to long-term volunteer service and a demanding first-year training course. Preference is given to applicants who have a recent consistent history of volunteer activity.

All CAMN applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, disabilities, or formal education.

Applicants’ names and other identifying information will be removed before consideration by the selection committee. Please do not include your name or any other personal identifying information in any part of the application other than the Name and Contact Information section.

Note: Personal recommendations, including those from current CAMN members, should not be included in the application. These will not strengthen your application. We encourage you to take your time and fill it out thoughtfully. We typically receive many more applications than we can accept, which makes the selection process quite competitive.

Applications will only be received via this website.

Please note that we will require a check, money order or PayPal for the registration fee of $140 at the orientation meeting. Full or partial scholarships are available for those needing financial assistance.

We hope to work alongside you in the field!

TPWD prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (gender/orientation), religion, disability and age pursuant to state and federal law. Our goal is to create an environment that is inclusive, drawing upon the strengths of a diverse volunteer force to exceed the expectations of TPWD’s customers. Your response is voluntary. Your decision to disclose or not disclose the following information in no way affects your ability to volunteer with TPWD.