Texas Master Naturalist
El Camino Real Chapter
Events Notice
September 25, 2022
Event: Plant Party / Advanced Plant Training
Date: Wednesday, September 28, from 10:00 am – 11:30 am
Where: Online
Details: The topic will be Trees, from a forestry/disease/water perspective. The hope is that everyone, no matter the location in Texas, can learn a little something about forestry and caring for trees, including the role of epiphytes (like Spanish moss). To register, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/
VMS: AT: Webinars
Event: Deadline for in-person attendance at the Texas Master Naturalist Conference.
Details: See annual conference information below; conference will be October 20-23.
Event: Texas Wildlife Association’s Wild at Work: A Stewardship Series
Date: Thursday, September 29th from noon to 1 PM
Where: Online
Details: Guest speaker will be Steve Nelle. Steve is retired from the Natural Resources Conservation Service where he worked closely with private landowners in Texas as a range conservationist, district conservationist, wildlife biologist and zone biologist for 3 decades. He will be joining us to discuss the topic of grazing–and specifically how it can be used to create and manage wildlife habitat. The webinar is free to attend just sign up at this link to get the join info. Those who are with us for the live meeting will also be able to participate in Q&A with Steve at the end.
VMS: To be determined
Event: STARGAZING NIGHT ON THE LAWN AT THE 1895
Date: Saturday, October 1, at 8:00 pm
Where: 240 Burleson St at Bell Ave, Rockdale
Details: Bring your picnic blanket & refreshments and relax with friends on the lot behind The 1895 while Dr. Mark Bottorff of Southwestern University Astronomy guides attendees through a celestial tour of the night sky. This FREE community event is brought to you by Vision Historic Preservation Foundation in cooperation with Southwestern University Astronomy Club.
VMS: To Be Determined
Event: Cibolo Nature Center’s Fall Wildlife Field Research Week
Date: October 2-8, 2022
Where: Cibolo Nature Center, 140 City Park Road, Boerne, TX 78006
Details: There will be at least 12 different surveys scheduled for multiple times during the week, looking at everything from ants to prairie vegetation to reptiles. For the last 22 years, Community Scientists have played an integral part in our success by helping us to monitor the health of our riparian, prairie, marsh, woodland, and aquatic environments found here at the Cibolo Nature Center. Come be a part of our science, our history, and our success! Visit givepulse.com to find out more and register.
VMS: To be determined
Event: Texas Pollinator BioBlitz
When: October 7 – 23
Where: Participate from anywhere!
Details: For more information, visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/
VMS: VT: Cit. Sci.- All TPWD Nature Trackers (TNT) and other Texas “involved” Monitoring Projects using iNaturalist Observations, eBird and other reporting tools
Event: October Chapter Meeting
Date: Thursday, October 13, potluck meal at 5:30; presentation will begin at 6:00. Potluck theme is soups and stews.
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall, 200 N Travis Ave in Cameron
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Details: Mary Melton will present a program; topic to be determined.
VMS: AT at Chapter Meeting/Other venue; VE: Administrative Work, Chapter Meeting; VE: Administrative Work/Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: TMN 2022 Annual Meeting
Date: Thursday through Sunday, October 20-23, 2022
Where: Houston Omni Hotel
Details: Registration is now open! This year’s Annual Meeting will be hosted in the heart of one of the most ecologically diverse urban centers in the nation. Houston is nestled in the Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes ecoregion of Texas, inviting a wide variety of wildlife and vegetation. With a temperate climate and abundant rainfall, well-known species include the Houston toad and the whooping crane. The conference, held at the Omni Houston, sits on the shores of Buffalo Bayou, creating 160 acres of greenspace in the heart of downtown Houston, and re-introducing the natural world to those who call the city their home. Registration will limited to 500 total registrants each day thus registration will be on a first-come, first-serve. Registrants will be able to attend field sessions (no transportation provided, caravan or carpool-at-will this year) exploring some key nearby natural areas where TMNs work and all technical sessions on site. Full conference registration will include all meals Thursday evening dinner through Sunday breakfast with ample breaks and snacks throughout. Registrants will also receive a registration swag bag. All registrations also include full access to the Virtual Attendee Hub conference website & app, and Annual Meeting contests, app games and session chat. Lodging is a separate cost and not included in the registration prices.
To register, visit https://web.cvent.com/event/
VMS: AT: Texas Parks & Wildlife (TPWD) or TMN Sponsored
Event: Hike in the Balcones Canyonland National Wildlife Refuge
Date: Saturday, Oct. 29 at 9 am
Where: Balcones Canyonland National Wildlife Refuge, located between Leander and Marble Falls
Details: The guide will be Chris Harper. We will need to leave Cameron by 7 a.m. They encourage carpooling because of parking. Learn more about the location at
https://www.fws.gov/refuge/
More details coming soon!
VMS: To be determined.
Event: Nature Days
When: Each Saturday in November- 5, 12, 19, 26
9:00am-12noon. Come and go
Where: Bird and Bee Farm- 1369 County Rd. 334, Rockdale, TX
Details: Native plant and seed giveaway, tours of Milam Wildscape,
Sharing Master Naturalist information with the public.
VMS: Volunteer hours for participating or donating garden items or plants: VT: Community Outreach, Indirect (describe event/activity)
Event: November Chapter Meeting
Date: Thursday, November 10, potluck meal at 5:30; presentation will begin at 6:00. Potluck theme is member’s choice.
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Fellowship Hall, 200 N Travis Ave in Cameron
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/
Details: Alad Rudd will present a program; topic to be determined.
VMS: AT at Chapter Meeting/Other venue; VE: Administrative Work, Chapter Meeting; VE: Administrative Work/Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: BioBlitz of Lobanillo Swales near San Augustine, a location on the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail
When: Tuesday, November 15, 2022, 9 am-12 pm
Where: Lobanillo Swales, on State Hwy. 21 W 2 miles west of Geneva, Texas (near the Sabine-San Augustine county line)
Details: Members of the Longleaf Pines TMN chapter under the direction of Steven Gonzales, Executive Director of the El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail Assn., will perform a survey of fauna and flora of the site. For some basic info on the swales, see: https://www.nps.gov/places/
VMS: TBD.
Event: ECRMN Christmas Party and December Meeting
Date: Friday, December 9
Where: Milam Community Theater building, 408 S Columbus Ave, Cameron
Details: The meal will be catered by Thorndale Meat Market, cost is $25 per person; members will provide desserts. There will be a white elephant gift exchange.
VMS: AT at Chapter Meeting/Other venue; VE: Administrative Work, Chapter Meeting; VE: Administrative Work/Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: First Friday Coffee at Rockdale Library
Date: Friday, January 6, 2023, from 9 am – 12:00 pm
Where: Lucy Hill Patterson Memorial Library, 201 Ackerman St, Rockdale
Details: ECRMN will be hosting the First Friday Coffee event. ECRMN will provide snacks and share information about ECRMN with visitors.
VMS: VE: Hospitality, if appropriate; VE: Community Outreach, Indirect, if appropriate.
Event: 2023 MN Class
Date: Classes begin in January; classes will be 5:30 pm – 9:30 pm
Details: For more information, visit https://txmn.org/elcamino/