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News

January 31, 2023
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

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AgriLife Today – Volunteers, researchers and horticulturalists come together to help rebuild traditional grass house…
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January 31, 2023
January 27, 2023

2023 February – Omar Boconegra | Black-capped vireo recovery

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Michelle Connally, 2018 February 14, 2023 7PM – Click on the date for more information….

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January 27, 2023
January 23, 2023
Smiley Woodfin Native Prairie photo for Orstead TNC news release

Preservation of Remnant Smiley-Woodfin Prairie

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Rick Travis, 2018 – The article tells the story of how the remnant Smiley-Woodfin Prairie…
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January 23, 2023
January 11, 2023
Sweat Bee Illustration by Katie McElroy

Native Bees of Texas Illustrations by Katie McElroy

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Michelle Connally, 2018 – There was a bonus at the end of the January 2023…
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January 11, 2023
January 1, 2023
Eastern Phoebe against a bald cypress by Brenda Clark at the Canyon Creek Wetlands

Canyon Creek Wetland and Wildscape

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Julia Koch, 2020 NTMN – I have to give another shout out to one of…
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January 1, 2023
January 1, 2023
Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus) by Donna Cole

Bluebonnets (Lupinus texensis) and Worm Snake (Carphophis amoenus)

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Donne Cole, 2002 – Sharing the flora and fauna in her garden. – republished…
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January 1, 2023
January 1, 2023
Frankford Prairie Hyacinths by Cynthia Alexander-Coday

Wild Hyacinths (Camassia scilloides) of Frankford Prairie

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Cynthia Alexander-Coday – reprint from Shaking of the Trees Newsletter First Edition dated April 12,…
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January 1, 2023
January 1, 2023
Screech owl photo by Clyde Camp

Clyde Camp’s Screech Owl (Megascops asio) Cam Footage

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Clyde Camp, 2010 – reprint from Shaking of the Trees Newsletter First Edition dated April…
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January 1, 2023
December 16, 2022
Holiday party table full of chapter members

2022 BPTMN Holiday Party

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Michelle Connally, 2018 – The SRC building at the Heard Museum was decorated for Holiday…
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December 16, 2022
December 16, 2022
4 people smiling

2023 January – Class of 2022 TMN “Ted Talks”

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Lisa Travis, 2018 – For January, instead of one speaker, we have four! For our…
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December 16, 2022
December 1, 2022

Texas Master Naturalists, Blackland Prairie Chapter

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Rick Travis, 2018 – 2022 was an eventful year for the Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist…
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December 1, 2022
December 1, 2022

BPTMNs Attend TMN Annual Meeting in Houston Texas

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Linda Nixon, 2018 – Just prior to the start of the TMN 2022 Annual Meeting…
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December 1, 2022
December 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 1000 Hours – Sarah Densmore

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Sarah Densmore, 2021 – I’m currently working on a Master in Science in Wildlife Science,…
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December 1, 2022
December 1, 2022

LLELA’s Big Sit on November 5th, 2022

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Scott Kiester, Elm Fork Chapter – November 5, 2022 6 AM: On one of the…
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December 1, 2022
December 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Lisa Runyon

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Lisa Runyon, 2015 – I’ve stayed involved in BPTMN because our chapter does two things…
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December 1, 2022
December 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 Hours – Charlise Hill-Larson

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 – My interests as a Master Naturalist includes birding, native landscapes and…
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December 1, 2022
November 13, 2022
clear long stem drinking glass

2022 December – Blackland Prairie Chapter Holiday Party

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Linda Nixon, 2018 Photo by picjumbo.com on Pexels.com BPTMN Holiday Party – Dec 13  …

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November 13, 2022
October 31, 2022

Register now for the 2023 Training Class

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Lisa Travis, New Class Director The online application is available here. If you would like…

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October 31, 2022
October 31, 2022

Preview the 2023 Training Class Application

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Lisa Travis, 2018 The online application will be available on November 1, 2022. You can…

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October 31, 2022
October 26, 2022

Preview the 2023 Training Class Application

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Lisa Travis, 2018 The online application will be available on November 1, 2022. You can…

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October 26, 2022
October 17, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 15,000 Hours – Karen Mitchell

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Karen Mitchell, 2011 – I volunteer at Blackland Prairie Raptor Center and Outdoor Learning Center. …
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October 17, 2022
October 15, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Barbara Dupont

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Barbara Dupont, 2021 – Restoration at Erwin Park with the “guys” I volunteer mostly at various…
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October 15, 2022
October 15, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 Hours – Sue Makuta

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Susan Makuta, 2021 – I volunteer at a variety of places and activities: Blackland Prairie Raptor…
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October 15, 2022
October 15, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 Hours – Leah Justice

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Leah Justice, 2021 – Most of my volunteer time is spent working in Animal Care…
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October 15, 2022
October 14, 2022
Dr Faoud Jabar

2022 November – Dr. Faoud Jabar | Nature-based Solutions for Water Quality and Flood Mitigation

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Please join us on November 8 as we welcome Professor Faoud Jabar, PhD, PE. Dr….
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October 14, 2022
October 8, 2022

Announcement re the Death of Gailon Brehm

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It is with great sadness that we are informing you of the death of one…
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October 8, 2022
October 5, 2022

A Summer Mystery

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Leah Justice, 2021 – The sun was just setting, and I was going out for…
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October 5, 2022
September 24, 2022

JM Caldwell Park Pollinator Garden in Princeton

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Dave Powell, 2007 – On our first workday three of us began the cleanup of…
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September 24, 2022
September 22, 2022

VH – Outreach Booth Connemara Meadow Hay Day

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Linda Nixon, 2018 – We are looking for some volunteers to work in the Master…
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September 22, 2022
September 18, 2022

2022 October – Dr. Raghavan Srivasan | Soil and Water Assessment: Understanding Land Management Practices in Today’s World

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 We are pleased to welcome Dr. Raghavan Srinivasan as our October Advanced…

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September 18, 2022
September 16, 2022

BPTMN Asian-American Outreach Committee Presents…

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Michelle Connally, 2018 – The Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist chapter is strengthened by the…
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September 16, 2022
September 9, 2022

Sign up for our 9/13 Chapter Meeting Pizza Party!

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Hi Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists! The next BPTMN Chapter meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September…

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September 9, 2022
September 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 2,500 Hours – Terry Comingore

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Terry Comingore, 2017 – “Though I still have so much to learn, it’s a joy…
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September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 2,500 Hours – Rick Travis

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Rick Travis, 2018 – “Livin’ the Dream, folks!” My wife and best…
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September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 2,500 Hours – Linda Nixon

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Linda Nixon, 2018 – “Later I would learn I was living in the Blackland Prairie…
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September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022
Group of Volunteers from the Heard Plant Sale

Our Tribe’s Fortune 1,000 Hours – Deb Hartman

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Deb Hartman, 2017 – “I now know not to kill the caterpillars that are eating…
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September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 1,000 Hours – Mittie McDonald

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Mittie McDonald, 2013 – “She handed me a Master Naturalist application and told me I…
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September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 – Shari Navarette

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Shari Navarette, 2018 – “I love to spend time at Erwin Park (especially in the…
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September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Lisa Striping

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Lisa Striping, 2022 – “I am staying active with the Chapter because I enjoy meeting…
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September 1, 2022
September 1, 2022
Coneflower at Clymer Meadow

Chapter Project Grant Application is currently open

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Michelle Norris, 2021 – The Grant Committee is excited to announce the new Blackland Prairie…
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September 1, 2022
August 22, 2022

1st Annual BPTMN Mothing Event: Moths, Bugs, and a Frog – O My!!!

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Rick Travis, 2018 – On July 30, our chapter celebrated National Mothing Week with our…
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August 22, 2022
August 22, 2022

Erwin Park

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David Powell, 2007 – Even in August with no rain and heat our team…
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August 22, 2022
August 21, 2022

Frisco Northwest Park Bioblitz

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Rick Travis, 2018 – It was a very crispy BioBlitz as everything had gone to…
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August 21, 2022
August 17, 2022

Deep in the Heart Learning Resources for K-12 Students

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Deep in the Heart K-12 Curriculum Now Available Deep in the Heart is excited to…

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August 17, 2022
August 15, 2022

2022 September – Elizabeth Mellot | Cataloging Plant Life in Nature from the Early Botanists to Today

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Please join us on September 13 at 7pm as we welcome Professor Elizabeth Mellott of…

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August 15, 2022
July 21, 2022

ONLINE Deep Dive  | How to Identify Moths  

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Linda Nixon, 2018 and Communications Director Hello BPTMN Members –   Join us ONLINE on…

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July 21, 2022
July 21, 2022

ONLINE Deep Dive  | How to Identify Moths  

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Linda Nixon, 2018 and Communications Director Hello BPTMN Members –   Join us ONLINE on…

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July 21, 2022
July 19, 2022

Urgent Message from DFW Wildlife – Rescue of Nestling Egrets

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Linda Nixon, 2018 and Communications Director – WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?   With the current heat/drought…
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July 19, 2022
July 18, 2022

BPTMN’s 1st Annual Mothing Event

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Charlise Hill Larson, 2019 and 2021-2022 Vice President – o celebrate National Moth Week, July…
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July 18, 2022
July 15, 2022
Chase Brooke August Chapter Meeting Speaker

2022 August – Chase T. Brooke | Conservation in Collin County: opportunities, challenges, and goals for our natural spaces. 

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Tuesday, August 9, 2022 7 PM CST Chase T. Brooke is the Agriculture and Natural…

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July 15, 2022
July 14, 2022

July Update – Recovering America”s Wildlife Act – H.R.2773 and S. 2372

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Linda Nixon, 2018 and Communications Director – As you probably already know, the Recovering America’s Wildlife…
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July 14, 2022
July 1, 2022

2022 July – Amy Martin | The Nature of the Moon

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Tuesday, July 12 7PM CST  Charlise Hill Larson, 2019 and 2021-2022 Vice President We usually…

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July 1, 2022
June 11, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 2500 Hours – Lisa Travis

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Lisa Travis, 2018 and 2022-2023 New Class Director – I retired from teaching in 2017,…
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June 11, 2022
June 10, 2022
BPTMN Class of 2020 Rick Park

Our Tribe’s Fortune 1000 Hours – Rick Park

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Rick Park, 2020 – I was a member of the class of 2020. My introduction…
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June 10, 2022
June 9, 2022
BPTMN Class of 2021 Nancy Riggs

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 – Nancy Riggs

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Nancy Riggs, 2021 – I love being a TMN!! I love everything outdoors! I am…
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June 9, 2022
June 8, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Rhonda Sanchez

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Rhonda Sanchez,  2019 and 2021-2022 Outreach Director – My favorite volunteer activities are outreach for…
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June 8, 2022
June 7, 2022

My New Best Friend: Merlin Sound ID

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Jean Suplick, 2018 and 2020-2021 New Class Director – Have you ever stepped outside on…
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June 7, 2022
June 6, 2022
BPTMN STT 32 2022-05-28 Connemare Meadow Nature Preserve Photo By Connie Roschlau Ball

Honoring Frances Williams, Founder of Connemara

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Bob Mione, 2012 – There have been lots and lots of great photos taken of…
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June 6, 2022
June 1, 2022

Erwin Park – Hawk’s Nest

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Shari Navarette, 2018 and Chapter Photographer – In the early spring of 2021,…
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June 1, 2022
May 31, 2022

2022 June – Dr. David Baker | The Search for Another Earth

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Tuesday, June 14 7PM CST  Charlise Hill Larson, 2019 and 2021-2022 Vice President The June…

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May 31, 2022
May 12, 2022
2022 BPTMN Training Class Graduation at Oak Point Park. Photo by Charlise Hill Larson

Blackland Prairie Chapter Class of 2022

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 & 2020-21 Vice President – Welcome and Congratulations to the Class of…
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May 12, 2022
May 4, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 2500 Hours – Beverly Carpenter

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Beverly Carpenter, 2013 – The Blackland Prairie Master Naturalist program seemed the perfect place for me…
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May 4, 2022
May 4, 2022
Group of Volunteers from the Heard Plant Sale

2022 Heard Plant Sale

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Deborah Canterbury, 2014 and Past President – More than 10,00 plants unloaded, cataloged, labeled and…
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May 4, 2022
May 3, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 2500 Hours – Karen Spalding-Wright 

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Karen Spalding-Wright, 2017 – Most of my volunteer hours have accrued here at the BPRC….
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May 3, 2022
May 3, 2022
Anna 2022 Earth Day Event BPTMN Outreach Booth

Photos of the City of Anna Earth Day Event

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Rhonda Sanchez, 2019 & Outreach Director – Here are photos from the 2022 City of…
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May 3, 2022
May 3, 2022

Clyde’s Owl Update

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<a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Ftxmn.org%2Fbptmn%2Fclydes-owl-update%2F&linkname=Clyde%E2%80%99s%20Owl%20Update" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow…
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May 3, 2022
May 3, 2022
Buckeye Flowers

Buckeye Pilgrimage

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Greg Tonian, 2017 – The Trinity River Valley of North Texas drew us all here, Though we…
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May 3, 2022
May 3, 2022
Members at Outreach Booth

Frisco Eggsplorers Outreach Event was Eggcredible!

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Rhonda Sanchez, 2019 & Outreach Director – We counted that we interacted with 250+ people by…
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May 3, 2022
May 3, 2022

HELP WANTED – April 2022

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HELP WANTED – April 2022
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May 3, 2022
May 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Tasha Patterson

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Tasha Patterson, 2020 and 2021 Class Representative – I also do first Saturday trail guiding…
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May 1, 2022
May 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Paulette Planko

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By Paulette Planko, 2021 – I’m a member of the 2021 class. I have been…
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May 1, 2022
May 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Leah Justice

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By Leah Justice, 2021 – As a newer member of the chapter, I volunteered for many…
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May 1, 2022
May 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Lorrie Mathers

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Lorrie Mathers, 2021 – I’m a Texan by choice! I grew up in a small farming…
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May 1, 2022
May 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Andy Hudson

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Andy Hudson, 2018 – I was in Class 2018. People can usually find me serving…
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May 1, 2022
April 23, 2022

WFAA – Lights out! Dallas. It’s for the birds.

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WFAA Article submitted by Donna Cole, 2002 – Light pollution in cities like Dallas can…
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April 23, 2022
April 21, 2022

2022 May – Nicole Neigel | Making your Nature Outings Accessible

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Charlise Hill Larson, 2019 and 2021-2022 Vice President Join us at the May Chapter meeting…

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April 21, 2022
April 16, 2022

Last Minute AT Opportunity – Geology of North Texas

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What kinds of rocks are underfoot? How did they get there?  What role did the Gulf…
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April 16, 2022
April 11, 2022

April 14th Deep Dive with Lisa and Rick Travis and Carol Clark

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 and 2021-2022 Vice President What do a couple of Master Naturalists do…

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April 11, 2022
April 1, 2022

Our Tribe’s Fortune 2500 Hours – Tom Shackelford

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Tom Shackelford, 2018 and Past President (2020-2021) I was born in Great Bend, Kansas and grew…
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April 1, 2022
April 1, 2022
500 Hours Silver Pin

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 – Susan Makuta

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Susan Makuta, 2021 I am a member of the class of 2021. I volunteer at…

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April 1, 2022
April 1, 2022
500 Hours Silver Pin

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 – Sarah Densmore

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Sarah Densmore, 2021 My major volunteer areas are with the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, where…

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April 1, 2022
April 1, 2022
Brandon Belcher

Last of the Blackland, A Nature Conservancy video

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 and 2021-22 Vice President I was spending time with The Nature…
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April 1, 2022
April 1, 2022

‘Dem Bones Update

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Deborah Canterbury, 2014 and Past President Master Naturalists in the Heard Fossil Lab recently laid out…
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April 1, 2022
March 28, 2022

HELP WANTED – MARCH

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BPTMN Partners and Projects need you!
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March 28, 2022
March 24, 2022

2022 April – Carol Clark | Botany for Naturalists

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 and 2021-22 Vice President Do you visit a woods or a prairie…

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March 24, 2022
March 24, 2022
Chris Ulch Interpretive Guide Promo

Deep Dive Rescheduled – Chris Ulch

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As many of you know, Spring weather in Texas can be unpredictable. Our Deep Dive…
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March 24, 2022
March 23, 2022
Members at Garden Show

Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists at the Collin County MG Garden Show

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Rhonda Sanchez, 2019 Here are a few photos from the garden show. We tracked that we shared…
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March 23, 2022
March 18, 2022

Great Trinity Forest Walk with Bill Holston

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Please join our February Chapter Meeting Speaker, Bill Holston, on Sunday, March 27, for an…
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March 18, 2022
March 2, 2022
500 Hours Silver Pin

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 – Louise Frost

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Louise Frost, 2010 I’m mostly a life-long Dallasite with gaps here and there. When I…

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March 2, 2022
March 2, 2022
500 Hours Silver Pin

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 – John W. “Dub” Spencer

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John W. “Dub” Spencer, 2017 I grew up in small central Texas town (Hamilton), working,…

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March 2, 2022
March 2, 2022
500 Hours Silver Pin

Our Tribe’s Fortune 500 – Duane Mortenson

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Duane Mortenson, 2018 I grew up on a dairy farm in northern Wisconsin, so I…

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March 2, 2022
March 1, 2022
Lynx in Urban yard landscape.

Great Wildlife Moment in Collin County

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Susan Abernethy, 2018 I thought this may be worth putting on the website under great…

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March 1, 2022
March 1, 2022

Introduction to the Great Trinity Forest with Bill Holston

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 Please join our February Speaker, Bill Holston, on Sunday, March 27,…
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March 1, 2022
March 1, 2022

Long Time, No Hear

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Clyde Camp, 2011 Possibly a very frustrated male.  Or Female.  The same bird (I…
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March 1, 2022
February 21, 2022

2022 March – Dr. Peter Schulze | Obstacles to Environmental Progress

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Charlise Hill-Larson, 2019 Join us as we welcome Dr. Peter Schulze to our March Monthly…

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February 21, 2022
February 9, 2022

February Chapter Meeting “Help Wanted”

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Our great chapter needs you! Plano Trails, MG Garden Show, DFW Wildlife Coalition, Heard…
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February 9, 2022
February 1, 2022

Thank you, Tom Shackelford

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Rick Travis, 2018 – Current President (2022-2023) – Talk about being in the right place at…
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February 1, 2022
February 1, 2022

Sign up for the Garden Show 2022 (CCMG)

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Rhonda Sanchez, 2019 Are you interested in volunteering for the BPTMN Booth at the upcoming…

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February 1, 2022
February 1, 2022

Clymer Meadow Projects in 2022

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Tom Shackelford, 2018 – (2020-2021 President) – Clymer Meadow Projects:  Remnant Blackland Prairie restoration, preservation,…
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February 1, 2022
February 1, 2022

Polymorphism or Spring Treasure Hunt at Raptor Center

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Lorelei Stierlen, 2014 – Both photos are of the beautiful Blackland Prairie native coreopsis tinctoria…
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February 1, 2022
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