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
From Cibolo Center for Conservation 4/23/2026: Upcoming opportunities for Volunteer Hours
during the Wildlife Field Research Week!
Point of Contact: Jennifer Smith [email protected] / 830-446-7401
For more info and to register, click here: Cibolo Center for Conservation
Click here to see the list of Plants for sale: Plant Sale Spring Inventory 2026 (2)
From Wendy Anderson on 4/17/2026: Hey Texas Master Naturalists!!! Are you ready for City Nature Challenge 2026!??!
Join Texas Nature Tracker biologists in learning iNaturalist usage prior to CNC 2026!
iNaturalist 101: 4/20 at 2pm iNat 101 Webinar for CNC | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams
iNaturalist Advanced Training: 4/22 at 6pm https://www.facebook.com/share/1GC6v7YwMu/
Once again, Texas Nature Trackers (TNT) is proud to help sponsor this statewide community event that encourages everyone to get outside, explore the natural world around them and document local flora and fauna using iNaturalist. Not only is iNaturalist a great tool for self-learning about the natural world, your observations contribute to greater understanding of the state’s plant- and animal-life. This year’s CNC event kicks off on Friday, April 24 at midnight and runs to midnight Monday, April 27. Then join people until Sunday, May 10 to continue uploading observations you made during the four-day period and help others to identify what they found.
https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/wildlife_diversity/texas_nature_trackers/naturechallenge/
If you have any questions, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
Wendy Anderson, CWB Texas Nature Trackers Biologist
Wildlife Division – Wildlife Conservation Program
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 4200 Smith School Rd Austin, Texas 78744
c. 512-656-1222
o. 512-389-8074
3/24/2026 Dear Central Texas Regional Master Naturalist Chapters,
I’d like to invite your chapter to a special evening program hosted by Firefly Conservation & Research in collaboration with Bat Conservation International at Bracken Bat Cave.
Important Schedule Update (Please Read)
Date: Friday, May 8
Arrival window: 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Program begins: 6:30 PM sharp
Gates close: 6:30 PM
Due to BCI policies, anyone arriving after 6:30 PM will not be admitted. A staff member will be stationed at the entrance to guide vehicles and check registrations. Carpooling is strongly encouraged.
Mandatory Registration All attendees must register in advance using the official event ticket form. Register here:
https://www.simpletix.com/e/texas-fireflies-advanced-training-workshop-tickets-263435
Attendance is capped at 80 participants total, with approximately 10 spots available per chapter (first come first serve). Each person attending must complete the registration form individually.
Event Overview Join Ben Pfeiffer, founder of Firefly Conservation & Research, for an advanced training session covering:
· Identifying Central Texas firefly species, advanced training on species ID via flash and morphology.
· Demographic history of Texas firefly origins millions of years ago to today.
· Updates on the search for Texas’s four “Lost Species” of fireflies
Habitat requirements and practical ways to restore firefly habitat with new designed example habitat structures
Following the program, attendees will experience the evening bat emergence from Bracken Bat Cave, home to an estimated 20 million Mexican free-tailed bats—the largest bat colony in the world. Fran Hutchins, Director of Bracken Bat Cave, will share a brief overview of the bats and their conservation. We will conclude the firefly presentation around 7:30 PM so attendees have time to explore the cave viewing area before the bats emerge (which sometimes begins early).
Location Bracken Bat Cave, 7515 Bracken Cave Rd., San Antonio, TX 78266 Location link: https://share.google/Rj5kSQZQijzrKouXU
Additional Notes
• Bottled water and restrooms will be available
• No need to bring chairs
• I’ll be bringing a large screen and high-brightness laser projector for the presentation
• Some surprise guests from select conservation organizations will also be in attendance
• Our popular Firefly Conservation & Research T-shirts will be available for purchase
We hope to welcome Master Naturalists from across the region for a memorable evening of fireflies, bats, and conservation.
Warm regards,
Ben Pfeiffer
Founder & Executive Director
Firefly Conservation & Research
[email protected]
https://www.firefly.org
3/24/2026: 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/
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.