Join us on December 16th at 7 PM CST for a Deep Dive with Dr. Jaime Baxter-Slye, presenting updates from the University of North Texas Ecological Action Studio 2025. This includes a prescribed burn on an urban campus and partnering with Cole Ranch to rescue plants prior to residential development.
Texas Master Naturalists
Deep Dive on Seasons of Geese with Laurie Sheppard
Join us on October 25th, at 7 PM CST, for a Deep Dive, with Laurie Sheppard presenting on the Seasons of Geese. Get ready for a deep dive into the fascinating world of feathered, migrating friends! As Laurie Sheppard prepared to talk about the spectacular Snow Geese, she realized she couldn’t ignore their incredible cousins that grace Collin County.
The application window for the 2026 New Class Training is CLOSED
The application window for the 2026 Training Program has closed. The 2027 window will open in Fall 2026.
We NEED you to help us transplant over 400+ Native Plants!
Join us on Saturday, October 25th at McKinney Green Gardens in Gabe Nesbitt Park for a special workday! We’ll be transplanting over 400 native plants, and we’d love your help to make it happen.
The application window for the 2026 New Class Training will be open from October 1st – 15th.
Applications are now OPEN for the 2026 Texas Master Naturalist Blackland Prairie Chapter training class. Gain in-depth knowledge about the unique flora and fauna of the Blackland Prairie ecosystem. The application deadline is October 15, 2025.
4th Annual Connemara Mothing Event on Saturday September 13, 7pm – 9pm
Hey everyone! Get ready for a night of discovery at the 4th Annual Connemara Meadow Preserve Mothing Event on Saturday, September 13, from 7 PM to 9 PM.
Join the Blackland Prairie Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists for this free and family-friendly event. We’ll set up special lights to attract all kinds of nocturnal moths and other cool insects. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see the preserve in a whole new light and learn about these amazing creatures. We can’t wait to see you there.
Our Tribe’s Fortune 250 Hours – Sue Kacines, Class of 2021
The learning field trips were the best part – I especially enjoyed experiencing and learning about a couple of the rare remnant prairies that we have in the area – Parkhill Prairie and Clymer Meadow were two of my favorites.
Our Tribe’s Fortune – Ruby: 4,000 Hours – Tom Shackelford
Focus not so much on the moment, but for all time. Accept our responsibility to do our share, sometimes more, and put back into nature a portion of what we have taken from it.
My Favorite Things through the Four Seasons: Spring
John W. Garbutt- Class of 2019- It was near the end of February when my sister brought up the imminent arrival of Barn Swallows. Usually the first migrant, the avian harbinger of spring arrives in early March. A couple of years previous, I had seen my first one on the last day of February. It was a day or two later that my sister had the same experience with a February Barn Swallow.
Rooted in Paulette: The First Books & Blooms Library Blooms at Green Gardens
Mary Abercrombie, Class of 2020 – Books & Blooms, a new passive engagement program that reimagines Little Free Libraries as vibrant community touchpoints for ecological literacy and neighborhood beauty.
Our very first Books & Blooms installation is now blooming at the Green Gardens of McKinney at Gabe Nesbitt Park, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner to bring this pilot to life than Paulette Platko, local artist, garden steward, and Texas Master Naturalist with the Blackland Prairie Chapter.