By Anita Westervelt, Texas Master Naturalist

Programs. There are two Texas Master Naturalist chapters in the Rio Grande Valley. Both chapters offer monthly meetings with guest speaker programs and social time that are free and open to the public.

The Texas Master Naturalist organization is a unique educational volunteer program sponsored by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Sea Grant Program and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

The Rio Grande Valley chapter meets the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., at the Cameron County Annex Building located at Williams Road and Highway 83/77 in San Benito, 1390 W. Expressway 83. A social begins at 6:30 p.m. with snacks, followed by a speaker and business meeting.

The South Texas Border chapter meets the third Monday of the month at St. George Orthodox Church Hall, 704 W. Sam Houston Avenue, in Pharr. Social begins at 6 p.m. with snacks; the presentation is at 6:30 p.m. followed by the chapter’s monthly business meeting.

January Training. Both chapters are accepting registrations for their January training classes. Training is open to residents and Winter Texans. To learn more about how to become a member, please visit their respective websites.

Rio Grande Valley chapter (counties of Cameron, Hidalgo and Willacy) www.rgvctmn.org.

South Texas Border chapter (counties of Cameron, Hidalgo and Starr) www.stbctmn.org/ or contact Elizabeth Perdomo at mateliza@aol.com.

Speakers’ Bureaus. Both chapters maintain a speakers’ bureau as part of their community education and outreach. Visit their websites for a list of free presentation topics.

Harlingen Native Plant Walks. Rio Grande Valley Texas Master Naturalists offer free guided native plant walks the first Friday and third Saturday through May 2020, at Harlingen’s Hugh Ramsey Nature Park where many native plants are highlighted in specialty gardens around the park’s Ebony Loop.

Meet the guides in the parking lot where the two-hour tour begins at 9 a.m. Ebony Loop is an easy quarter mile level caliche trail. Wear sturdy shoes, bring water and bug spray for yourself if desired. Restrooms are located at the park entrance.

Hugh Ramsey Nature Park is at 1000 South 499, two miles south of Harlingen’s Valley International Airport or north on Ed Carey Drive, just north of the Arroyo Colorado River Bridge. Rain cancels; the threat of rain does not.