Projects and Partners

The Rio Brazos Chapter sponsors and participates in projects that meet the mission of the Texas Master Naturalist program: Providing education, outreach, and service for the beneficial management of natural resources and natural areas within our communities. Many of our projects are carried out with our state and local partners. Projects include such things as maintaining and improving natural areas, conducting inventories, leading citizen science activities, conducting a home school program, and hosting outdoor community learning events.

People with garden tools working in butterfly garden of trees, shrubs, flowers and paths.

Chapter volunteers help maintain Acton Nature Center. Photo by M. Holm.

Projects

Notable Achievement Project: Brazos River Cleanup, Campout, and Educational Extravaganza — This Rio Brazos Chapter project was the first-place winner of the statewide Texas Master Naturalist 2023 Project Fair. Initiated, organized, and hosted by chapter members, this three-day yearly project event is dedicated to removing tires and trash from the Brazos River, educational (advance training) sessions, camping, and camaraderie. Members from several other Master Naturalist chapters and other conservation organizations have joined in the “extravaganza” over the past few years. The chapter hope to inspire, motivate, and assist other chapters in establishing river cleanup and habitat enhancement projects up and down the extensive reach of the beautiful Brazos and other Texas rivers.

Natural Areas:  Creating and maintaining natural areas, including wildscapes, trails, habitat, and interpretive areas such as animal and bird blinds and butterfly gardens. Specific areas at which members volunteer are Acton Nature Center, Cleburne State Park, Dinosaur Valley State Park, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, and Malone Preserve.

Natural Resource Management:  Improving, restoring, rescuing, and rehabilitating public natural areas and resources. Volunteer activities include removing invasive species; removing debris; restoring habitats with native grasses, forbes, shrubs, and trees; creating habitats such as bird and bat houses; and enhancing pollinator reproduction by installing bee houses. Volunteers conduct these activities at partner sites, including Acton Nature Center, Dinosaur Valley State Park, Cleburne State Park, and at the annual Brazos River cleanup.

Field Research (Citizen Science):  Citizen science activities that chapter members participate in include blue bird box monitoring and Monarch tagging at Acton Nature Center, plant surveys for butterfly habitat at Dinosaur Valley State Park, shrike surveys at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, local bioblitzes, and water quality monitoring.

Recording milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) in iNaturalist, a citizen science mobile phone app. Photo by M. Mathews.

A popular citizen science activity led by chapter volunteers is the First Saturday Bird Walk at Acton Nature Center. This is a monthly open-to-the-public early morning activity that includes time split between the bird blind and walking the trails around the Nature Center. Bird counts are officially recorded in eBird.

Chapter members also participate in local bioblitzes, which are intensive surveys of all living species within a designated area over a designated period (usually 24 hours). Results are recorded in iNaturalist, through which observations are independently identified and verified as research quality data.

Members can also earn volunteer hours by participating in the Texas Stream Team’s water quality monitoring program. This program depends on citizen volunteers to collect water quality data throughout the state.

Public Outreach:  The chapter organizes, leads, and staffs events and activities that offer the public opportunities to learn about nature and Texas natural areas. The chapter also offers educational assistance to public and private schools and home school programs in response to requests.

Events

Feather Fest. A family-oriented outdoor event at Acton Nature Center.

Photo by L. Peters.

The chapter organizes and hosts the following events yearly, listed from spring to fall. All events are at Acton Nature Center in Acton, Texas, and are free and open to the public.

  • Feather Fest — Celebration of birds and welcome to wildflower season. Family oriented, with exhibits, children’s activities, presentations, hikes. On the fourth Saturday of March.
  • Star Party — Special speaker followed by stargazing with telescopes and guides. On a Saturday in Fall, late evening into the night.
  • Monarch Fest — Family oriented celebration of Monarch butterflies and their migration. Introduction to Monarch Watch Program. Education stations on Monarch life cycle; children’s activities; and capture, tagging, and release of Monarchs. On a Saturday in early October.
  • Rocks Alive! — All about the physical components of ecosystems and how they support life – rocks (geology), soils, water, and air. Family oriented interactive exhibits, children’s activities, hikes, and demonstrations. On a Saturday in late September or October.

The chapter assists with and participates in the following yearly partner events.

  • Great Backyard Bird Count — Bird walks on Saturday and Sunday of the weekend of the Great Backyard Bird Count. Bird talks in addition to the walk on Saturday. Free public event at Acton Nature Center, usually third weekend in February.
  • Reptile Fest — Presented by local herpetologist and Dallas-Fort Worth Herpetological Society. Exhibits, live reptiles, children’s activities. Free public event at Acton Nature Center.
  • Wing Ding — Spring-time celebration of migratory birds and winged insects. Special speakers, exhibitors and vendors, and children’s activities. Free public event at Dinosaur Valley State Park on a Saturday in early April.

Check our calendar and partners’ websites for other events throughout the year.

Local Partners

The Rio Brazos Chapter has a number of local partners in addition to state partners (Texas Parks and Wildlife and Agrilife Extension). Chapter members serve as volunteers to assist local partners in carrying out various projects and activities that meet the goals of both the Texas Master Naturalist program and partner organizations. Links in the following list will take you to partner websites where you can learn more about each.