“Education, Restoration, Conservation”
Our Mission
The Texas Master Naturalist Program’s mission is to develop a corps of well-informed volunteers to provide education, outreach, and service dedicated to the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within their communities for the State of Texas.
Our Commitment to You
The Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist chapter is strengthened by the diversity of our members. We are committed to providing a welcoming environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion are a core part of everything that we do. We strive to be an organization that reflects the communities we serve and encourages multiple ideas and viewpoints.
The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and other local partners.
Congratulations to the Blackland Prairie Chapter Class of 2024!
Deep Dive on the “Virginia Opossum-The Misunderstood Marsupial” with Ren Dowhaniuk
Join us on Tuesday, April 1st, at 7 PM CST for the April 2025 Deep Dive, with Ren Dowhaniuk presenting the “Virginia Opossum-The Misunderstood Marsupial”.
Click here to view our Calendar.
Topic: “Virginia Opossum-The Misunderstood Marsupial”
People often have negative impressions of this amazing little creature and don’t give them enough credit for their powerful impact on the environment. Join me on April 1st (no joke) and discover your love for North America’s only marsupial. I will share videos and photographs of my rehab guests and discuss what makes them a vital part of our community.
Speaker: Ren Dowhaniuk was inspired to become a Master Naturalist due to her deep appreciation for nature and a desire to give back, which began after attending a wildlife rehabilitation class on bats. She specializes in in-home wildlife rehabilitation, mainly focusing on opossums. She also engages in event photography for the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center and volunteers with the Plano Outdoor Learning Center. Her favorite lesson during her Master Naturalist training was the Ornithology class, which inspired her to create a bird-friendly environment at home. Professionally, Ren is a photographer specializing in pets and their people, with a history of working with animal rescues and doing humane education. On a personal note, she has been married for 42 years, has a son in Colorado and another in Rwanda, and enjoys adventure vacations with her husband, visiting their sons and families. Ren emphasizes recognizing and addressing environmental issues and believes in inspiring others through her actions and passion for wildlife rehabilitation.
Read more about our speaker from her 1,000 Volunteer Service award interview.
When: Tuesday, April 1st, at 7 PM CST
Online Zoom Meeting Registration
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcocumrrjIsGtXjPEx_CwZht2Tf46jonTeX
Please register ahead of time for this meeting using your Zoom Account Email address.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.
(This meeting will be recorded, and a link will be posted here within a week of the event.)
Logging AT: Approved for 1 hour of AT to be logged as AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-approved Training with the speaker’s name and topic in the description box.
Advanced Training is only for the LIVE session with a Q&A and not the recorded video.
If you have any additional questions, please get in touch.
Chapter Meeting Host: Vicki Sanders, vicepresident@bptmn.org
2025 April Chapter Meeting with Laura Kimberly | “The Joy of Flies”
Join us for the April Blackland Prairie Chapter Meeting with Laura Kimberly on the “The Joy of Flies” on Tuesday, April 8th, at 7 PM CST, in person or online via Zoom.
When: Tuesday, April 8, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.
- SRC Doors will open at 6:30 PM
- Zoom meeting waiting room will open at 6:45 PM
- Business Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM
- Naturalist Talk will start at 7:30 PM (approximately)
Topic: “The Joy of Flies”
Taxonomically known as the Diptera, Flies are colorful, elusive, beguiling, acrobatic, charming, and helpful. So, you ask, there’s more to flies than filth and bite? Yes! How would you know? Laura will guide you in finding the joy of flies by taking a closer look at qualities across the vast diversity of the Diptera with an overview of dipteran life histories, feeding habits, beneficial behaviors, and essential fly family identification. All that so you, too, can advocate for flies and their critical ecological roles.
Speaker: Laura Kimberly
Laura Kimberly is a Texas Master Naturalist in the North Texas Chapter. Flies and other insects caught her attention and earned her appreciation as she worked to rescue, propagate, and plant native flowers and grasses as a prairie restoration volunteer. After completing the Texas A&M AgriLife volunteer entomology specialist training in 2017, she has pursued many opportunities, from podcasts to college courses, to learn more about the habits and habitats of flies and insects. She is a community scientist and insect photographer who uses those skills to advocate for flies and extol the benefits of insects.
Physical Meeting Location: Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary,
1Nature Place, McKinney, TX 75069, Science Resource Center (SRC) building.
Directions to SRC: Drive through Heard gates, past the parking lot and museum building, and continue until the road ends at the large white SRC building.
Register in advance for this Zoom meeting:
Use the email address associated with your personal Zoom account.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElcOmsrTsrGtbd5HCAAws7J_qSSob6IxpQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Logging AT: The monthly meeting presentation will allow members to earn 1-hour of AT. Log as AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting Only (1 hour) with the speaker’s name and topic in the description box.
If you have any additional questions, please get in touch.
Chapter Meeting Host: Vicki Sanders, vicepresident@bptmn.org
Past Chapter Meeting Speakers and Topics
Blackland Prairie Chapter receives a Pollinators for Texas Award from H-E-B and the Texas Master Naturalist Program
Current News
Eco Explorers in Frisco & Raptor Center: Girl Scout Program with the Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists
Erwin Park 2025 Prairie in Bloom Guided Tours
Class of 2025 Week 6 – Topic: Botany Speaker: Dr. George Diggs
