Congratulations to our Chapter’s TMN Annual Meeting Award Winners
Meghan James – First Place in the Photo: Plants and Fungi Category
Chris McCartney – Third Place in Art: Painting and Drawing Category
Chapter Field Trip – Davis Mountains Area
Photos by Meghan James
Local Naturalists Captivate the Kids with Nature and Environmental Education Trunks at Marble Falls Library:
Members of Highland Lakes Chapter, Texas Master Naturalists packed their trunks and took them on the road—their nature and educational trunks that is!
by MJ Hanson and Cathy Houston
Photo by Lauren Banks
Al Lillis, Lisa Stripay and Cathy Houston hosted a pollinators and fish session at the Marble Falls Library recently with hands-on demonstrations. The kids had fun learning how to build a solitary bee house and practiced swimming like a fish!
Both presentations are a part of the Environmental Education Trunks Project recently launched by the Highland Lakes Master Naturalists. These trunks are tailored to third through fifth grade TEKS* and are designed for use in classrooms, after school or on field trips. Other TEKS topics include Birds, Water, and Vertebrates.
If your organization is interested in having a Master Naturalist come and speak to your group, contact txmn.highlandlakes@gmail.com *Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills
Photo by Lauren Banks
New Highland Lakes Chapter T-Shirt Design
Congratulations to Christine McCartney on her winning t-shirt design which is truly inspiring, especially with the kingfisher symbolizing the Highland Lakes Chapter. The kingfisher’s vibrant colors and dynamic presence indeed make it a perfect emblem for our chapter’s dedication to education, outreach, and services.
Inks Lake State Park Volunteer Fair from The Highlander
Cub Scout Fishing Derby at Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery
Photos by Linda O’nan
Inks Lake State Park Clean Up from The Highlander
Kim Jungkind, Class of 2024 at the Children’s Art Program at Marble Falls Highland Arts Guild and Gallery. Photo by Martelle Luedecke
Class of 2024 Graduation
Burnet Bulletin
Editor’s note: captions are reversed
Photos by Martelle Luedecke
Jerry Stacy Awarded 10,000 Volunteer Hour Milestone
Jerry Stacy’s dedication to volunteer service is truly remarkable. His journey began in 2006 when he joined the Highland Lakes Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program. By 2014, he had already accumulated 4,000 volunteer service hours, a feat achieved by only four other members. His commitment didn’t stop there. In 2016, he reached the 5,000-hour mark.
As of March 2024, Jerry has amassed an impressive 10,057 volunteer service hours and 683 advanced training hours. This achievement earned him an emerald-studded dragonfly pin, making him the first member of the Highland Lakes Chapter to reach the 10,000-hour volunteer milestone.
Jerry’s path to this milestone was paved with diversity. He led interpretive hikes at Inks Dam National Fish Hatchery, emphasizing edible plants. He also contributed to outreach education and maintained trails and pollinator gardens at the hatchery. Jerry played a crucial role in building the Wildlife Viewing Stations at Inks Lake State Park and Granite Shoals, and his expertise has been sought by other organizations for similar projects.
Jerry’s volunteer efforts extend to several other locations, including Balcones Canyonlands Wildlife Refuge, Blanco State Park, and Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center. His activities range from Wood Duck Box monitoring and LCRA water quality monitoring to conducting surveys of Quillwort, Quail, and Golden-cheeked Warblers. He also works with the Land Management Assistance Program team, providing landowners with assessments of their property’s plant life and land management goals. Furthermore, Jerry leads and trains for Fishing Events and the Great Outdoor Project and Hatchery Outdoor Project for local school children.
If you find yourself at one of these events or parks, you’ll likely see Jerry, hard at work. And who knows? He might just be working towards his next milestone: 15,000 volunteer service hours.