Milestones
Photos by Krista Paul
Cris Northup receiving pin for 4,000 TMN Volunteer Service Hours
Al Lillis accepting pin for Ingrid Hoffmeister who completed 1,000 TMN Volunteer Service Hours
Margaret Schelde and Gary Sullivan receiving their pins for 500 TMN Volunteer Service Hours
Betty Secrest and John Pieper receiving their pins for 250 TMN Volunteer Service Hours
Left to right: Gerri McCall, Dannialle Clayton, Matt Jary, Kaye Barr, Linda O’Nan, Cris Northup, Stephanie Beardsley, and John Pieper
Alo awarded, but not pictured:
Initial Certification (2025 class)
TJ Monroe
2025 TMN Recertification
Suze Jernigan, Martelle Luedecke, Bill Nabors, Steve Scheffe, and Charlotte Willis
Week 5 of New Class Training at Candlelight Ranch
Photos and information provided by John Pieper
Trainees experienced a team-building exercise – walking across a cable. The person going on the cable was to ask for support, climb on the cable, state their goal (for us, our goal in HLMN training), and then get support from the rest of the team as they walked the cable.
Clean Sweep at Inks Lake State Park
Photos by Steph Beardley
Clean sweep is an annual event which started in 2004. It is a project coordinated by Friends of Inks Lake (FOIL) and Texas Master Naturalist Program, Highland Lakes Chapter (HLMN) members to help the park get ready for spring. We had a beautiful day with lots of volunteers.
Left to right: Krista Paul, Kaye Barr, Ross Rogers, Derek Ross, Steph Beardley, Michael Schakley, Cindy Dietz, Jerry Stacy, Linda O’Nan, DJ Sanders, Keff Rhodes, Teri Rhodes, Matt Jary, and Julie Jary
Volunteer Recruitment Event at Inks Lake State Park
Volunteers gathered at Inks Lake State Park on Sunday to learn how to partner with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and become official park volunteers.
During the event, attendees heard from Park Superintendent Daniel Stauffer, Interpretive Ranger Andrew Berezin, and Volunteer Coordinator, Catie Landers about the many ways they can support the park — from assisting with programs and events to helping protect natural resources — all while having fun and giving back to their community.
Left to right: Krista Paul, Karen Stewart, Daniel Stauffer, Deanna Lehman, Lori Birkhead, Stephanie Beardsley, Lonnie Guest, Tammy Guest, Mike Brode, Tori Leggett, Andrew Berezin
Photo by Tara Humphreys
Volunteers at Devil’s Waterhole Trailhead
Photo by Krista Paul
Martelle Luedecke presenting “Photography as a Conservation Tool” at the February Meeting
Photos by Reed Armstrong
A Prehistoric Hunting Tool Demonstration at Pedernales Falls State Park
By Julie Jary
Photos by Julie Jary
Atlatl is a prehistoric hunting tool. It is a shaped piece of wood about 2 feet long with a handle on one end and hook or spur on the other, and it is used for launching a spear or dart by hand. PWD Ranger Steven Gorman talked to the group about the evolution of prehistoric hunting tools from spears to Atlatls to bows and arrows. There is a brief description of the program offered at Pedernales Falls State Park on the TPWD website: https://tpwd.texas.gov/calendar/pedernales-falls/prehistoric-hunting-the-atlatl_13. Then, Stephen gave a demonstration on how to use the Atlatl, and participants were able to practice their prehistoric hunting skills by launching the spears at the dirt mounds posing as bison and plastic turkeys they set up on the target practice range.
First Day Hikes
Pedernales Falls State Park
Photos by John Pieper
South Llano River State Park
Photos by Meghan James
Owl Presentation at Inks Lake State Park
By Karen Stewart
Photos by Karen Stewart
This weekend Highland likes Master Naturalists presented Texas owls at Inks Lake State Park. In addition Cris Northup shared information about snowy owls and the campers did a snowy owl pine cone craft. Local artist, Marla Ripperda, and Friends of Inks Lake State Park members, helped kids with painting Burr Oak acorns for a tree ornament.
Cris Northrup sharing fascinating insights about Snowy Owls
Ingrid Hoffmeister sharing the hidden world of Texas owls—where to find them, how they live, and why they matter
Pins and Awards
Ray Buchanan and his wife, Carole accepting the LIfetime Achievement Award
Photo by Reed Armstrong
Krista Paul receiving 1,000 Volunteer Service Award
Photo by Reed Armstrong
500 Hour Volunteer Service Award – Karen Brents, Charles Powell, and George Vavrek
Photo by Reed Armstrong
250 Hour Volunteer Service Award – Reed Armstrong, Matthew Jary, Jennifer Struck, and Becky Vavrek not pictured
2025 TMN Initial Certification – Lora Calhoun,Derek Ross, Dana Ross, Randy Fromberg, Karen Fromberg, and Kristen Baranowsk. Not pictured – Gary Monroe
Photo by Reed Armstrong
2025 TMN Recertification – Vicki Adcock, George Barr ,Terry Bartoli, Marvin Bloomquist, Ray Buchanan, Lyn Davis, *Cynthis Dietz*, Melissa Duckworth, Sondra Fox, Kathy Griffis-Bailey, Dianna Hodges, Kimberly Jungkind, Jeanne Kregel, Becky Larkin, Bill McCartney, Holly Morris, Eric Norman, Marylynne Norman, *Blinda McClelland*, *Janet McCreless*, *Claudia Machell*, *Samantha Melvin*, Cheryl Oberhause, Jack Ort, Kim Ort, Kristin Rodgers, Sheryl Smith-Rodgers, *Connie Thompson*, *David Tusa *, Richard Vance, Janie Watson, Terri Whaley, Courtney Williams – not pictured
*Double certification from class of 2025
75th Anniversary at Inks Lake State Park
by: Reed Armstrong
Photos by Reed Armstrong
Enthusiasm ran high under warm overcast skies for dozens of Friends of Inks Lake State Park and Texas Master Naturalists, Highland Lakes at the Semi-Sesquicentennial Saturday (75th anniversary) of Inks Lake Park celebration on October 18th. Your fellow HLMN members turned out strong support as hundreds of visitors enjoyed an impressive slate of public engagement offerings ranging from live fishing and backyard bass to archery, bee keeping, environmental conservation, and ladybug stations. Adding to the excitement were Texas Game Wardens, historical reenactors from the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm at LBJ State Park, a select set of Inks Lake Park historical items from the TPWD collections, as well as the bloodmobile.
This year’s park anniversary celebration is built on the timely theme of Origin, Status & Destination. After extensive renovations and significant reinvestment over the past few years, Inks Lake State Park will continue to be a top venue for our volunteer efforts many years from now. A special thanks is due for Steph Beardsley and the FOIL leadership for their extra efforts in making this event a big success.
Inks Lake State Park Turns 75
By Reed Armstrong
Photos by Reed Armstrong
Enthusiasm ran high under warm overcast skies for dozens of Friends of Inks Lake State Park and Texas Master Naturalists, Highland Lakes at the Semi-Sesquicentennial Saturday (75th anniversary) of Inks Lake Park celebration on October 18th. Your fellow HLMN members turned out strong support as hundreds of visitors enjoyed an impressive slate of public engagement offerings ranging from live fishing and backyard bass to archery, bee keeping, environmental conservation, and ladybug stations. Adding to the excitement were Texas Game Wardens, historical reenactors from the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm at LBJ State Park, a select set of Inks Lake Park historical items from the TPWD collections, as well as the bloodmobile.
This year’s park anniversary celebration is built on the timely theme of Origin, Status & Destination. After extensive renovations and significant reinvestment over the past few years, Inks Lake State Park will continue to be a top venue for our volunteer efforts many years from now. A special thanks is due for Steph Beardsley and the FOIL leadership for their extra efforts in making this event a big success.
