Jack Downey is the recipient of the Texas Master Naturalists’ Lindheimer Chapter 2022 Community Naturalist Award for his outstanding contributions as the Program and Restoration Coordinator for Headwaters at the Comal. Jack is fully committed to his mission of restoring and protecting the springs and headwaters of the Comal River, and teaching others the importance of doing the same. Jack was presented the award at the monthly chapter meeting on August 17, 2023. He was nominated by President Michael Buley and voted on by the Board of Directors.
Jack amassed a remarkable volume of engagements with community members of all ages. He coordinated and led more than 2000 volunteer hours in diverse activities including Headwaters site maintenance, education and outreach, training, citizen science, and the Texas Stream Team program. Many of these hours trained, developed and employed our own Lindheimer Master Naturalists. Jack coordinated and conducted a broad range of educational activities to include 107 Adult Education programs for more than 700 visitors, 23 formal and informal youth education programs for more than 800 students, and 4 community events welcoming more than 800 visitors.
Always looking for ways to extend his reach and share his naturalist message more broadly in our county, Jack took the watershed curriculum directly to students in local elementary schools. He judged the Freiheit Elementary School Science Fair and installed a butterfly garden at the New Braunfels Kids Club. Jack coordinated 2 Eagle Scout Service Projects at the Headwaters site, and began monthly birding meet-ups at Headwaters.
Recognizing the value of building alliances with like-minded organizations across Comal County, Jack worked on a year-long project with the 2022 Lindheimer Master Naturalist training class, the Texas Conservation Corps, and other community members on a USFW grant to minimize sediment infiltration into the upper Comal River. He also co-hosted two “Introduction to Native Landscaping” classes along with the New Braunfels chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas (NPSOT).
I encourage you to spend a morning with Jack at Headwaters at the Comal…preferably a morning when the temperatures moderate and the rain returns. Let Jack take you on a walk along the trail that winds through Headwaters & witness the progress made. Better yet, accompany & assist Jack while he gives an educational tour of Headwaters to a class of 30 2nd Graders – you’ll get it!
Info on the Community Naturalist Award
The Lindheimer Chapter Texas Master Naturalists will honor a single particularly outstanding act by a business, group, organization or individual involving a property in Comal County which:
1) results in the preservation or restoration of an area or its flora or fauna;
2) results in measurable conservation, protection, or waste reduction of an important natural resource;
3) applies unique skill or creative imagination to the solution of a problem affecting our natural world.
This recognition shall be given to a non-member of Lindheimer Master Naturalist who has contributed to the achievement of the ideals of Texas Master Naturalist by aid and conservation of our natural resources including, but not limited to water, native plants, animals, birds, insects and land. Selection shall be made upon review of applications which have been submitted to the committee either by LMN members or from the community at large.
Nominations are evaluated by the Community Naturalist Recognition Committee on the following criteria:
1) Impact on environmental stewardship;
2) ecological significance;
3) long term benefit; and
4) impact on the community.
This recognition will occur as frequently as annually only if a suitable recipient is identified.
Nomination period: November 1 – December 15, 2021. Please use the form below to submit your nomination.
For questions, please contact LindheimerMNContact@gmail.com. Thank you very much.