By: Marsha Stephens
The fourth annual Nature Fest is in the books! Mother Nature provided a perfect day: not too hot, not too cold…….and not too windy, always a plus in Texas. And despite a brutal lack of rain throughout the preceding months, there were flowers in the pollinator beds and plenty of woodland wonders. The Prairie Oaks Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists hosted the celebration during 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., on October 8, 2022, at the Bosque River Nature Center on East Long Street in Stephenville. The chapter greatly appreciates representatives from several external organizations who provided and manned exhibits, including Native Prairies Association of Texas, Texas Bluebird Society, Ft. Worth Nature Center and Refuge, Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District, Texas Parks and Wildlife Muse Wildlife Management Area, Lake Brownwood State Park, Lake Mineral Wells State Park, Tarleton Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society, and Ranger College. Exhibits and activities by chapter members brought the total of experiential and educational offerings to 19. Adventures provided by chapter members included peering through microscopes and telescopes, raising a baby bird, and making wood medallion necklaces. Others hosted a chance to experiment with simulated rainfall, marvel at the diversity of insects, and venture into the adjacent woodland. There were even opportunities to peer at the fantastic life forms that live largely unseen in the Bosque River, and dig for 300 million year old fossils. In addition to funding from the chapter, purchase discounts and monetary donations totaling over $900 were provided by Scott’s Flowers on the Square, Sports Rehab and Physical Therapy, Austin Street Fabrics, Sara Slawson and Sharon Hogan Massage Therapists, Texas Restroom, Staples, and Quality Printing. Last but most important, we counted 89 adults and children as visitors during the event, with others possibly attending who did not register at the welcome booth.
In addition to the time spent during the day with displays, activities, and management, there was an enormous amount of work by chapter volunteers before and after the Fest day. Special recognition goes to Dr. Linda Wood, who again led the project from beginning to end, and the 18 other chapter members who helped with development and implementation, logging over 190 hours of volunteer service hours in total. Now is the time for everyone to celebrate an outstanding effort in public outreach. And now is the time to begin planning for Nature Fest 2023!