Education Services

Texas Coastal Naturalists are trained first responders for coastal natural emergencies.

Coastal Naturalists can also serve as interpretive guides and assistants for the Coastal Studies Lab’s marine science educational programs. Certification as a Texas Coastal Naturalist requires training in three program-approved areas, two of these areas focused on emergency responses:

• Harmful algal blooms such as red tides
• Marine mammal strandings
• Sea turtle nest monitoring and cold stun events
• Oiled wildlife

The Texas Coastal Naturalist Program is sponsored by Texas Sea Grant at Texas A&M University, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and the Rio Grande Chapter Texas Master Naturalists, in partnership with The University Texas Rio Grande Valley Coastal Studies Laboratory, Gladys Porter Zoo, and Sea Turtle, Inc. The Coastal Studies Lab at South Padre Island is the venue for most of the classes taught for certification in the program. The fee for most classes is $15.

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Faculty and graduate students from UTRGV College of Sciences present current research in one-hour talks at the Coastal Studies Lab. In recent years, the Winter Seminar Series has featured expert presentations on topics both locally relevant and universally significant, including red tide, red snapper reproduction, and climate change. The Series is open to the public at no charge, but registration is required to attend. Dates will be advertised on our social media pages.

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