Be An Extension Volunteer!
Master Gardener
Master Gardeners are members of the local community who take an active interest in their lawns, trees, shrubs, flowers and gardens. They are enthusiastic, willing to learn and to help others, and able to communicate with diverse groups of people. For more information about the Comal Master Gardeners, please visit https://comalmg.org/.
What really sets Master Gardeners apart from other home gardeners is their special training in horticulture. In exchange for their training, persons who become Master Gardeners contribute time as volunteers, working through their Extension office to provide horticultural-related information to their communities.
If accepted into the Master Gardener program, you will attend a Master Gardener training course. Classes are taught by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension specialists & agents, and local experts.
The program offers a minimum of 50 hours of instruction that covers topics including lawn care, ornamental trees and shrubs, insect, disease, and weed management; soils and plant nutrition, vegetable gardening; home fruit production; garden flowers; and water conservation.
In exchange for training, participants are asked to volunteer time to their County Extension program. At least 50 hours of volunteer service within one year following the training is required to earn the title of “Texas Master Gardener.”
Participants become certified Master Gardeners after they have completed the training course and fulfilled their volunteer commitment.
Master Naturalist
The mission of the Lindheimer chapter (Comal County) is to develop a corps of well-trained Master Volunteers to provide education, outreach and service dedicated toward the beneficial management of natural areas and resources within their communities for the State of Texas.
We are passionately committed to serving as stewards of our natural world, protecting and preserving it for generations to come. Since founding in 2000, Lindheimer Chapter Texas Master Naturalist™, members have contributed over 240,000 Volunteer Hours to Comal County and the inhabitants of the Texas Hill Country! In 2022, we had 225 members (includes 30 in training) who contributed 19,575 Volunteer Hours and earned 2,423 Advanced Training Hours.
Our chapter trains a class of new members each year, beginning with an orientation meeting in January. The course consists of 12 monthly classes, several field trips, a class project, and opportunities to volunteer in many locations and areas of interest: birding, geology, wildflowers, aquatic life, butterflies, invasive species management, bats, education, and paleontology, to name a few. Classes are curriculum based, with interesting speakers. Graduation will be held in December.
We make a difference in Comal County, and we hope you’ll join us. If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Certified Texas Master Naturalist, let us know! Our monthly meetings are open to the public and we encourage you to attend, learn, get to know us and be inspired to join us! To learn more about the Texas Master Naturalists and our chapter, please visit our website at: https://txmn.org/lindheimer/.
Master Wellness Volunteer
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service leverages the reach of its health and nutrition programs through Master Wellness Volunteers. Master Wellness Volunteers receive 40 hours of education and training related to health, nutrition, and food safety, among other topics, and serve a 40-hour internship alongside their local County Extension Agent. Once certified, Master Wellness Volunteers provide outreach and education with and through their local County Extension Agent to help Texans better their lives.
Volunteer opportunities are diverse and may include giving presentations for local community groups, assisting with healthy cooking demonstrations, distributing information at health fairs, working with schools and after-school programs, and data entry. Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service also encourages Master Wellness Volunteers to help identify issues, needs, and program priorities based on their experience and connections with the community. Previous health or wellness training is not required but an interest in living healthfully, and helping others do the same, is.
For more information, contact Amanda Molina by phone, 830-620-3440, or by email, Amanda.Molina@ag.tamu.edu.
