Blackland Prairie Newsletter

🍂 🦗 Welcome to the August 2026 edition! From celebrating two decades of conservation impact to gearing up for fall mothing, geology deep dives, and annual statewide gathering, our members continue to make a lasting difference across North Texas. Catch up on all the latest chapter updates, educational offerings, and volunteer opportunities below. 🌳 🌿

🦋 Wildlife Wonders & Ecosystems

• The Magic and Chemistry of Fall Foliage Color: While fall colors appear as magic to our eyes, the seasonal shift is truly a captivating product of color and chemistry. [Read more about the science behind fall foliage]
• The Great Texas Tortoise Turn-In: Texas Parks and Wildlife is preparing to release 180 captive Texas tortoises back into the wild. [Read more about the Texas tortoise release]
• Let’s Grow Wild! Thinking about fall planting? The Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation has created a unique app to help you select native plants and get your next wildscape project started! [Read more about the Let’s Grow Wild app]

🤝 Volunteer Spotlights & Workdays

• Share, Inspire, and Explore: Volunteer at the LLELA Visitor Center! Want to share your love for nature and inspire others? We are looking for friendly faces to volunteer in the visitor center at Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA) to help guests explore and connect with the outdoors. [Read more about volunteering at LLELA]
• 5th Annual Connemara Mothing Event on Saturday, September 12 (7 PM – 9 PM): Join the Blackland Prairie Chapter for our free, family-friendly annual mothing night at Connemara Meadow Preserve. We’ll set up specialized lights to attract nocturnal moths and other fascinating insects for an evening of community discovery. [Read more about the Connemara Mothing Event]
• 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 feature in upcoming youth projects. If you spot a willing participant, capture it safely to help us spin these programs into a success. [Read more about collecting spiders for YES projects]

📚 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 the ancient geological history right beneath our feet, discovering how local rock formations shape our regional soils and habitats. [Read more about the North Texas geology deep dive]
• Advanced Training – Texas Stream Team Standard Core Training: NCTCOG is partnering with the Texas Stream Team on Friday, September 18, 2026, to conduct free water quality monitor training in Arlington. [Read more about Texas Stream Team training]
• August Lunch and Learn Webinar: Dragonflies! Learn all about the biology, behavior, and identification of dragonflies in this monthly AgriLife webinar series hosted by Molly Keck. [Read more about the Dragonflies Lunch and Learn]
• Master Volunteer Entomology Advanced Training 2026: Don’t let the details bug you! Join Wizzie Brown and Molly Keck with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension for comprehensive entomology training in a flexible virtual course format. [Read more about Master Volunteer Entomology Training]

⭐ Chapter News & Milestones

• Texas Master Naturalist 2026 Annual Meeting – Registration Now Open! Gather with over 600+ volunteers and partners from across the state for 150+ expert-led classroom and field sessions, hands-on seminars, and advanced training credits. [Read more and register for the 2026 Annual Meeting]
• BPTMN Chapter 20th Anniversary Celebration Series: As part of our 20th-anniversary celebration, we are spotlighting one chapter member from each class year to share their memories, photos, and reflections on how BPTMN has impacted their life. [Read the latest 20th Anniversary Spotlight]
• CELEBRATE & DONATE! Honoring Our Founding Emeritus Members: In honor of our 20th anniversary and founding members Dave Powell, Sally Evans, Deborah Canterbury, Ed Ellerbe, and Donna Cole, the chapter has opened special giving opportunities to support key initiatives like the Junior Master Naturalist Program. [Read more about how to donate]
• BPTMN Grant Program Update – Spring 2026: From tracking bat acoustics and banding migratory birds to establishing pocket prairies and cooling raptors, explore the innovative projects funded by our Spring 2026 chapter grants and find out where volunteer hours are needed. [Read the full Spring 2026 Grant Program update]

Save the Date –

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