Contact Communications@hillcountrytmn.org with any updates, to this timeline, that you are aware of.
2002
- Texas Master Naturalist, Hill Country Chapter consisting of Bandera, Gillespie, Kendall, and Kerr Counties founded, joining 17 existing chapters.
- The first chapter officers were Sandy Peña, president; Myrna Langford, secretary and vice president of membership; Michael Johnson, treasurer; Jane Crone, vice president of training; John Rogers, Jr., vice president of communications; George Tinsley, vice president of programs and projects.
- Other roles included Barbara Lowenthal and Jane Crone, new class organizers; Betty Thomas, database manager; Kim Whitaker, webmaster; John Quinby, volunteer projects chair; Priscilla Stanley, internal communications chair and newsletter editor; Jim Stanley, advanced training chair.
- 30 trainees attended the first training course. First to certify were Alice Bulechek, Julia Campbell, and Sandy Pena. Second to certify were Myrna Langford, Maggie Tatum, Priscilla Stanley, and Jim Stanley.
- Monthly chapter meetings and board meetings begin at Riverside Nature Center.
- The first annual report to the state office showed 296 volunteer hours and 325.75 advanced training hours recorded from October to December 2002.
2003
- Members volunteered 2,181 hours and attended 398 advanced training hours.
2004
- Members volunteered 4,411 hours and attended 1,030.5 advanced training hours.
- Our chapter began co-hosting Riverside Nature Center’s “Down by the Riverside” October nature festival and native plant sale.
2005
- Jim Stanley created the Land Management Assistance Program (LMAP). Our LMAP trained volunteer teams have visited more than 450 properties totaling more than 40,000 acres across the beautiful Hill Country. The successful LMAP program has been adopted by other chapters.
- Texas Lions Camp in Kerrville became the location for New Class Training classes.
- Members volunteered 6,920 hours and attended 988 advanced training hours.
2006
- Sand County Foundation donated copies of A Sand County Almanac for the Classes of 2006-2010.
- Members volunteered 10,021 hours and attended 1,541 advanced training hours.
2007
- Members volunteered 12,448 hours and attended 2,027 advanced training hours.
2008
- Members volunteered 13,286 hours and attended 1,384 advanced training hours.
2009
- Chapter gate signs introduced.
- Members volunteered 17,829 hours and attended 1,440 advanced training hours.
2010
- The chapter began the year meeting at the Upper Guadalupe River Authority Lecture Hall in Kerrville.
- Chapter applied for 501(c)(3) status.
- Members volunteered 20,628 hours and attended 2,390 advanced training hours.
2011
- Lowe’s of Kerrville donated Materials to construct a water distribution system for the Kerrville-Schreiner Park Pollinator Garden.
- The chapter and Friends of the Fredericksburg Nature Center shared the cost of a DogiPot dispenser located at the nature center’s trailhead.
- The Native Plant Society of Texas awarded the chapter a grant to purchase nature study supplies for after school learning programs at the Kerrville Kroc Center.
- Myrna and David K. Langford donated copies of A Sand County Almanac for the Classes of 2011 and 2012.
- Members volunteered 21,225 hours and attended 2,319 advanced training hours.
2012
- We celebrated our 10th anniversary. Susan Longacre won the chapter tagline contest by submitting “Keeping the Hill Country Native!”. We printed a commemorative t-shirt featuring the 10th anniversary logo designed by Kristie Denbow.
- Kip Kiphart reached the 10,000-hour milestone in October.
- Members volunteered 27,806 hours and attended 2,686 advanced training hours.
2013
- The six counties of the inactive Western Edwards Plateau Chapter: Kimble, Mason, San Saba, Menard, Edwards, and Real, were incorporated into the Hill Country Chapter on 24 June 2013.
- Members volunteered 31,740 hours and attended 2,911 advanced training hours.
2014
- Ronald Hood reached the 10,000-hour milestone in November.
- Members volunteered 35,126 hours and attended 3,026 advanced training hours.
2015
- Our chapter began using TPWD’s online Volunteer Management System to record and track volunteer and advanced training hours and member data.
- Members volunteered 37,117 hours and attended 3,469 advanced training hours.
2016
- Cathy Downs taught a record-breaking live TV long-distance learning class by teaching 6,246 students and 190 educators in 174 schools about “The Magic of Monarchs” for the TWA Distance Learning Program. Cathy repeated the program four-times in succession to reach all students and educators.
- Members volunteered 33,466 hours and attended 5,838 advanced training hours.
2017
- We celebrated our 15th anniversary. Chris Anderson won our haiku contest with his entry: “Water meets stone and life wriggles, runs, flowers, soars. Explore, learn, teach, give.” Chris’ winning haiku was featured on the back of our 15th anniversary t-shirt with the 15th anniversary logo designed by Kristie Denbow on the front. Elsa Roberts designed the 15th Anniversary Class of 2017 notebook cover.
- The New Class began meeting at the UGRA lecture hall for training course classes.
- Apache Tree Grant Program donated 80 trees for new class trainees to plant and maintain. We receive additional tree grants: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
- Members volunteered 32,926 hours and attended 3,359 advanced training hours.
2018
- Upper Guadalupe River Authority waived Lecture Hall rental for chapter meetings in exchange for chapter expertise maintaining the EduScape.
- Ridlon “Kip” Kiphart was recognized for volunteering more than 20,000 hours since becoming a Texas Master Naturalist in 2004.
- Richard Coleman and other members along with local NPSOT chapters created the Pollinator Assistance and Recognition Program (PGARP). Other chapters and the Native Plant Society of Texas have taken our successful example and now organize their own PGARP.
- Members volunteered 34,186 hours and attended 3,234 advanced training hours.
2019
- Members 33,697 volunteered hours and attended 3,115 advanced training hours.