Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists

Blackland Prairie Chapter

The mission of the Texas Master Naturalist program 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.

The Texas Master Naturalist program is a partnership between the Texas AgriLife Extension Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and other local partners.

To receive information from the TPWD Listserv sign up here: TPWD Listserv

2017 Monthly Meeting Topics

September 12: “Reptiles” with a particular emphasis on Texas”

• David Mead (class of ’17) – David Mead, a passionate nature enthusiast since childhood, has dedicated his life to the study, conservation, and appreciation of reptiles, amphibians, and their natural habitat. His passion for reptiles often takes him far off the beaten path, from the various regions of Texas to the jungles of Costa Rica, India and the Andaman Islands, to the rocky islands of Greece to study the world’s herpetofauna in their natural habitat. Mead has extensive professional experience working with an incredibly vast array of herps, with a specialty in venomous snakes, poison dart frogs, and the setup and maintenance of live planted terrariums for reptiles and amphibians.

October 10: “The Urban Harvest: Foraging in the City”

•  Daniel Cunningham, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Extension. Horticulturist and Project Coordinator with Water University. His programs focus on sustainable landscaping and food production systems. Daniel specializes in Texas native plants and trees, vegetable gardening, edible landscaping and rainwater harvesting. He forages for his own food and provides information for wildlife gardening.

November 14: ”Prairies in Old Cemeteries”

•  Candace Fountoulakis, Plano resident since 1988, was born in Nebraska but came to Texas “as fast as she could.” she is a Master Gardener and member of the Plano Garden Club. A board member of The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc., she enjoys preservation and restoration projects around North Texas and can often be spotted in old cemeteries.

2017 Earlier This Year:

August 8: “Past Climates: Putting the Climate Puzzle Together with Models” – Dr. Angela Osen; University of Texas Arlington, Tarrant County College

July 11: “13 Things You Need to Know About the Poison Oak and Ivy Rash” –  Amy Martin – Author of Itchy Business: How to Treat the Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rash, Prevent Exposure and Eradicate the Plant (www.Itchy.biz).

June 13 : “Frogs! ” –  Scott Kiester, Texas Master Naturalist, Elm Fork Chapter

May 9: “Dead Zones in Rivers and the Gulf of Mexico and Their Causes” – Donald Harper, Professor Emeritus, Texas A&M Galveston

April 11: “Zika and Other Issues” – Daphne Lynch, Epidemiologist for Collin County

March 14: “New Frisco Wetlands in the Hackberry Creek and Stewart Creek Drainages” – Corp of Engineers, Jon Loxley and Jim Frisinger; Jayce Proctor, UNT

February 14: “Texas Wild Cats” – Monica Morrison

January 10: 2016 Successes and 2017 Opportunities – Where our members volunteer and why.