Grayson County Master Naturalists Accept Applications for Fall Classes
What are you doing with your free time this fall? Master Naturalists are monitoring bluebird boxes or counting birds, restoring pocket prairies, leading nature hikes and teaching nature classes. To become part of Texas Master Naturalists you need training. Bluestem Master Naturalists are now accepting applications for fall classes. Classes start with Orientation and are completed in seven Saturdays chock full of information and practice spread from August 17 to November first. The Saturdays are not consecutive but planned with breaks in between every two. Cost for the certification program is $160.00 which includes classes, Texas Master Naturalists Manual, membership in Bluestem chapter and a background check. Below is the pending schedule.
August 17, Sunday Grayson County Courthouse
6 – 9 Orientation, History of Naturalists, Naturalists as Teachers
Donna Rogers, our president, Cathy Van Bebber, our secretary, Ginger Mynatt, Education Chair.
August 23, Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge,
9 – 12 Archaeology and History of Hagerman; Wetland Ecology and Management and tour
Presenter: Kathy Whaley, Refuge Manager of Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge, M. S. Biology, TN Tech
1 – 4 Ecological Concepts
Presenter: Dr. Peter Schulz, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies and Director of the Center for Environmental Studies at Austin College.
September 6, Grayson Courthouse,
9 – 10:30 Rangeland Ecology and Management
Presenter: Chuck Jones, Grayson County Agent for agriculture and natural resources, AgriLife Ext. Svc, M. S. Wildlife Biology, LA Tech.
10:45 – 12: 15 Geology,
Presenter: Diane Brownlee, geophysicist/geologist, USGS Earthquake Center, 20 yr. employee of oil companies, Adjunct Curator of Earth Science at Heard Museum, Director of Ellison Miles Geotechnology at Brookhaven College, plus many outreach programs.
Lunch and Tour of IDEA center (Green Practices), Austin College
2:00 – 3:30 Mammalogy,
Presenter: Dr. Jessica Healey, Asst. Biology Prof., Austin College
September 13, Denison Dam
Morning: 8:30 – 10:30 Advanced Credit Fossil Field Trip, Dr. George Diggs, Professor of Biology, Austin College; Research Associate at Botanical Research Institute of Texas, also collection of macro-invertebrates for Aquatic Systems
Lunch and afternoon Hagerman National Wildlife Center
11:00 – 12:30 Aquatic Systems, Doris Floyd, Lab Instructor NCTC and lunch FOH Bldg.
Afternoon, HNWR: Entomology, Dr. Mike Merchant, Visitors Center
September 27, Eisenhower State Park
Morning: 9 – 10 Prairie Rehabilitation Practices, Dr. Keith Kissell, Professor of Biology at Austin College
10:15 – 12:00 Forest Ecology and Management plus field trip
Presenter: Paul Kisel, Eisenhower State Park Superintendent since 2012, B.S. Forestry/Biology, 30 years with Texas Parks and Wildlife Mission Tejas, Lake Houston, San Jacinto, Inks Lake
*Afternoon: Herpetology,* HNWR
Presenter: Dr. Tim Patton, M.S. & Ph.D in Zoology and Physiology, U. of AR, currently at U. of OK Biological Station
October 11, ESP
9:00 – 1200 Workday, Restoring Pocket Prairies (Optional, service hours given)
12:30 – 2:30 Ichthyology,
Presenter: Rebecca Fillmore, B.S. in Fishery Resources, Uni. of ID, Fishery Biologist for USFWS in NM, OK and Turtle Biologist at MO State.
October 18, HNWR
All Day Ornithology, Class plus field work: Bird Walk or Tram Tour, Weather
Presenter: Jack Chiles, Bluestem Master Naturalists and Cathy Corbett, KTEN Meteorologist
November 1
Not yet scheduled: Field Trip to be chosen and scheduled: Ross Perot Nature and Science Museum, Heard Wildlife Museum, Restored Prairie Lake Towakoni
For information, go to http://bluestemmasternaturalists.org. To contact us: bluestemmasternaturalists@gmail.com, or Ginger Mynatt, 903-819-3937
Texas Master Naturalists sponsored by AgriLife and Texas Parks and Wildlife