“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!
Cultivating Future Naturalists: The Rewarding Work of Our Blackland Prairie Chapter
Rick Travis, Class of 2018
April is National Volunteer Recognition month, and as I write these comments in late April, we’re in National Volunteer Week. Reflecting on our chapter’s level of volunteerism, and the many different ways we enthusiastically, and with great energy, serve our community, I wanted to share how proud I am of the effort by each one of you to educate, restore and conserve the natural wonder found in our area. Thank you so much for the time, sweat, and sometimes blood (at least for me) you put forth…our world is better for it.
Lisa and I feel so blessed for joining and serving with all the wonderful, selfless members of the Blackland Prairie chapter.
Here’s a picture that brings home why we do what we do. Lisa and I have found that “paying it forward” by leading and teaching the kids about nature is personally rewarding and hopefully will help nurture future Master Naturalists. These Home Schoolers are examining a wolf spider we’d camped under a Petri dish lid, allowing them to examine the spider closely. Their curiosity will lead to an understanding and appreciation of the natural world.
2025 May Chapter Meeting with Cali and Peter | “Experience Nature For Your Mental Health”
Join us for the May Blackland Prairie Chapter Meeting with Cali and Peter on the “Experience Nature For Your Mental Health” on Tuesday, May 13th, at 7 PM CST, in person or online via Zoom.
When: Tuesday, May 13, 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: “Experience Nature For Your Mental Health”
Interactions with nature and mental health are intertwined. We often feel better when we are in nature. But this is not just a subjective experience for people who love nature. In this session, we will describe how nature contributes to human well-being based on research from various fields. We found hard evidence that interacting with green (or blue) spaces is associated with lower stress, improved health markers, and even improved academic performance among school children. We will also describe and help you learn some simple nature-centered practices to promote well-being.
Speakers:
Cali Bakker bio (Class of 2023) I’m a generalist. I enjoy many things! At the top of the list are ecology, trees, birds, weather, plants, and mammals. I enjoy citizen science activities such as iNaturalist. I like to volunteer with education and community outreach projects as well. I have lived most of my life in North Texas and adore the wide, open sky here. I love to spend time outdoors, travel, read, watch movies, and craft. By profession, I am a mental health counselor. The benefit of nature on our mental health is an area of special interest to me.
Peter Williams bio (BPTMN Class of 2020) I am a generalist but I like grasses, prairie restoration, and ecosystems. I have a little bitty pollinator garden and a micro-mini-pocket prairie in my tiny, little backyard. I walk or run in Breckinridge Park most days while at home. I grew up in East Texas, lived in Honduras for several years a long time ago, and am currently in Richardson. By day, I teach Educational Leadership at A&M Commerce, mostly online. I have 3 daughters and 4 grandkids. I read a lot and roast my own coffee. The picture is of me and my granddaughter, Ayla.
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 email.
Chapter Meeting Host: Vicki Sanders, vicepresident@bptmn.org
Past Chapter Meeting Speakers and Topics
Current News
Cultivating Future Naturalists: The Rewarding Work of Our Blackland Prairie Chapter
We are all part of the Blackland Prairie, our moment is now.
