Dear Texas Master Naturalists:
As we enter into National Volunteer Recognition Day on April 20 and National Volunteer Week, April 20 – 26, we want to take a moment to celebrate YOU. Spring for the Texas Master Naturalist Program always comes with such vibrant energy and a busy season of conservation and stewardship activities! April and National Volunteer week are true testaments to your dedication and passion for our natural resources. This month, as part of Global Volunteer Month and National Volunteer Week, we want to pause and express our deepest gratitude for everything you do as a Texas Master Naturalist volunteer to steward, protect, and conserve our natural resources.
This year’s theme for Global Volunteer Month is “Volunteers Make Waves” emphasizing the ripple effect of volunteering that also encourages others to act too…. and boy do Texas Master Naturalist volunteers make waves! You, our incredible volunteers, are at the heart of the Texas Master Naturalist Program. Every day, you make waves demonstrating what it means to be leaders in conservation. Your commitment is awe-inspiring and reaches far beyond the events, workshops, and projects in which you participate. You are the catalysts of change and the ambassadors for nature in communities across our great state of Texas.
Throughout this month, we invite you to celebrate the waves that you have made through your amazing accomplishments—whether through local events, social media shout-outs, or simply reflecting on the difference you make. From Earth Day on April 22 to Arbor Day on April 25 and the City Nature Challenge from the 25 to the 28, there are so many opportunities to be a part of the movement and continue making an impact. Know that we are cheering you on and sharing your stories across our social media platforms. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram as we highlight the exceptional work you’re doing.
The numbers are staggering, and yet they only scratch the surface of the true impact you’ve had. In 2024 alone, Texas Master Naturalists contributed in monumental ways—completing service projects, forming vital conservation partnerships, changing landscapes, and educating communities. Our 2024 Annual Report will further showcase the incredible contributions of you and your fellow Master Naturalists and Chapters statewide. We encourage you to share these resources and stories with your friends, family, and colleagues, as they illustrate the powerful and lasting legacy of your work and invite them to sing your praises and join the movement with you.
As a part of the Texas Master Naturalist family, you are helping to shape the future of our state’s largest conservation movement. You wear your program badges and certification pins with pride because it represents more than just your service; it represents your commitment to something larger than yourself. Through your hard work, you have transformed landscapes and inspired countless others to care about and protect our natural resources.
Our two state agency sponsors, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, share in our deep appreciation for the power of your volunteerism. Together, we know that the need for conservation and stewardship has never been more urgent. It is because of you that we can look toward the future with hope and optimism.
So, during this National Volunteer Week and all of April, know that you are seen, you are valued, and you are celebrated. The work you do is changing the world, and it’s an honor to be part of this movement with you. Thank you for all you do. You make everything possible.
We appreciate you, we celebrate you, and we can’t wait to see all that we will accomplish together in the years to come.
With heartfelt thanks,
Michelle Haggerty
Mary Pearl Meuth
Hannah Ferguson
2024 Annual Report
2025 National Volunteer Month Letter
We Love Featuring YOU!
For National Volunteer Month 2025, we are celebrating our amazing volunteers by highlighting a few individual Texas Master Naturalist stories from across Texas! These are just a few of the fantastic stories from our volunteers. THANK YOU to these four individuals and all of our volunteers who are making a difference throughout the state! To learn more about their TMN journey, visit this blog post.
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