Celebrating Our Volunteers and National Volunteer Appreciation Month
Local Leaders Recognized for Excellence in Supporting Texas State Parks
Photo by Linda O’Nan
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Region 3, recently announced award recipients at the Texans for State Park Conference. Jerry Stacy was nominated for and received the Outstanding Volunteer Award. Karen Stewart, along with the Friends of Inks Lake State Park (FOIL), was nominated and recognized as the Outstanding Friends Group.
April Chapter Meeting at Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge @Doeskin Ranch
Photos by Karen Stewart
Carl Schwope presenting Land Control Burn Techniques. Chapter President Al Lillis in the foreground
Stewart L. Udall Stewart of the Land – Book Talk with Ray Buchanan
Kayak Cleanup at Inks Lake State Park
Fourteen members from the 2026 HLMN Training Class, 2025 HLMN Training Class and a member from long ago participated in a monthly cleanup of the shores of Inks Lake State Park by kayak. They found treasures like clothing, boards, plastic bottles, plastic bags and even a propane tank (and not the Coleman Stove size).
Photo by Cindy Dietz
2026 Training Class at Pedernales Falls State Park
Ranger Steve Garmon with the New Class trainePresentes presenting information about Paleontology, Fossils Trek, Pedernales Falls State Park, and The Falls.
Photos by Al Lillis
First Annual Highland Lakes Chapter Golf Tournament
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
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.
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
