Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists

Blackland Prairie Chapter

“Education, Restoration, Preservation”

The Chapter is seeking two members to serve as

the vice president and as the secretary for 2019-2020.

For information, to volunteer or recommend someone Click Here

or go to Open Board Positions under Member Resources tab.

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

2018 Monthly Meeting Topics

October 9: “Driving Sustainability Through Campus Transformation” – Thea Junt/Craig Lewis

Craig Lewis is the greenhouse and; landscape coordinator at The University of Texas at Dallas; he has worked at UT Dallas for 28 years.  Besides growing and planning, Craig has led the way for a prairie restoration, an 8-acre Monarch Waystation, increased the knowledge base for the UT Dallas Community Garden members, and been an active mentor for sustainability minded students.

Thea Junt is the Sustainability Manager for Children’s Health System of Texas, which includes the Children’s Medical Center Plano.  She previously worked as the Sustainability Manager for UT Dallas, supporting Craig in transformations around campus.   Her construction projects always included native and adaptive landscapes.

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November 13: “Rainwater Harvesting”

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December 11: “Working with the Texas Park Rangers” – Roger Scott

2018 Past Speakers:

September 11: “Personal Experience Raising Monarchs: 6 weeks of Learning, Defeat and Triumph” – Clyde Camp

August 14: “Dragonflies” – Omar Bocanegra

July 10:  “Sex in the Garden” – Janet Smith

June 12: “From the First Quark to You – We are all in this together” – Ernie Stokley

May 8: “Fundamentals of Forest Ecology” – Chris Ebling

April 10: “Citizen Science” – Marsha May

March 13 : ”What’s New in the World of Monarch Butterflies?” – Carol Clark

February 13 : ”Light Pollution – More Than a Barrier to Sky Gazing” – Tom Fleming

January 9 : ”Open House. Welcome Back to Members, Come Join Us to Visitors” A Review of chapter and state, exciting and vital information about the Future and Recognitions. (no AT)

– Mike Roome, President

2017:

December 12: “This Badlands Tortoise is 34 Million Years Old and at The Heard” – Pat Kline, Lead Project Preparator

November 14: ”Prairies in Old Cemeteries” – Candace Fountoulakis, Master Gardener and member of the Plano Garden Club. A board member of The Plano Conservancy for Historic Preservation, Inc.

October 10: “The Urban Harvest: Foraging in the City” – Daniel Cunningham, Texas A&M AgriLife Research Extension

September 12: “Reptiles with a particulare emphasis on Texas ” –  David Mead, Class of ’17

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.