“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 2025!
2026 March Chapter Meeting with Jean Suplick | 400 Native Perennials: A story of seed packets, chaos, and community
🌱We’re ‘pollen’ out all the stops for our March 10th chapter meeting! Jean Suplick is joining us to share a story of 400 Native Perennials: A story of seed packets, chaos, and community.🌻
Presentation: What started as a plan to distribute 70 native perennials to a Master Naturalist graduating class evolved into something far larger: 400 plants across schools, parks, and community projects, each one creating habitat, supporting pollinators, and teaching the next generation about ecology. This talk explores an unexpected journey of scaling impact—how one initiative grew beyond planning into a network of ordinary yards and ordinary people making intentional ecological choices that quietly transform communities.
About Our Speaker: Jean Suplick has lived in Plano for 35 years and has been a Certified Texas Master Naturalist since 2017. She shares her love of North Central Texas wildlife by leading programs and guided hikes for all ages, and more recently by growing native perennials to support pollinator garden projects led by her fellow Texas Master Naturalists.
Help Keep Our Chapter Meeting Snack Table Thriving! 🥨
As our chapter continues to grow, so does our love for sharing a bite together! To keep this welcoming tradition going, we invite you to bring a small snack to share—whether store-bought, homemade, sweet, or savory, every contribution makes our meetings more enjoyable. If you’re able to help out at an upcoming gathering, please sign up below to help us build a more connected community!
Sign Up Genius: 2026 Snack Donations
When: Tuesday, March 10, 2026 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.
- SRC Doors will open at 6:30 PM
- The Zoom meeting waiting room will open at 6:45 PM
- The Business Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM
- Naturalist Talk will start at 7:30 PM (approximately)
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/Z7BrnoA7R0mMCCmAg05GQQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with details on how to join the meeting.
Logging AT: The monthly meeting presentation will count as 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: Marla Layne, [email protected]
Past Chapter Meeting Speakers and Topics
Deep Dive on From From Screens to Streams: The Decline of Outdoor Play and How We Can Reverse It with Patricia Crain
Unplug and put down roots—join us March 30th at 7 PM CST for a Deep Dive with Patricia Crain, presenting From Screens to Streams: The Decline of Outdoor Play and How We Can Reverse It, online via Zoom.
Click here to view our Calendar.
Topic: From Screens to Streams: The Decline of Outdoor Play and How We Can Reverse It
In this Deep Dive, we’ll ask a simple question: when was the last time you saw kids playing kickball in the street? Childhood looks very different these days, and competing with screens for kids’ attention can be a challenge. We’ll dig into what changed, why it matters, and—most importantly—share fun, realistic ways to help lure kids back outside!
Speaker:
Patricia Crain spent her career as a math teacher at Sanger High School. After retiring, she became a certified Texas Master Naturalist and volunteers primarily at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge. Through her work with schoolchildren and as a grandmother of nine, she has noticed concerning changes in how children spend their time today.
When: March 30, 2026, at 7 PM CST
Online Zoom Meeting Registration
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8zDh9W1mR4CZevczf17qRA
Please register for this meeting in advance 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 or description in the description box.
Advanced Training is only for the LIVE session with Q&A, not the recorded video.
Need the Speakers Name or Topic?
Find all our Deep Dives on our website at bptmn.org, under the Menu, select About, Deep Dives
If you have any additional questions, please get in touch.
Chapter Meeting Host: Marla Layne, [email protected]
Past Deep Dive Speakers and Topics
Current News
The Humble Bee of Harriet, Texas
Monarch View Park Update: Building a Prairie Together
Last Saturday Workday – Green Gardens at Gabe Nesbitt Park
Spring 2026 Stream Team Training
🐦 Valentine’s Event! ❤️ Feb 13-16: Great Backyard Bird Count 2026
Cooper’s Hawk