Texas Master Naturalist
El Camino Real Chapter
Events Notice
January 29, 2023
Event: 2022-23 Project FeederWatch
When: Continues thru April 30, 2023
Where: Wherever your bird feeders are located
Requirements: To join and participate, see: https://feederwatch.org/about/
Details: This is an opportunity to earn volunteer hours and learn the identification of the birds that come to your feeders.
VMS: VT: Cit. Sci.- Cornell Lab- TMN Field Research: Observation, recording and submission of data for Project FeederWatch
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, February 2. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Archeology and Natural History by several presenters. Dr Clark Wernecke is a world class archaeologist and will be covering information about discoveries that teach us when and how the Western Hemisphere was occupied by people. Dr. Deborah Cowman and Ms. Maria Lazo of the Brazos Valley Museum of Natural History (BVMNH) will be presenting about history and purpose of that museum. Garrett Leopold is also with BVMNH and he will present about Boonville Heritage Park, a pioneer town that was the original county seat of Brazos County, Texas.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: Post Oak chapter of NPSOT Program on Prairies, Change, and Weeds by Dr. Barron Richter
When: Thursday February 2, at 6:30 PM
Where: Gary Halter Nature Center at Lick Creek Park, 13600 E Rock Prairie Rd in College Station
Details: Public is invited to NPSOT February meeting and program.
VMS: AT: By Conservation Partnership Agencies, or similar organizations
Event: Bird and Bee Farm Outreach Event
Date: Tuesday, February 7, likely beginning at 10 or 11 am
Where: Bird and Bee Farm, 1369 Co Rd 334, Rockdale
Details: 40-60 9th graders from Kepp Collegiate High School in Austin will be here to learn nature related topics, presented by our Chapter Advisor Timothy Siegmund, and Bird and Bee Farm owners Gene and Cindy Rek. ECRMN members are invited to participate, either by receiving AT or by receiving VE by assisting as hosts. Event is expected to last 2 hours. More details coming soon.
VMS: AT: AT: Category to be determiend OR VE: Community Outreach Indirect.
Event: POSGCD Rainwater Harvesting 101
Date: Tuesday, February 7, 5:30-7:00 pm
Where: POSGCD Office, 310 East Avenue C, Milano
Details: Rainwater harvesting involves the capture, diversion, and storage of rainwater for later use. It’s a water conservation method an alternative water source and a water conservation method that can reduce the pressure on aquifer systems by reducing pumping needs. Register at
https://posgcd.org/event/rwh-
VMS: AT: By Conservation Partnership Agencies, or similar organizations (include training event info)
Event: February Chapter Meeting
Date: Thursday, February 9, potluck at 5:30 pm, program begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Program will be by Bobby Allcorn with Texas Parks & Wildlife, topic to be decided. The potluck theme will be Italian food.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other Venue. VE: Chapter Administration / Chapter Mtg. Hospitality: VE if appropriate: VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality – 1 hour.
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, February 16. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Mammals by Chris Harper
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: Great Backyard Bird Count
Date: February 17-20
Where: Everywhere!
Details: Participants enter a new checklist for each new location or time of day during the four-day count. There are also tools and information on the GBBC website to help new and returning birders. You’re also invited to tune in to a special webinar about how to participate in the GBBC. It’s being held February 16 from 2:00 to 3:00 PM Eastern Time. It’s free. Just register to attend the Facebook livestream. For more information visit https://academy.allaboutbirds.
Event: ECRMN New Class Field Trip
When: Saturday, February 18.
Details: Field Trip to Post Oak Savannah Groundwater District in Milano with a program about water. More details coming soon.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting.
Event: Wildscape Workday
When: Saturday, February 18, 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Where: Milam Wildscape Project, located at Bird and Bee Farm, 1369 Co. Rd. 334, Rockdale
Details: We will meet each month on the third Saturday to perform small upkeep chores for the Wildlife, and Master Naturalist events held there
VMS: VE: Nature Improvement in Public areas (provide details)
Event: Mother Earth News Fair
Date: February 18-19
Where: Bell County Expo in Belton
Details: Programs on many topics. For more information visit https://www.
VMS: TMN Related topics are considered AT.
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, February 23. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Plants and grasses by Flo Oxley.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, March 2. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Entomology by Wizzie Brown
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: LRBMGA Master Gardener Plant Sale
When: Saturday, March 4, 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
Where: 101 E Main St in Cameron (formerly Bea’s Kitchen, now The Venue)
Details: Milam County’s Master Gardener association is having their annual plant sale. Large selection of natives, EarthKind, pollinator plants, vegetables, herbs, roses, blooming plants.
VMS: Not applicable.
Event: ECRMN March Meeting
When: Thursday, March 9. Meal at 5:30 pm, Program begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Details coming soon.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Chapter Meeting. Hospitality if appropriate: 1 hour, Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Hospitality.
Event: POSGCD EarthKind Landscapes
Date: Friday, March 10, 9:00-11:00 am
Where: POSGCD Office, 310 East Avenue C, Milano
Details: This class is hosted by the District and held in conjunction with Texas A&M Agrilife Extension and Texas Water Resource Institute. Register at
https://posgcd.org/event/ek-
VMS: AT: By Conservation Partnership Agencies, or similar organizations (include training event info)
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, March 16. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Trees and Forestry by Camille Weissman
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, March 23. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Soils by Jake Mowrer
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: ECRMN New Class Field Trip
When: Saturday, March 25
Where: Walker Honey Farm
Details: Field trip about Bees.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting.
Event: Spring Fling Event
When: Saturday, March 25
Where: Downtown Cameron
Details: The ECRMN Chapter will have an outreach booth at the event. More details coming soon.
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, March 30. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: Wildscapes by ECRMN Kathy Lester and ECRMN Donna Lewis
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: ECRMN New Class
When: Thursday, April 6. Potluck meal at 5:30 pm, Class begins at 6:00 pm
Where: All Saints Episcopal Church Meeting Room, 200 N Travis, Cameron
Details: To be determined.
VMS: AT: At a Chapter Mtg or Other if attending class. VE: Chapter Administration / Administrative Work / Training Class if assisting. VE: Chapter Administration / Hospitality if appropriate.
Event: 27th Annual Great Texas Birding Classic.
When: Registration deadline: April 1, 2023
Tournament Dates: April 15 – May 15, 2023 (your choice of day)
Details: Register at www.birdingclassic.org
Novice birders, expert listers and everyone in between are welcome! There are many categories to choose from based on your birding ability and region of the state. There are half day or full day tournaments and categories with team members scattered across the state or region as well as categories for teams of people who have been quarantining together. There’s something for everyone!
Find all tournament details online now:
– What categories are available this year? https://tpwd.texas.gov/events/
– How do you register your team? https://tpwd.texas.gov/events/
– Tournament rules and entry fees: https://tpwd.texas.gov/events/
Participants receive t-shirts with the official 2023 artwork of a Black-and-white warbler, by Tony Bennett (the artist who did the original 1997 Birding Classic artwork as well!).
Registration fees and sponsorship dollars go toward Conservation Grants for birding, nature tourism, and habitat restoration and enhancement projects throughout Texas. Select winning teams will help choose which projects are funded. The more teams that register, the more funds we can award! Even if your chapter decides to pass on registering a team this year, maybe you have a project that fits the conservation grant criteria to submit for funding consideration. Visit https://tpwd.texas.gov/events/
Event: POSGCD Rainwater Harvesting 101
Date: Friday, April 21, 1:00-4:00 pm
Where: POSGCD Office, 310 East Avenue C, Milano
Details: Rainwater harvesting involves the capture, diversion, and storage of rainwater for later use. It’s a water conservation method an alternative water source and a water conservation method that can reduce the pressure on aquifer systems by reducing pumping needs. Register at
https://posgcd.org/event/rwh-
VMS: AT: By Conservation Partnership Agencies, or similar organizations (include training event info)
Event: Earth Day Event
Date: Saturday, April 22
Where: More details coming soon. We may be planting trees at Wilson Ledbetter Park in Cameron.