“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.
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.
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
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.
Current News
Rebuilding history: Caddo Nation, Texas A&M AgriLife connect
Preservation of Remnant Smiley-Woodfin Prairie
