Get excited for our Texas Master Naturalist 2025 Annual Meeting – to be held Thursday, October 16th through Sunday, October 19th in College Station, Texas!
The Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for the Texas Master Naturalist volunteers from around the state to gather, participate in hands-on educational seminars, and receive all their Advanced Training requirements for the year in one weekend. It’s also an opportunity for program participants and supporters to network, share new ideas, and to learn from chapters in different regions of the state.
Countdown to the 2025 Annual Meeting
Welcome to College Station!
College Station isn’t just about Aggie pride; it’s also a haven of natural beauty! Nestled along the meandering Brazos River and surrounded by a majestic Post Oak Savannah, this area boasts of rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes for Master Naturalists to explore. Here, one can discover the harmonious blend of riverine ecosystems and savannah woodlands, and explore the rolling hills, thick forests and flat plains, while learning in a picturesque scene that is as educational as it is awe-inspiring!
College Station offers a charming blend of natural beauty and serene landscapes. The area is dotted with lush parks and green spaces, such as the picturesque Lick Creek Park, where you can enjoy scenic trails, vibrant wildflowers and diverse wildlife. The Brazos Valley provides a stunning backdrop with its rolling hills, serene waterscapes and expansive prairies, perfect for hiking, birdwatching and photography, making it a delightful destination for nature lovers—and our 2025 Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting!
Learn more about all you can see and do in College Station when you are in town for the Texas Master Naturalist 2025 Annual Meeting here!
This webpage contains all you need to know about the Annual Meeting and is updated regularly. Do you want to be one of the first to know about the new information? Sign up for a regular subscription of our TMN Email Listserv and follow us on Instagram and Facebook—plus turn on post notifications! Learn how to below:
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Agenda
Our agenda is not released yet. Check back later!
We have an awesome lineup of speakers this year, with 129 classroom presentations and 26 field sessions, covering a variety of topics presented by a variety of speakers from around the state. A huge thanks to the local contributing chapters for recruiting these sessions, speakers and locations! It’s going to be another great event full of learning and exploration!
This year, you have three options for viewing our 2025 Annual Meeting agenda! Below are two files: one is a matrix agenda showing a snapshot of the whole weekend, and the other is the full agenda complete with session descriptions. You can also visit our event website (Cvent) to view the full sessions and descriptions! Annual Meeting registrants will be able to access the Cvent agenda through our Annual Meeting App (the app is not yet available, check back closer to the event date).
Note: Changes to the agenda schedule and/or content are subject to be made at any given time. For the most up-to-date agenda, visit the Cvent website. Any changes in session times/locations are not guaranteed to be updated on the Agenda Matrix or Full Agenda PDF (both below). The Agenda Matrix was last updated on 9-10-25. The Full Agenda PDF was last updated on 7-28-25.
Agenda Matrix (PDF)
Full Agenda (PDF)
Full Agenda (Cvent Website)
To view this year’s Agenda, visit the event website on Cvent or log into your Attendee Hub on the app or online:
Registration
Our registration is not open yet. Check below for cost and other details!
Get ready to register for the best event of the year! You do not have to be a Master Naturalist to join us! The conference is open to the public. Below you can find a breakdown of the pricing:
Early Bird Registration Costs:
- Full Event: $480
- Two Day (Fri. & Sat.): $455
- One Day (Thur., Fri. OR Sat.): $305
- Rates applicable until August 31. After August 31, standard rates apply.
Standard Registration Costs:
- Full Event: $530
- Two Day (Fri. & Sat.): $505
- One Day (Thur., Fri. OR Sat.): $355
- Registration closes September 30.
Meals Only Costs:
- Guest Meals: $400
- Awards Dinner: $85
Registration includes:
- Full Event: Includes all sessions, events and meals (Thursday to Sunday) for the entire conference.
- Two Day (Friday & Saturday ONLY): Includes all sessions, events and meals on Friday and Saturday ONLY.
- One Day (Thursday, Friday OR Saturday ONLY): Includes all sessions, events and meals on Thursday, Friday OR Saturday.
- Guest Meals: Includes meals ONLY (Thursday to Sunday) for the entire conference.
- Awards Dinner: Includes meal ticket for Saturday night’s dinner ONLY.
Cancelation Policy: Any cancelations made on or before Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, will receive a partial refund (see event website for details). Any cancellations made after Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, are non refundable.
If you have any issues with registration, please contact the Friends of the Texas Master Naturalist Program at
The Texas Master Naturalist Program has established an Annual Meeting Code of Conduct as a positive step towards a safe and equitable gathering. All who register agree to abide by this code, and we provide it in full for your familiarity and reference. The code is also linked from the Annual Meeting app.
Need help with registration or payment processing?
Please contact one of our Friends of the Texas Master Naturalist Program officers:
- Jeanette Geiman, Treasurer – (210) 454-9243
- Carolyn Langlinais, Secretary – (281) 851-5330
Join our TMN Email Listserv to be the first to hear about the Annual Meeting registration and more.
Follow us on social media to hear news about the upcoming event
Lodging
Our lodging link is not open yet. Check back later!
This year’s Annual Meeting will be hosted at the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center, situated in the heart of Aggieland, on the Texas A&M University campus and across the street from the iconic Kyle Field.
The conference hotel room block is FULL; however; we have additional hotel block open at alternate hotels. Scroll down to learn more and book your stay!
Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center
Address: 177 Joe Routt Blvd, College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (888) 654-4436
Contracted Room Block: Wednesday, October 15 through Sunday, October 19, 2025.
*Note: There are a limited number of rooms contracted for Wednesday. If you have trouble booking, try moving your dates selected to Thursday through Sunday.
Cost: $159 plus 15.75% local occupancy tax
Includes:
- Complimentary Wifi in all rooms
- Complimentary overnight parking in attached Gene Stallings Boulevard Garage
- Access to hotel amenities
*Note: If there are issues with the links for hotels, please call their front desks to book under our Texas Master Naturalist block.
Holiday Inn Express and Suites
Address: 1203 University Dr E, College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 846-8700
Contracted Room Block: Wednesday, October 15 through Sunday, October 19, 2025.
How to Book: This block currently accepts over the phone reservations ONLY. Call now to book your stay! (979) 846-8700
*Note: There are a limited number of rooms contracted for Wednesday. If you have trouble booking, try moving your dates selected to Thursday through Sunday.
Cost: $145 plus 15.75% local occupancy tax
Includes:
- Complimentary Wifi in all rooms
- Complimentary overnight parking
- Complimentary breakfast
- Access to hotel amenities
- Approximately 10 minute drive time from the conference hotel
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Address: 950 University Dr E, College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 846-0400
Contracted Room Block: Wednesday, October 15 through Sunday, October 19, 2025.
*Note: There are a limited number of rooms contracted for Wednesday. If you have trouble booking, try moving your dates selected to Thursday through Sunday.
Cost: $129 plus 15.75% local occupancy tax
Includes:
- Complimentary Wifi in all rooms
- Complimentary overnight parking
- Complimentary breakfast
- Access to hotel amenities
- Approximately 10 minute drive time from the conference hotel
*Note – if there are issues with the links for hotels, please call their front desks to book under our Texas Master Naturalist block.
Comfort Suites University Drive
Address: 907 University Dr E, College Station, TX 77840
Phone: (979) 268-5500
Contracted Room Block: Wednesday, October 15 through Sunday, October 19, 2025.
*Note: There are a limited number of rooms contracted for Wednesday. If you have trouble booking, try moving your dates selected to Thursday through Sunday.
Cost: $110 plus 15.75% local occupancy tax
Includes:
- Complimentary Wifi in all rooms
- Complimentary overnight parking
- Complimentary breakfast
- Access to hotel amenities
- Approximately 10 minute drive time from the conference hotel
*Note – if there are issues with the links for hotels, please call their front desks to book under our Texas Master Naturalist block.
Parking
Conference attendees staying in the Texas A&M Hotel and Conference Center receive complimentary parking in the Gene Stallings Blvd Garage. This garage is connected to the second floor of the conference center via a bridge. This complimentary parking includes in and out privileges with room key card and is only for the Gene Stallings Blvd Garage. If you select to park in a different lot/garage, you will be required to pay that lot’s fee.
Conference attendees staying in one of the offsite hotel blocks will need to pay for parking at the Gene Stallings Blvd Garage or other campus parking. Parking in Gene Stallings Boulevard Garage is available to individual day/event guests through Texas A&M Transportation Services at the hourly rates set forth and posted on the day of the event. To view the rates, click here. Day/event guest parking does not include in and out privileges.
Gene Stallings Blvd Garage:
- Attached to conference center/hotel.
- Included in lodging for all onsite guests. Includes in & out privileges with room key card.
- Hourly/daily rates via Texas A&M Transportation Services for offsite guests.
- Garage has ~1,426 spaces, elevators, cameras, and direct access to the 2nd floor via a bridge.
Other parking options nearby (walkable):
- West Campus Garage (WCG).
- University Center Garage (UCG).
- Surface lots (e.g. Lot 42, 62, 67).
Payment and access:
- Payment accepted at entry machines or via ParkMobile app.
- Check Texas A&M Transportation Services to find current rates.
Sponsors
All sponsorships receive special recognition through conference communication, fliers, announcements, and programs. Sponsors could make a general contribution to support and sponsor the TMN Annual Meeting at any of the following levels with recognition at each level as given:
To be a sponsor, download the Sponsorship Packet and contact Mary Pearl Meuth – mpmeuth@tamu.edu
Vendors
We are once again hosting our event with the opportunity to invite a few key vendors and exhibitors with naturalist related goods, artwork, projects, plants, educational materials, and outreach from partnership organizations. The vendor booths will be located in the main conference area. Vendors will receive one 6’ table and two chairs. Electricity and other display needs may have additional costs and can be discussed if needed.
Please download the Vendor Packet and email Mary Pearl Meuth, mpmeuth@tamu.edu if you’re interested in being a vendor at the 2025 Annual Meeting.
Silent Auction
Our silent auction application is not open yet. Check back later!
TMN Annual Meeting Silent Auction – Donate an Item!
One of the highlights of the Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting each year is the Silent Auction! Proceeds directly support chapter project grants, scholarships for members to attend the Annual Meeting, and bringing in top-quality speakers and trainers for future events.
We invite both chapters and individual members to participate by donating new or like-new, naturalist-themed items. Popular donations include experiences, outdoor gear, nature guides and books, artwork or photography, gift certificates, and themed baskets that showcase your local region. Every contribution—large or small—helps make the auction a success.
How to participate
- Want to learn more? Check out the letter from the host chapter.
- Submit your item details: Silent Auction Donation Form
- Need a receipt for your donation? Silent Auction Donation Receipt
- Bringing an item to the meeting? Please attach a Silent Auction Bid Sheet
Thank you for helping us make this year’s Silent Auction our best yet—and for supporting conservation education across Texas!
Contests and Awards
Our contest and award applications are not open yet. Check back later!
We host four Annual Meeting contests each year. All award winners for last year can be seen here in the 2024 Annual Meeting Awards Wrap Up.
- Chapter Advisor Award
- Nominate your chapter’s advisor(s) to be recognized!
- Chapter Project Fair
- Submit your chapter project for our virtual fair!
- Video Contest
- Videos of 1 minute to 3 minutes highlighting chapter activities!
- Photo, Art & Media Contest
- Photos and art taken in/focused on Texas
- Media developed for chapter use/promotion
- Note: Photos & Media must be taken somewhere in Texas.
Submission forms for the contests can be found on the pages below:
2025 Annual Meeting Photo, Art & Media Contest
Best of Show 2024 We are excited to once again host our annual Photo, Art…
2025 Annual Meeting Video Contest
We are now accepting Video Contest submissions for the 2025 Annual Meeting! Release the director…
2025 Annual Meeting Chapter Project Fair
We are now accepting Chapter Project Fair submissions for the 2025 Annual Meeting! The Texas…
2025 Annual Meeting Chapter Advisor Award
The Texas Master Naturalist Program presents the Chapter Advisor Award to outstanding advisors and/or teams…
Speakers
Proposals for our 2024 Annual Meeting are closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an classroom and/or field session! The submission period for the 2025 Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting is now closed.
If you are a speaker for this year’s meeting, please use the Speaker Resource Center for connecting with resources for the upcoming meeting. On the Speaker Resource Center page, we’ll be able to send reminders for speakers, share conference training tools, and give you a platform for uploading session materials to be shared with your session participants!
If you are a speaker, log into the Speaker Resource Center to update your bio/photo, check your schedule, and more!
Attending the 2025 Annual Meeting?
Attendee Hub (Web): https://cvent.me/0Q10X9
Things to Do
Make the journey part of the adventure! As you head to this year’s Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting, take time to explore the rich and diverse natural landscapes along your route. Whether you’re coming from the piney woods of East Texas, the coastal plains, or the wide-open Hill Country, Texas offers endless opportunities to stretch your legs, spot local wildlife, and discover new habitats. From state parks to wildlife refuges and hidden roadside gems, your drive can be just as inspiring as the destination. Plan a few scenic stops—you never know what you’ll learn or who you’ll meet on the trail! To help you out, we’ve included a few suggestions below.
The items in our Things to Do list are not part of the Annual Meeting agenda and are not pre-approved for Advanced Training hours. AT approval must be reviewed by the chapters. To review AT criteria, review our Chapter Management and Operating Protocols.
Waco Mammoth National Monument
6220 Steinbeck Bend Dr., Waco, TX 76708
“Standing as tall as 14 feet and weighing 20,000 pounds, Columbian mammoths roamed across what is present-day Texas thousands of years ago. Today, the fossil specimens represent the nation’s first and only recorded evidence of a nursery herd of ice age Columbian mammoths. It all started with a discovery in 1978. Take a close look at many of the fossils, and learn about the stories of these animals from the Pleistocene Epoch (the Ice Age).” [From their website]
The Waco Mammoth National Monument preserves an amazing find of a herd of Columbian mammoths unearthed near Waco, Texas. Rangers provide an interpretive experience as visitors view an active excavation with multiple mammoth (and a camel) skeleton from a catwalk over the site in an air-conditioned weatherproof building. Children’s activities are also provided.
This site is too far for a meeting field trip, but is a must-do for those coming from or going to the north!
Entry: Adults $6, Seniors (62+) $5, Youth (4-17) $5 | Hours: 9 AM to 5PM
Birding at Lick Creek Park
13600 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77845
Explore and go birdwatching at Lick Creek Park at your convenience during the conference. Make sure to take advantage of the park’s two bird blinds, Wild Birds Unlimited feeder stations, and many deeply forested habitats within the park! If you forgot your binoculars, no problem! You can borrow a set from the office any day between 8 AM and 4 PM.
https://www.cstx.gov/departments___city_hall/parks/bird_city
Entry: Free | Hours: 8 AM to 4PM
Haunted Hike
13600 Rock Prairie Road, College Station, TX 77845
Prepare for a thrilling encounter on an exclusive night hike through Lick Creek Park under the cover of darkness. Start your event with a spooky guided hike focused on our local cryptids in College Station, like the Chupacabra, prairie devils, gator man, and even the world-famous sasquatch! As we explore the park at night, we might encounter some of our native wildlife, like bats, snakes, owls, and fireflies. Registration includes access to an exclusive hallowed hangout with classic monster movies, photo props, yard games, a spooky smores station and more. Space is limited—learn more and register.
Entry: $10 | Friday, October 17 • 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
Birding at Lake Bryan
8200 Sandy Point Rd, Bryan, TX 77807
Just minutes from Downtown Bryan, Kyle Field, College Station and Texas A&M University, Lake Bryan’s outdoor recreational opportunities are unmatched in Aggieland. The hiking trails around Lake Bryan have been an asset to the park for many years and are home to numerous birds and other wildlife.
Entry: $5/person
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site
23400 Park Rd 12, Washington, TX 77880
If you are driving from south of College Station, consider stopping at Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site; the location where 59 delegates met in 1836 to formally declare Texas’ independence from Mexico. Unfortunately, much of the site (Independence Hall/town, trails, museum/visitors center) are currently closed for renovations. The Barrington Plantation, however, is open Wednesday through Sunday with a discounted entry fee. This is operated as a living history farm and was the home of Dr. Anson Jones, last president of the Republic of Texas. Today, using Anson’s daybooks and accounts as their guide, costumed interpreters employ 1850s methods and materials for working the fields and livestock. The site hosts a variety of heirloom plants and animals.
Entry: $4 | Hours: Wed – Sun • 10 AM to 4 PM
View the past 6 Annual Meetings:
- 2024 Annual Meeting – October 24 – 27, 2024, San Marcos, TX
- 2023 Annual Meeting – October 14 – 17, 2023, McAllen, TX
- 2022 Annual Meeting – October 20 – 23, 2022, Houston, TX
- 2021 Annual Meeting – October 21- 24, 2021, Hybrid, Irving, TX
- 2020 Annual Meeting – October 14 – 17, 2020, Virtual
- 2019 Annual Meeting – October 18 – 20, 2019, Rockwall, TX