The Indian Trail Chapter, serving Ellis and Navarro Counties was the 41st Master Naturalist Chapter in Texas to be established.

In November 2010, 23 members completed the first training program. The trainees were full of enthusiasm and fervor for nature.  The members couldn’t wait to get out there, to share their excitement and to positively impact our environment.

We started by writing weekly articles for the local newspaper and by offering a free monthly program for the public on such diverse topics as Wildlife Tax Exemptions, Urban Wildscapes, Wildflowers, Invasive Plants and the Loss of Pollinators.  Each and every program has been incredibly informative but we were mostly just sitting through them.  We needed to get up and out there in nature, to get our hands dirty and we found plenty of opportunities to do just that.

ITMN’s 2011 Projects include:

  • cleaning up the wetland area at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bardwell Lake,
  • harvested Indiangrass seed,
  • adopted Mockingbird Nature Park (in Midilothian) as an ongoing long-term project and promptly planned and planted a butterfly garden,
  • worked with a Girl Scout Troop to put up a bluebird nestbox trail, and were overjoyed when a clutch fledged. Also at Mockingbird Nature Park.
  • started a “Growing Up Wild” program at two local schools,
  • trained on several survey or monitoring programs, such as Stream Team (water quality monitoring in local streams) and Texas Turtle Watch.
  • began photo documenting the plants of Kachina Prairie,
  • night hikes led by members have been very popular with the public,
  • partnering with Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center,
  • trail building with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wolf Creek Park at Navarro Mills Lake,
  • twelve new members completed training in October

The Indian Trail Chapter is committed to education about and conservation of our natural resources.  We work hard while having a good time together.  During the first nine months of 2011, members completed 2,413 hours of volunteer service.  Enthusiasm and fervor for nature appear to be stronger than ever within the Indian Trail Chapter.

Come join us for some fun and a free program at 7 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at First United Methodist Church, 505 West Marvin Avenue, Waxahachie.  For more information, call the AgriLife Extension Service at 972-825-5175, email: ellis-tx@tamu.edu or complete the Contact link below.

Come join us for our exciting Monthly Program

2012 Training Information and Application