2016 Graduation

2016 Lindheimer Master Naturalist Graduation
Texas Horned Lizards’ Success!

Two conference rooms at Tye Preston Memorial Library were filled with proud family, friends and Chapter Members for the October 20^th Graduation Celebration of the 2016 Lindheimer Master Naturalist Class.

Following a rigorous year-long program of classroom training, field research and completion of required volunteer service hours, 25 individuals received the Dragonfly pin that is the symbol of Texas Master Naturalists.

Val Lefebvre and Darlene Varga, Education Committee Co-Chairs, did a masterful job of coordinating each training session, arranging for speakers, field research planning, trouble-shooting and personal mentoring of each candidate for certification. They also worked tirelessly ‘behind the scenes’, being at each location where candidates were to gather and staying afterward to secure the location. Ms. Lefebvre said that the year “provided lots of fun memories and many memorable moments.” The Class extends its sincere thanks to these competent leaders for making the entire certification process possible and such a positive experience.

The Celebration was hosted by the 2016 Class and included a delicious barbeque dinner with plenty of homemade side dishes. At the beginning of the year of training, the 2016 Class chose the name, “Texas Horned Lizards” for itself and elected Ms. Jennifer Hendren to be its Class Leader. While all the “Lizards” have worked hard, Ms. Hendren has lent her many talents and countless hours of her time toward helping to organize and working on class activities. The Earth Day Celebration was the Class Project and was a grand event that was enjoyed by record numbers of attendees.

Ms. Hendren said that since she has been with the Master Naturalist Program, she has been pleased to find so many people with interests like her own. “It’s so hard to believe that it has already been one year since we started on this journey to be Texas Master Naturalists. The Texas Horned Lizards Class has had a hugely successful Earth Day Project under the direction of the Earth Day Committee. We also had a year of training in such subjects as Ecology, Botany, Archeology, Geology, Ichthyology, Mammalogy, Herpetology and Ornithology to name a few of our adventures. Now, after this wonderful year, the Texas Horned Lizards are ready to continue our love affair with nature as we share this passion with our community going forward.”

Lindheimer Chapter President, Jim Teeling, congratulated the graduates and added, “The depth and enthusiasm that goes with this group is very impressive. We can’t wait to get them involved with committee work and moving up to the board level!”