Kathy Boys, Class of 2023
What inspired you to become a Master Naturalist?
I’ve been wanting to do this program for years! I’ve always loved nature and have worried about our environment and man’s impact. Now I feel like I can make a difference as a volunteer, particularly through youth engagement and education.
On what type of projects do you typically spend your service hours or are they varied?
I chose caring for animals at Holifield as my main weekly volunteer gig. Being surrounded by and caring for the animals feeds my soul. I have enjoyed several volunteer hours at Connemara and the Heard Museum as well. Besides working with animals, I love educating our youth. They are sponges and it’s fun to watch their Eureka! moments. I have thoroughly enjoyed working the BPTMN booths at many venues but my favorite has been helping to develop and drive the Eco Explorer program for our Girl Scout youth (and their parents)! We can’t save our natural environment if we don’t appreciate it, and we can’t appreciate it if we don’t understand and connect with it. My generation, along with prior generations, have done a lousy job of caring for our planet and it’s up to our youth to take the lead in caring for it. There are so many wonderous things to see in nature and I want them to still be there and healthy for future generations.
When you were taking the Master Naturalist class did you have a favorite lesson that stuck with you?
Oh, this one is tough. I was honestly pleasantly surprised at what a stellar program the BPTMN chapter has developed. I enjoyed most of the classes and time flew by quickly. I learned so much! Classes that really stuck with me were with Sam Biology Ecosystems, the class on weather (I think it was with Dr. Baker), the class on aquatics (done as a make-up class at Connemara), and the class on Mammalogy. I really enjoyed several of the videos we watched prior to class as well.
Tell us about yourself, your background, and perhaps what you like to do in your spare time?
I am a native Texan from the Rio Grande Valley but grew up overseas, which shaped my life considerably. My first love was biology, but life took me a different direction and I received a Masters in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M which brought me to the Dallas area where I worked for Texas Instruments. I have volunteered for the local Girl Scout council for about 24 years, leading my daughter’s troop for 13 of those years. I continue to believe in the Girl Scout mission, but my focus has been getting the girls outside and learning about the natural world that surrounds us. In my spare time I enjoy walking, watching birds, nature journaling, cooking, playing Mahjong, sewing, paper crafting and I recently picked up ukelele lessons.
Is there one thing that you’d like to tell others that are thinking about becoming a MN or perhaps current members that might need a little bit of inspiration?
Becoming a BPTMN has been such a rewarding experience and I wish I had done it sooner. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning new information about things I care about, and volunteering with both animals and youth. It’s been a very rewarding experience and I encourage others with an interest in the natural world to become a BPTMN and continue exploring both educational and volunteer opportunities. There is something for everyone.
Comments or words of wisdom to share with chapter members and community we serve:
We must educate both our youth and their parents/leaders!
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