Blackland Prairie Newsletter

🍂 🦗 Welcome to the September 2026 edition! From celebrating our third ‘Pollinators for Texas‘ grant award to gearing up for fall planting workdays, and welcoming our next generation of trainees, our chapter continues to build lasting connections across North Texas. Explore all of our newest community stories, training recap videos, and volunteer calls below. 🌳 🌿

Blackland Prairie Chapter Receives 3rd Pollinators for Texas Award from H-E-B and TMN: Laura Kuwayama is thrilled to announce our continued participation in the Pollinators for Texas project! Our chapter has been selected to receive a $4,000 grant to help support and expand native pollinator habitat at Monarch View Park in Frisco. Read more about the Pollinators for Texas grant

🦋 Wildlife Wonders & Ecosystems

With Development Spreading Across DFW, How Can We Help Wildlife? Sam Kieschnick discusses regional animal adaptation in the face of rapid urban growth and suggests practical ways land stewards and residents can help wildlife thrive. Read more about supporting local wildlife

🤝 Volunteer Spotlights & Workdays

Monarch Gardens at Gabe Nesbitt Park – Pollinator Planting: Get your hands dirty for a good cause! Help us plant vital nectar and host habitats for butterflies and native pollinators on Oct. 2 & 16 from 9 AM to NOON. Read more and sign up for planting

Calling All Arachnids: Spiders Needed for Youth Engagement Events! Don’t squash that spider—save it for science! The YES Committee is hunting for eight-legged educators to spark curiosity in young naturalists during upcoming youth projects. Read more about spider collection for YES

The Blackland Prairie HOME Program: Ready to support native habitat monitoring and stewardship? Join the HOME Team and get involved with our local community initiatives! Read more about the HOME Program

The BPTMN Speakers Bureau Needs Your Help! The Speakers Bureau is looking for a variety of new voices to share nature topics with local groups and join in on the fun. Read more about joining the Speakers Bureau

📚 Education, Training & Research

Deep Dive – Digging Deep: Rocks, Minerals & Fossils of North Texas with Randy Boys: Join Texas Master Naturalist Randy Boys for an engaging presentation exploring ancient regional geology and how local rock formations shape the soils, habitats, and ecosystems of North Texas. Read more about the rocks and minerals deep dive

In Case You Missed It: Carol Clark Teaching Botany Skills for the Cissy St. John Memorial Series (Video by Lauren Plunk): Watch the recap of our plant anatomy workshop with Carol Clark, recorded by Lauren Plunk, and get ready for our upcoming Native Bees Seminar on Sunday, Oct. 29 (1–5 PM)! Read more and watch the botany workshop video

September Book Club Information: Ready for your next great natural science title? Explore this month’s selected book and join the discussion with fellow readers. Read more about the September Book Club

⭐ Chapter News & Milestones

Help Grow the BPTMN Family! Applications for 2027 Training Class: The wait is almost over! Applications for the 2027 Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalist training class officially open October 1 and close October 31, 2026. Read more about the 2027 training class application

BPTMN Chapter 20th Anniversary Celebration Series: As we celebrate two decades of service and education, this month’s spotlight highlights reflections and memories from Paul Napper, Class of 2015. Read the 20th Anniversary feature with Paul Napper

Texas Master Naturalist Fall Pop-Up Store OPEN NOW! Get your official gear in time for the gathering! The online pop-up store is currently open for ordering your Texas Master Naturalist Annual Meeting merchandise. Read more and visit the TMN pop-up store

You can access our latest newsletter from our Chapter’s Home Page at bptmn.org, click on the “Blackland Prairie Newsletter” image, OR by direct link – https://txmn.org/bptmn/newsletters/

This newsletter will provide:

• Next Month’s Chapter Meeting – Chapter Meetings
• Shaking the Trees Member Submissions – Shaking the Trees Newsletter
• Past Meetings Recordings – Chapter Meetings
• Past Deep Dives Recordings – Deep Dives
• Upcoming Advanced Training & Volunteer Hours Opportunities – Member VHAT Calendar.
• TMN State Program Updates
• Chapter Advisor
• Chapter Partners

If chapter members need to share information in the monthly newsletter that drops after the chapter meeting, or want to provide feedback, or want to help! Please send your emails to [email protected].


Michelle Connally
Communications Director
Blackland Prairie Chapter