To post a message, please email [email protected]
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page for ongoing opportunities!
There is a separate Outreach Message Board to make it easier to see what volunteer opportunities are available.
Here’s the link: Outreach Message Board
3/3/1/2026 From Skylar Rightmire:
2/28/2026 From Susan Bogle: Tye Preston Memorial Library presents Clara Landon from the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at 11:30 on March 5th speaking on “The Big Red Sage — A Walk & Talk“. Please go to the library’s website to make reservations. Big Red Sage (Salvia pentstemonoides) is a rare flower found only in the Texas Hill Country. Due to its rarity, the species was presumed extinct for over 40 years until it was rediscovered in 1987. In the years following the rediscovery, a dedicated group of volunteer and professional naturalists set about finding more populations. This resulted in the 7 populations known today. In 2019, with the permission of a private landowner, some seeds were shared with other conservation minded individuals and through this process, the Tye Preston Memorial Library Pollinator Garden took on the stewardship of a population of Big Red Sage. In 2024, the Science and Conservation Team at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center started a project to learn about and conserve Big Red Sage in the wild and in cultivation. This talk will explore surveying, wild seed collection, cultivated growth, and scouting for new populations. We will also visit with the Tye Preston Memorial Library Big Red Sage plants before they are transplanted and moved to their new home at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center where they will be grown for study and seed collection.
2/24/2026 from WebMaster: The Lindheimer Chapter website will be unavailable from 12:00noon on March 1 – 10:00 pm on March 3. So you will be unable to access the website during that time. Why? Because the migration to the new server has been completed. The next step in the process is to finalize the domain migration by importing the latest databases and media files, which will cause the back end of the websites to be disabled for a short period of time. This includes the Out & About Calendar.
2/24/2026 from Debbie Kyrouac: AgriFest is an open house event to showcase Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners and the Agrilife team. It also includes exhibitors and speakers from the local area. There are many opportunities to volunteer for this event. Please review the Signup Genius to see if there is any way you can help. https://www.signupgenius.com/
2/23/2026 from WebMaster: When you log-in to the VMS to document your hours, you will see a new login page. Looks different, but works the same! Volunteer Login
2/19/2026 From Troy Murphy: Hello! I am Troy Murphy, a professor in evolution and ornithology at Trinity University in San Antonio. I run a research laboratory where we research the animal behavior in our local titmice. I’m reaching out to see if you might have members of your Chapter that would be interested in volunteering on a nest-check project over this (and future) upcoming breeding season. We are working with the Hybrid Black Crested/Tufted Titmice just south of Lockhart, Texas — on three separate privately owned properties where I have placed ~60 nest boxes. I wonder if any of your members would like to gain service hours by volunteering to check the contents of our titmouse nest boxes. This would require a visit one time per week from March-July. This work is quite simple and is a great way to gain an up close and personal connection with the birds, and it is a great way to contribute to meaningful scientific discoveries. Specifically, the work would entail a weekly trip to these private lands, driving on the ranch roads from nest box to nest box (nest boxes are located on posts, about 5 ft off the ground), and recording the number of eggs and/or nestlings on a data sheet. From Jeanie: if you are interested, or if you have questions. please let me know. [email protected]
2/13/2026 From Ben Pfieffer: I’d like to invite your chapter to a special, one-of-a-kind evening program hosted by Firefly Conservation & Research in collaboration with Bat Conservation International at Bracken Bat Cave on May 8, 2026. This event is designed as an advanced training opportunity for Master Naturalists and conservation practitioners, combining focused instruction on Texas fireflies with behind-the-scenes access to one of the most extraordinary wildlife spectacles in the world.
Event Overview
Join Ben Pfeiffer, founder of Firefly Conservation & Research, for an in-depth evening session covering:
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How to identify and distinguish Texas firefly species found in Central Texas
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Updates on current research efforts to locate Texas’s four “Lost Species” of fireflies
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Habitat requirements for fireflies and practical, science-based methods for building and restoring firefly habitat in native landscapes and gardens
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Ben’s ongoing efforts to document fireflies at Bracken Bat Cave and what we are learning so far
If conditions are right, we may even observe fireflies on site.
Following the firefly program, attendees will experience the evening bat emergence from Bracken Bat Cave, home to an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats, making it the largest bat colony in the world. Fran Hutchins, Director of Bracken Bat Cave, will give a short presentation on the bats, their conservation, and the significance of this globally important site. Fireflies + bats, science + conservation, all in one evening—this is truly a unique experience.
Schedule (Please Read Carefully)
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Arrival: 5:30-6:00pm. The gates will close at 6:30
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Firefly presentation: 6:30 pm (starts promptly)
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Bat presentation & emergence: ~8:00–8:30 PM
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Bat flight typically begins around 8:15 PM
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Arriving on time is essential so we can complete the program and still enjoy the bat emergence.
Location
Bracken Bat Cave
7515 Bracken Cave Rd
San Antonio, TX 78266
Location link: https://share.google/Rj5kSQZQijzrKouXU
Attendance & RSVP This event will include multiple invited groups. If your chapter is interested in attending or sharing this opportunity with your members, please email Ben Pfeiffer directly at [email protected] so we have an idea of expected attendance. Space and timing are limited, and advance coordination helps ensure a smooth experience for everyone.
Thank you for helping share this opportunity with your chapter. We hope to welcome Master Naturalists from across the region for a memorable and educational evening at Bracken.
Warm regards,
Ben Pfeiffer, Founder & Executive Director, Firefly Conservation & Research [email protected] https://www.firefly.org
2/11/2026 From Rachel Grotte: Greetings Texas Master Naturalist chapter! My name is Rachel Grotte, I am the new Texas Nature Tracker biologist for the Wildlife Conservation team at Texas Parks and Wildlife. Goals of the Texas Nature Trackers are to monitor populations of species of greatest conservation need in Texas, provide data on newly acquired or under-surveyed properties of ecological interest, and increase the recruitment and engagement of our Citizen Science workforce. I am reaching out to let you know of an upcoming opportunity that your members may enjoy. From April 10th through 13th, Government Canyon State Natural Area and Texas Nature Trackers are hosting a multi-day bioblitz style event to survey several new land acquisitions. This event will include hands-on experience in identifying birds, herptiles, plants, fish, insects and more, plus excursions to amazing microhabitats within the SNA not seen by the public. We will be mainly cataloging our observations using iNaturalist. Participants will have the opportunity to gain skills in species ID, navigating complex terrain, using survey tools like cameras, binoculars, Sherman traps, sweep nets, seine and dip nets, trail cameras, acoustic monitors and more. There will also be training on creating quality observations on iNaturalist, how to properly utilize the application identification system etc.
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The new land acquisitions we are surveying do not have trails. The terrain is extremely rugged and require considerable physical fitness.
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Participation in the event can be one or more days. Camping is available for those who are interested. Participants are also welcome to stay at a hotel or simply drive home each night.
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More information can be found in the attached pamphlet and interest survey. Virtual training prior to the event will be provided and required.
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All interested participants must fill out our interest form. Note: Invitees are curated from this form based on many variables. Spots are limited and there is no guarantee you will be selected.
2/9/2026 From Susan Bogle: Mesquite Creek Wildlife Habitat Pollinator Garden is having its next workday on March 13th, starting at 8:00am. We will be cleaning up the paths, the dry stream bed and helping to restore this garden in general. Tools will be provided, but feel free to bring your own. Please bring hats, gloves & water. More information is available on the Out & About Calendar. If you can attend, please sign up at: https://www.signupgenius.com/
Ongoing Opportunities to Volunteer
1/9/2026 From Cibolo Center for Conservation: Volunteer Opportunities – 2026 Cibolo Center for Conservation Volunteer List Check out our full calendar for upcoming opportunities at Home – The Cibolo Center for Conservation. Please check with Jeanie Springer to be sure activity is eligible for VH or AT credit. If you have questions, please contact: [email protected]
11/21/2025 From Trish Coons: Agrilife Project Normal workdays are 2nd and 4th Saturdays. However, if your schedule doesn’t allow you to work those days, you can still participate by volunteering on your own time while still gaining credit hours. A current “List of Chores” can be found in the mailboxes located at the compost bins and in the 4H Grassbed area. Pick any general maintenance chore that best suits your effort level. If you are interested in spending some time at this project site and happen to have any questions, please contact Trish Coons at [email protected] or text 830-322-2200. https://www.signupgenius.com/
11/20/2025 From Elizabeth Bower: Year round! Comal Conservation is asking all LMNs to please save your empty cardboard TP rolls and bring them to the monthly LMN Chapter meetings year round. The rolls will be turned into “cardboard binoculars” and offered to kids at the Comal Conservation outreach booth at the Fischer Park Monarch Festival in October. Comal Conservation has given away hundreds of these ‘binocs’ at community outreach events over the years. For questions, please contact Elizabeth Bowerman at [email protected]. Thank you!
From Canyon Lake Gorge: There are many volunteer opportunities at Canyon Lake Gorge. Go to https://canyongorgetours.com/become_a_volunteer to learn more. Please contact Mike Poffenberger ([email protected]) or John Labonte [email protected] for questions.
6/21/2025 From Trish Coons: Agrilife Project regular workdays have been suspended for the rest of the summer. There are still general maintenance chores that need to be performed. (See below)If you are interested in spending some time at this project site, please contact Trish Coons at [email protected].
Agrilife Chores
Grass beds: *Weed inside and outside grass boxes; *Water grasses if dry and no rain in forecast; *Plant any plants needing permanent homes; Trim leggy plants.
Compost: *Flip compost to an empty bin and moisten with water hose; *Add more nitrogen and carbon layers (Coffee grounds, dry leaves, seedless debris); *Sift finished compost.
Flower islands: Remove invasive growth (inside beds); Weed whack inside flower islands and outside around stone outline; Water any plants if dry and no rain in forecast.
Bug habitat: Ensure plenty of debris for insects; Clean and disinfect feeders Sept and Mar.
Rain Garden: Weed whack invasives and overgrown grasses (inside throughout garden and outer rim).
French Drain: Clear debris from drain pipes on both ends; Weed whack entrance and exit of weeds and tall grasses.
*any debris can be added to compost bins.