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Blackland Prairie Chapter

  “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.

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Congratulations to the Blackland Prairie Chapter Class of 2025!

2025 August Chapter Meeting with Rick Travis | Riparian Rock Stars: Trees of North Texas Highly Prized by Wildlife

Vicki Sanders, Vice President

Topic: Riparian Rock Stars: Trees of North Texas Highly Prized by Wildlife

A discussion of key native trees found in north Texas that are highly utilized by wildlife, reviewing their physical characteristics, where they range, preferred habitat, natural history, and their value to the woodland ecosystem.

Speaker: Rick Travis

Rick is a valued member of our own BPTMN chapter, Class of 2018. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Forest Management and an MBA, both from Stephen F. Austin State University. With his retirement from a successful business career, Rick is now fulfilling a long-deferred desire to re-engage with environmental sciences and our natural world.

He is currently serving his fourth year as BPTMN Chapter President. Rick is also a member of Frisco’s Natural Resources Advisory Board and works closely with Frisco Parks on multiple projects within the city. Additionally, he serves as a volunteer trail guide at the Heard Wildlife Sanctuary, Plano Parks and Trails, as well as for Frisco Parks and Trails. He further contributes as the Forest Ecology instructor for our Blackland Prairie chapter, the North Texas chapter, and the Elm Fork chapter’s new member training programs.

When: Tuesday, August 12th, 2025 – 7:00 PM
Click here to view our Calendar.

  • SRC Doors will open at 6:30 PM
  • Zoom meeting waiting room will open at 6:45 PM
  • Business Meeting will begin at 7:00 PM
  • Naturalist Talk will start at 7:30 PM (approximately)

Physical Meeting Location:  Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary, 
1Nature Place, McKinney, TX 75069, Science Resource Center (SRC) building.
Directions to SRC: Drive through Heard gates, past the parking lot and museum building, and continue until the road ends at the large white SRC building. 

Register in advance for this Zoom meeting:
Use the email address associated with your personal Zoom account.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElcOmsrTsrGtbd5HCAAws7J_qSSob6IxpQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Logging AT:  The monthly meeting presentation will allow members to earn 1-hour of AT. Log as AT: BPTMN Chapter Monthly Meeting Only (1 hour) with the speaker’s name and topic in the description box.

If you have any additional questions, please email.
Chapter Meeting Host: Vicki Sanders, vicepresident@bptmn.org

Past Chapter Meeting Speakers and Topics

Deep Dive on Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists Pollinator Gardens: 2025

Join us on August 18th, at 7 PM CST for a Deep Dive, with Susan Abernathy presenting on Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists Pollinator Gardens: 2025.
Click here to view our Calendar.

Topic: Blackland Prairie Texas Master Naturalists Pollinator Gardens: 2025

A presentation of photos of home pollinator gardens created and maintained by members of the BPTMN: Sharla Stack, Phillip Olson, Jackie and Harvey Mette, and Tina, ED and Dennis Burke. Notes on methods, a plant list and an opportunity to ask questions of the homeowners will be included in the presentation

Speaker:  A native Texan, and life long nature lover, Susan has been a Texas Master Naturalist with the Blackland Prairie Chapter since 2018. She has volunteered in a variety of administrative roles and has enjoyed work on prairie restoration in Collin and Hunt counties. She currently maintains a pocket prairie and a Monarch Watch pollinator garden at home in Plano and one in Pilot Point in Denton county.
Understanding and educating others about the critical role of pollinators is an important part of her volunteer efforts. She also enjoys birding and hiking whenever she has the chance.

When: August 18, 2025, at 7 PM CST

Online Zoom Meeting Registration
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/AodEQrsaQme7qxYZ_Vhc8A

Please register ahead of time for this meeting using your Zoom Account Email address. 
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with information about joining the meeting.
(This meeting will be recorded, and a link will be posted here within a week of the event.)

Logging AT: Approved for 1 hour of AT to be logged as AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-approved Training with the speaker’s name and topic in the description box.
Advanced Training is only for the LIVE session with a Q&A and not the recorded video.

If you have any additional questions, please get in touch.
Chapter Meeting Host: Vicki Sanders, vicepresident@bptmn.org

Past Deep Dive Speakers and Topics
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Current News

Magical Mothing Event at the Heard Museum, Celebrating National Moth Week

06/16/2025
Get ready for a night of enchantment! Celebrate National Moth Week at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s Magical Mothing Event on Saturday, July 26, from 8:00 to 11:00 PM. Come discover the fascinating world of moths under the stars!
Read More

Summer hours for McKinney Green Gardens Last Saturday workday!

07/17/2025
Mary Abercrombie wants to share to good news! McKinney Green Gardens is updating its summer hours to help beat the heat.
Read More

The Heard Museum needs Pre-School Storytime Readers!

07/15/2025
The Heard Museum would like to expand its storytime to every Friday morning at ten.  This is for pre-schoolers.  At present it is only on the second and fourth Fridays.  If you would like to read to a group of little kids whose eyes get big and whose verbage is priceless.
Read More

McKinney Green Gardens Workday: A Community Success!

07/14/2025
The McKinney Green Gardens restoration project, a Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists (BPTMN)- approved project and a Chapter grant recipient, experienced a highly successful workday on July 5th. Leading the charge were two dedicated BPTMN members: Mary Abercrombie, who also works with the City of McKinney Office of Sustainability, and Paulette Platko.
Read More

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge: A Haven of Nature and Opportunity

07/10/2025

The Friends of Hagerman NWR offer many volunteer for Texas Master Naturalists, all of which have been approved for AT or VH in the Blackland Prairie chapter. Visit friendsofhagerman.org/tmn for more information The Field Trip Team It’s no secret that many children today don’t spend enough time outside — and for some public school students, field trips are a rare opportunity. That’s why the Friends of Hagerman offer free, nature-based field trips to connect kids with the great outdoors. We offer field trips for every grade level, but most field trips are K – 4.  Every field trip includes a guided nature…

Read More

Plano Park – June Updates from Project Leader Jean Higgins

07/08/2025
Over the past several months, teams have cleared large volumes of this aggressive invader from the park’s natural areas. Privet creates dense thickets that crowd out native species, reduce biodiversity, and degrade wildlife habitat. By removing it, we are opening space for native grasses, wildflowers, trees and shrubs to thrive again—restoring balance to the landscape and supporting healthier ecosystems.
Read More

Visit our Community Engagement Booth at these upcoming events!

07/01/2025
Curious about local wildlife and conservation? Come say hello at the BPTMN Community Engagement Booth! Catch us at the Heard Museum, the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, and the Mothing event at Connemara. We can’t wait to see you there!
Read More
Hammerhead worm

The Multiplying Critters of DFW

06/27/2025
What do you do when you find an invasive hammerhead worm? Sam Kieschnick gives us the scoop!
Read More

Magical Mothing Event at the Heard Museum, Celebrating National Moth Week

06/16/2025
Get ready for a night of enchantment! Celebrate National Moth Week at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s Magical Mothing Event on Saturday, July 26, from 8:00 to 11:00 PM. Come discover the fascinating world of moths under the stars!
Read More

Summer hours for McKinney Green Gardens Last Saturday workday!

07/17/2025
Mary Abercrombie wants to share to good news! McKinney Green Gardens is updating its summer hours to help beat the heat.
Read More

The Heard Museum needs Pre-School Storytime Readers!

07/15/2025
The Heard Museum would like to expand its storytime to every Friday morning at ten.  This is for pre-schoolers.  At present it is only on the second and fourth Fridays.  If you would like to read to a group of little kids whose eyes get big and whose verbage is priceless.
Read More

McKinney Green Gardens Workday: A Community Success!

07/14/2025
The McKinney Green Gardens restoration project, a Blackland Prairie Master Naturalists (BPTMN)- approved project and a Chapter grant recipient, experienced a highly successful workday on July 5th. Leading the charge were two dedicated BPTMN members: Mary Abercrombie, who also works with the City of McKinney Office of Sustainability, and Paulette Platko.
Read More

Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge: A Haven of Nature and Opportunity

07/10/2025

The Friends of Hagerman NWR offer many volunteer for Texas Master Naturalists, all of which have been approved for AT or VH in the Blackland Prairie chapter. Visit friendsofhagerman.org/tmn for more information The Field Trip Team It’s no secret that many children today don’t spend enough time outside — and for some public school students, field trips are a rare opportunity. That’s why the Friends of Hagerman offer free, nature-based field trips to connect kids with the great outdoors. We offer field trips for every grade level, but most field trips are K – 4.  Every field trip includes a guided nature…

Read More

Plano Park – June Updates from Project Leader Jean Higgins

07/08/2025
Over the past several months, teams have cleared large volumes of this aggressive invader from the park’s natural areas. Privet creates dense thickets that crowd out native species, reduce biodiversity, and degrade wildlife habitat. By removing it, we are opening space for native grasses, wildflowers, trees and shrubs to thrive again—restoring balance to the landscape and supporting healthier ecosystems.
Read More

Visit our Community Engagement Booth at these upcoming events!

07/01/2025
Curious about local wildlife and conservation? Come say hello at the BPTMN Community Engagement Booth! Catch us at the Heard Museum, the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, and the Mothing event at Connemara. We can’t wait to see you there!
Read More
Hammerhead worm

The Multiplying Critters of DFW

06/27/2025
What do you do when you find an invasive hammerhead worm? Sam Kieschnick gives us the scoop!
Read More

Magical Mothing Event at the Heard Museum, Celebrating National Moth Week

06/16/2025
Get ready for a night of enchantment! Celebrate National Moth Week at the Heard Natural Science Museum & Wildlife Sanctuary’s Magical Mothing Event on Saturday, July 26, from 8:00 to 11:00 PM. Come discover the fascinating world of moths under the stars!
Read More

 

 

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