June Chapter Meeting: Texas Blackland Prairie: Past, Present, Future with Brandon Belcher

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Wednesday, June 2nd at 7 pm

Register For the Zoom Meeting

Clymer Meadow

Brandon Belcher, North Texas Preserves Manager
The Nature Conservancy

Brandon Belcher will be speaking on the natural history of the Blackland Prairie ecoregion, including conservation efforts protecting some of the last remaining areas of virgin prairie. The program will focus on the survival adaptations that have allowed for prairies to remain functional for millennia, some of the expected risk we face with a changing climate, and how we can each help sustain prairie space in a region with a population projected to double over the next 50 years.

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Brandon-Belcher

Brandon Belcher

Brandon Belcher is one of the most important Blackland Prairie activist in North Texas. With less than 1 percent of that ecosystem remaining, this is a vitally important task. Mr. Belcher currently works as the North Texas Preserves Manager for The Nature Conservancy. His focus is protection and maintenance of grasslands including remnant prairielands. Under his direction are numerous projects including management of 5 TNC nature preserves and more than a dozen conservation easements. Conservation of these rare and fragile ecosystems is accomplished through partnerships with private landowners, other non-governmental organizations, local cities and counties, as well as state and federal agencies. He received a BS in Wildlife and Conservation Science and an MS in Biology – Plant Ecology from Texas A&M University – Commerce where he also serves as an adjunct instructor.

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Zoom link will be available about a week prior to meeting. You will need to sign in with both first and last names for your AT to be counted.

The Camera Roll starts at 6:30pm when the meeting room opens. Announcements begin at 7 pm, followed by an affinity group poll. Speaker begins at approximately 7:30 pm.

If you’re not familiar with Zoom, arrive 6:45 pm to set your audio levels and learn the system.

May Chapter Meeting: Diversity & Inclusion with David Buggs

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David Buggs, TP&W

Wednesday, May 5th at 7 pm

David Buggs, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer
Texas Parks & Wildlife

Register to Attend

Wildlife conservation has been and is key to the enrichment of the people, environment and economy.

Texas Master Naturalist volunteers have done a great job providing education, outreach, and natural resource management services to communities across the state. The population of our states has drastically increased and become more diverse over the last 30 years.

Along with environmental changes, shifts in our recreational, commercial and consumptive habits have made the importance of varied perspectives important to our conservations efforts. Taking actions to promote Diversity and Inclusion has become increasingly important to the sustainability of natural resources, our people, and our economy.

As our populations becomes more ethnically, gender, and age diverse, our challenge is how do we engage the changing demographic in more outdoor activities, and how do organizations who support and are engaged in conservation activities become relevant to this growing population without losing current participants and supporters?

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Mr. Buggs is the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), an agency of the state of Texas. He earned his MBA from Baylor University in Waco, Texas and a B.S. in Marketing from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. His role is developing and managing the execution of TPWD’s Diversity and Inclusion strategy. David is an accomplished cultural compliance and management professional with years of experience in the area of relationship building, leadership development, mentoring, training and executive coaching. David also provides insight on behavior management, cultural understanding, multigenerational management, and ethical and government compliance. 

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Zoom link will be available about a week prior to meeting. You will need to sign in with both first and last names for your AT to be counted.

The Camera Roll starts at 6:30pm when the meeting room opens. Announcements begin at 7 pm, followed by an affinity group poll. Speaker begins at approximately 7:30 pm.

If you’re not familiar with Zoom, arrive 6:45 pm to set your audio levels and learn the system.

UPDATED! North Texas Master Naturalist COVID Safety and Response Guidelines

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North Texas Master Naturalist COVID Safety and Response Guidelines

April 7, 2021

Until further notice, the North Texas Master Naturalist Program will operate under the following guidelines for NTMN community and youth education, training, outreach and service projects. The board will continue to monitor conditions and update the guidelines as needed. By participating in any in-person activity with NTMN, you agree to abide by these COVID Safety and Response Guidelines.

Volunteers are encouraged to evaluate their own comfort, risk, health, and safety when considering meetings and volunteer service opportunities. If you are in a vulnerable or ‘high risk’ category or are uncomfortable participating in group events, please continue to consider remote service opportunities where possible.

Virtual meeting platforms should be used whenever possible. For all in-person events, meetings or service projects, volunteers must comply with applicable requirements. Individual service projects may have additional safety considerations. If project sites or local requirements are more restrictive, NTMN volunteers are to follow the more restrictive guidelines.

All In-Person INDOOR Activities:

  • Limited to 10 people – Please use your best judgment to achieve a small group.
  • Sign-in at the location is required.
  • Volunteers and all public participants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.
  • All are encouraged to maintain 10 feet of social distance for indoor activities.
  • The occupancy limit should not exceed 1 person per 100 square feet of indoor public space.

All In-Person OUTDOOR activities:

  • Limited to 10 people – Please use your best judgment to achieve a small group.
  • Sign-in at the location is required.
  • Volunteers and all public participants are strongly encouraged to wear face coverings.
  • All are encouraged to maintain 6 feet of social distance for outdoor activities.

General Health and Safety Guidance:

  • Remain at home if you’re not feeling well or have a fever.
  • Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer often.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
  • If you travel to certain high-risk areas, please self-quarantine for the recommended time.
  • Any surfaces that are touched often should be disinfected regularly.
  • Tools and equipment should be sanitized regularly and not be shared between households.
  • Educational trunks are not available for in-person group activities.
  • If you are diagnosed with or exposed to a person with COVID-19, please self-quarantine for at least 10 days. Please notify the project leader if you have recently volunteered.
  • By participating in any in-person activity with NTMN, you agree to abide by these COVID Safety and Response Guidelines.

For further information please email activities@ntmn.org

Chasing with Chelsea: Surviving Severe Weather in North Texas

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Wednesday, April 7 at 7 pm

Chelsea Burnett, Texas Storm Chasers

Zoom link

Photo by Chris Emory of Sundog Art Photography: https://www.facebook.com/SundogArtPhotography

Texas Storm Chasers covers four basic weather elements that are faced in North Texas: lightning, tornadoes, hail and flooding. The interactive presentation highlights statistics and facts surrounding these elements, focuses on the safety precautions before, during and after severe weather events, and provides tips on how to become involved in the weather knowledge efforts to create a safer, more educated community. The content is illustrated through simple graphics and photos, plus fun video clips of the team’s past chase experiences. Find out more on how the team has continued to provide content and coverage in light of the ongoing global pandemic

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Chelsea Burnett is a public speaker/photographer/storm-chaser with Texas Storm Chasers. She is an Oklahoma native with lifelong severe weather experiences ranging from toddlerhood window-watching to chasing across the US every season.

Her formal education consists of several semesters in the University of Oklahoma’s School of Meteorology program, polished with a Bachelor’s in Business from the University of North Texas.

Chelsea chasing a storm while a German film crew observes.

Chelsea’s chase career began in 2011, shortly after meeting other members of Texas Storm Chasers. She has witnessed 27 tornadoes (and counting!), from 5-second EF0s to 90- minute EF4s. Chase states include TX, OK, CO, NM, KS, NE, WY, ND, SD, & MT.

On-screen appearances include “Texas Madness” episodes featured on Germany’s TAFF network, and web-based storm-chasing series “Season of the Storm”.

Published article appearances include Dallas Voyage’s “Dallas City Guide”, “Shoutout DFW”, and “Partner Spotlight”, Camel.com “The Hump” Offbeat Occupations Lifestyle, and Moods Reflective Weather Phobias.

Chelsea spends her personal time with her fellow storm-chaser boyfriend Adam Lucio of Illinois Storm Chasers, and her school-age son Marshall, traveling the US visiting state & national parks, hiking, camping, and of course storm chasing at every opportunity!

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Zoom link will be available about a week prior to meeting. You will need to sign in with both first and last names for your AT to be counted.

The Camera Roll starts at 6:30pm when the meeting room opens. Announcements begin at 7 pm, followed by an affinity group poll. Speaker begins at approximately 7:30 pm.

If you’re not familiar with Zoom, arrive 6:45 pm to set your audio levels and learn the system.

NTMN Survivor 2021