For almost a decade, the Lost Pines Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program has been training volunteers to help maintain the community’s natural resources and preserve the unique beauty and character of the local environment. The Lost Pines chapter, which was formed in 2000 to serve Bastrop and Caldwell counties, is gearing up for its 2010 training class and is looking for volunteers.

“As the area grows, it becomes imperative that we educate the public about the ecological treasures we have in the area and the importance of appreciating them and preserving them,” said Louise Ridlon, newly elected chapter president. “I’m so delighted that Bastrop County has an active environmental community and I’m excited about the opportunity to help that grow.”

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the AgriLife Extension Service developed the master naturalist program to create a pool of educated volunteers to serve natural resource agencies, local communities and non-profit groups.

“As Master Naturalists, we have the opportunity to connect with the residents of the area and help open their eyes to the value of open space, clean water, wildlife and diversity, not just for recreation, but for maintaining a balance,” Ridlon said. “I feel it’s important for people, especially children, to connect with nature and be aware of the wonders out there in our natural world. ”

Lost Pines Chapter volunteers built an interpretive trail at Lockhart State Park this past year, including the placement of signage along the trail route and a trail guide.

“As we grow we have more people with varied interest and ideas who can implement exciting new projects and activities, ” Ridlon said. “It’s a good time to be a Master Naturalist.”

The program has provided volunteers at parks, schools, festivals and community gatherings. Former chapter president Mark McClelland saw the chapter grow during his two-year tenure and is excited about its future.

“Having a Master Naturalist chapter in a community is a great benefit,” McClelland said. “Our chapter has provided thousands of hours of volunteer service at Bastrop, Buescher, and Lockhart state parks. We’ve visited local schools and provided classroom presentations and landscaping. We hold monthly plant and animal surveys at McKinney Roughs Nature Center. Our volunteers built trails and helped clean up the Colorado River Refuge and Lost Pines Nature Trail in Tahitian Village. We provide volunteers and assistance with local festivals like NatureFest and Earth Day.”

Mater Naturalist training includes over 40 hours of classroom and field instruction with a focus on local ecosystems. Experts in fields such as ecology, geology, climate, wildlife diversity, native plants, aquatic ecology, and forest, wetland and prairie management will be teaching classes.

“I think anyone who enjoys spending time outdoors and who would like to know more about our area is a good candidate,” McClelland said. “Once the basic training is completed, there are programs throughout the year covering more topics. For instance, last month’s program was on native bees and next month’s program will be on using a hand-held GPS unit.”

Master Naturalist training classes begin with an orientation class on Jan. 25 at the Refectory in Bastrop State Park at 6:30 p.m. Classes end with graduation on May 17. Evening classes are held two or three times a month on Monday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Five Saturday morning field trips are also planned. The class fee is $85 and includes a binder with the complete Texas Master Naturalist Curriculum.

A preliminary class schedule and application form is available at the chapter web site at www.lostpinesmasternaturalist.org.  Applications should be returned by Jan. 10.

“Our chapter leads the ‘Discover the Lost Pines’ nature walks on Saturday mornings,” McClelland said. “I never know if I’ll be leading one married couple or two dozen energetic scouts and their parents. But folks always come away with a greater appreciation for the park, the Lost Pines and the pleasure of walking in the woods and learning about the history of the area and the plants and animals.”

For additional information, contact the Bastrop County Extension Office at 581-7186 or e-mail bastrop-tx@tamu.edu or the Caldwell County Extension Office at 398-3122 or e-mail caldwell@ag.tamu.edu.