• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Blackland Prairie ChapterBlackland Prairie Chapter
  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Outreach
    • Partners & Projects
    • Chapter Meetings
  • News
    • Monthly Newsletter
    • Shaking the Trees
    • News Post Timeline
    • iNaturalist
    • Prairie Partner News
  • Calendar
  • Become a Master Naturalist
    • Who We Are
    • Training Program Overview
    • Program Schedule
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Apply to the Training Program
  • VHAT/ Log Hours
    • Log Hours
    • VHAT & VMS Information
  • Members
    • Blackland Prairie Chapter Project Grant Application
    • Members
    • Members Area
    • Trails
Search

Blackland Prairie Chapter

  “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.

  • meadow with blue sky
    Clymer meadow, photo by Paulette Platko
  • BPTMN 2023-02 Balaji Devarajan White Winged Dove
    Winter 2023 - White Winged Doves - photo by Balaji Devarajan
  • Taychas Tree Walk with Rick Travis and Stephanie Cleveland photo by Vicki Sanders
    2023 January - The Taychas Tree Walk with Rick Travis and Stephanie Cleveland. photo by Vicki Sanders
  • Prescribed Burn by Firemen - Stierlen
    2021-01 Raptor Center prescribed burn by Firemen - Stierlen
  • 2021-01 Hagerman Geese by Laurie Sheppard
    2021-01 Hagerman Geese by Laurie Sheppard
  • 2022 Holiday Party
    2022 Holiday Party
  • TMN Annual Meeting BPTMN Group
    TMN Annual Meeting BPTMN Chapter
  • Clymer Meadow 2022 Spring Tour
    Clymer Meadow Spring Tour photo by Linda Nixon
  • BPTMN 2022-09 Rambur’s forktail damselfly by Rick Travis
    2022-09 Rambur’s forktail damselfly by Rick Travis
  • 2022 BPTMN Training Class Graduation at Oak Point Park. Photo by Charlise Hill Larson
    2022 BPTMN Training Class Graduation at Oak Point Park. Photo by Charlise Hill-Larson
  • Downy woodpecker in a tree, photo by John Garbutt
    Downy woodpecker in a tree, photo by John Garbutt
  • Members at Outreach Booth
    April 4, 2022 Frisco Eggsplorers Event with Lesley Kresie, Lisa Travis, Rick Travis, Barbara Dupont and Rhonda Sanchez. Photo by Rhonda Sanchez
  • Group of Volunteers from the Heard Plant Sale
    BPTMN Chapter volunteers for the Heard Plant Sale

Monthly Chapter Meetings

2023 March – Karin and Roberto Saucedo | Living in Harmony with America’s Song Dog

March 14, 2023 – Tuesday 7:00 PM – Click on the date for more logistical information.

Michelle Connally, 2018

Coyotes are highly resilient creatures able to adapt to threats and acclimate themselves in almost every environment, including cities and suburbs. As a keystone carnivore, coyotes play a critical role helping to maintain healthy ecosystems and species diversity. This presentation will look at the current challenges coyotes face in a rapidly evolving human-centric landscape. We’ll examine the coyotes’ seasonal behaviors that often influence increased sightings and dispel some of the most common myths. In conclusion, we’ll discuss proactive methods we can use to help avoid negative encounters with coyote.

America's Song Dog Coyote (Canis latrans) sleeping on the side of the road.
America’s Song Dog Coyote (Canis latrans) sleeping on the side of the road. Photo by Karin Saucedo
About our speakers:

Especially passionate about felines and canids, Karin Saucedo dedicates her time to studying their behavior through wildlife conservation photography and remotely through camera traps. Karin serves on the Advisory Committee for Texas Native Cats and on the Board of Directors for CREA/Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama. Karin also works with The Canid Project as their Texas Outreach Representative, The Gulf Coast Canine Project as a field research photographer, and she’s been volunteering at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue for 12 years.
Instagram: @karinsaucedo
Learn more at karinsaucedo.com

Roberto Saucedo has a background in creative marketing and has used that ability to hone skills in his passion for telling stories though wildlife and conservation photography. For the last seven years, he has documented coyote behavior throughout north Texas through observation, photography and camera traps. Together with his wife, Karin, Roberto serves on the Advisory Committee for Texas Native Cats and CREA/Cocobolo Nature Reserve in Panama. He also volunteers at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue.
Instagram: @rbtsaucedo
Learn more at robertosaucedo.com

Karin & Roberto are both Texas Master Naturalists with the Blackland Prairie Chapter, Class of 2015.

Past Chapter Meeting Speakers and Topics

2023 March (In-Person) Deep Dive with Jay Wooldridge | Native American Flutes made of Eastern Red Cedar and the Juniper’s Benefit to wildlife.

March 14, 2023 – Tuesday 6:30 PM – Click on the date for more logistical information.

Michelle Connally, 2018
Native American Red Cedar Flute
CEDARS, CURSED BY MANY ACCLAIMED BY A FEW

Jay explains the benefits of the Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) to birds, wildlife and humans as well as some other not so well known facts. The cedar tree has an interesting flute evolution history with many Native American Nations. Jay will also describe some of the negative aspects of red cedars in our backyards, farms, ranches, and our beautiful backland prairie.

NATIVE CEDAR FLUTES ARE NOT HARD TO PLAY AND HAVE MANY HEALTH BENEFITS

Native American flutes traditionally were made of the Eastern Red Cedar, a tree which has special flute history. Jay shares his knowledge of the flute, passing on what he has learned from others about the instrument, explaining its tradition, history, and use. He will play some of the old songs recorded on wax cylinders now in the Library of Congress, Smithsonian. His flutes are made by local artists Jerome Poyer, a Navajo flute maker, Lancaster, Tx. and Butch Hall a woodworker, flute maker, from Weatherford TX. The flutes are made of our native red cedar, using the heartwood of the cedar.

Jay is a BPTMN Member, Class of 2019, volunteering at Clymer Meadow and Wylie Prairie. He is a 5th generation Texan, growing up at Lake Texoma and DFW area. Jay worked at Dallas College, Richland campus, for 36 years, Office of Student Life. The office provided programs and clubs for students, including the All Nations Indian Club, and the Sierra Student Coalition. These student clubs started the Native American Pow Wow tradition at Richland, which became an annual event. Jay’s background is in art, photography, he played guitar in unusual Deep Elm rock bands. He has a BFA in Visual Communication from UNT.

Jay Wooldridge smiling in front of the Wylie Prairie sign.

Current News

The grass house at the Caddo Mounds State Historic Site. The grass house was constructed using traditional materials and methods. Construction was led by a group of Caddo Nation elders and apprentices. Photo provided by the Texas Historical Commission

Rebuilding history: Caddo Nation, Texas A&M AgriLife connect

01/31/2023
AgriLife Today – Volunteers, researchers and horticulturalists come together to help rebuild traditional grass house…
Read More
Smiley Woodfin Native Prairie photo for Orstead TNC news release

Preservation of Remnant Smiley-Woodfin Prairie

01/23/2023
Rick Travis, 2018 – The article tells the story of how the remnant Smiley-Woodfin Prairie…
Read More
Eastern Phoebe against a bald cypress by Brenda Clark at the Canyon Creek Wetlands

Canyon Creek Wetland and Wildscape

01/01/2023
Julia Koch, 2020 NTMN – I have to give another shout out to one of…
Read More

 

Chapter Dues Payment

$31.50 PayPal  
$30.00 Check     More Details

 

Upcoming Events

Mar 25
November 1, 2022 - April 30, 2023

VH – Project FeederWatch

Mar 25
March 13 @ 5:45 am - May 31 @ 8:00 am

VH – Lights Out Texas Bird Spring Bird Survey

Mar 26
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

(VH) Connemara Meadow Preserve Restoration

Mar 26
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

VH – Frisco Work Day @ Frisco Grand Park

Mar 27
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

(VH) Connemara Meadow Preserve Restoration

Mar 27
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

VH – Erwin Park Prairie Restoration Project

Mar 27
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Event Series

(VH) BPRC Prairie & Trail Maintenance

Mar 28
9:00 am - 12:00 pm Event Series

(VH) Connemara Meadow Preserve Restoration

Mar 28
9:00 am - 2:00 pm Event Series

(VH) BPRC Prairie & Trail Maintenance

Mar 28
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Event Series

AT ONLINE Monarch Butterfly Conservation Webinar Series 2023

View Calendar

Subscribe to the Monthly News Update

* indicates required
             

  

    
    

Trinity River Paddling Trail

TWPD ranger teaching

Native Bees of Texas

825 N. McDonald Suite 150 McKinney, Texas 75069
Contact Us

© 2023 Texas A&M University. All rights reserved.

  • Compact with Texans
  • Privacy and Security
  • Accessibility Policy
  • State Link Policy
  • Statewide Search
  • Veterans Benefits
  • Military Families
  • Risk, Fraud & Misconduct Hotline
  • Texas Homeland Security
  • Texas Veterans Portal
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Open Records/Public Information