From the Historian’s Corner

In June of 1996, the idea and plans for a group of volunteers to support the initiatives of the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department was created. Nineteen people started a program called the Natural Initiatives Program, and their first class graduated in 1997 with roaring success. The Alamo chapter was born!  The next year a committee was created with the cooperation of Texas Parks and Wildlife and Texas A & M Extension Services. This newly formed committee wanted to develop a state-wide program that they named the Texas Master Naturalist Program. Their mission for new chapters was 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 our community for the State of Texas.”  In 1998, three newly formed chapters graduated classes for the North Texas, Capital Area, and Hays County chapters. Today there are 48 Texas Master Naturalist chapters serving 213 counties.