Indian Trail Master Naturalist Chapter work alongside Girl Scouts
On the afternoon of February 7th, the Indian Trail Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists and Girl Scout Troop 1741 established a new bluebird trail at Mockingbird Nature Park. The scouts, all in the 7th grade, are working towards their Silver Award. This level of scouting achievement encourages the girls to identify a need in their community and develop a plan of implementation. The Nature Park, located on Onward Road north of Mockingbird, is in the early stages of development for use as a natural learning area. The 64 acre parcel features low mown walking paths through native trees and open meadows. Samantha Armstrong, Hannah Bento and Dakotah Van Huss, together in the same troop since 2nd grade, developed a plan to build nest boxes to encourage bluebirds in our area. After an initial program presented to them by Lysle Mockler and Deborah Rayfield, Indian Trail Chapter members, they got busy building the proper boxes. The City of Midlothian Parks Department shared in the project by building baffles and erecting poles along the trail. The scouts will be monitoring the boxes throughout the nesting season.
If you are past the age to be a scout, but still enjoy being out of doors working with nature, please contact the AgriLife office (972 825-5175) for more information about becoming a Texas Master Naturalist. There is no age limit on learning.
Lake Bardwell Clean-up
February 17, 2011
Today marked the first day of a Corp of Engineers sanctioned clean up. There were eight of us there and we worked 3.5 hours. We removed about half a dump truck load of beer bottles, approximately 10 tires( 5 of which were quite large) . We worked to the west of the parking lot .
This project will continue through the end of March.
The crew + Corps volunteers:
At work:
One of the tires rolling up hill!
The results:
Kachina Prairie Cleanup
January 19, 2011
Read about the Kachina Prairie in Ellis County.
Lone Star Trail Building School
February 19-20
Several Indian Trail Master Naturalists attended, as part of the Advanced Training requirements.
This years Lone Star Trail Building School Hosted be the North Texas Mountain Bike Patrol and the Boy Scouts of America is being taught by S&S Trails. Classes will include; basic and advanced trail design and maintenance. This year we are also including a safety course for all students covering the use of power tools. The advanced class is for
attendees who have completed a previous basic course. This school is open to anyone who would like to attend; however, space is limited. If you currently have a trail or are in the process of planning or building one, this course will be of great benefit to you.
