Schedule:

• 6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
• 7:00 Introduction and Announcements
• 7:20 Featured Presentation
• 8:45 Adjournment

Join us at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Building H, Room 125. Campus map. See Covid protocol, below. Or participate via Zoom—register link. (If you are attending in person, you don’t need to register for Zoom.)

Moderator:

• Amy Martin

Panelists:

• Rich Grayson
• Bill Holston
• Scott Hudson
• Bob Richie
• Dana Wilson

Hiking opportunities in Dallas County abound. But where are they? What are the best times of year to go where? How do you avoid getting lost? What if paddling is preferred over hiking? A team of NTMN experienced hikers will share their knowledge and experiences. Soon you’ll be reveling in an abundance of urban and not-so-urban nature opportunities. Expects lots of great stories and photos.

The program will begin with an overview of North Texas ecoregions, the Trinity River system, and the major hiking areas. The team will discuss:

• Trail safety and preparedness.
• Trail navigation, GPS apps, and use of Google maps.
• Natural phenomenon to plan hiking adventures around.

Then each panelist will share a few minutes on what their favorite hiking places are and why. The panel concludes with a look at paddling trail opportunities, followed by a Q&A period.

Our Panelists and Moderator:

Rich Grayson

Paddling: Rich Grayson

From the time he launched a Huck Finn raft down his childhood creek at age 10, Rich has paddled canoes since Boy Scouts and kayaked whitewater since age 30. He’s rafted many western rivers since 40. His current favorite boat is a sit-on-top kayak.

Bill Holston

Bill Holston

A human rights lawyer by day, he begins most workdays with a short contemplative hike on the Trinity Forest Trail. Forever an Eagle Scout, he is a North Texas Master Naturalist, class of 2011. He loves visiting local parks, state parks, and Big Bend National Park, and hikes with Ben Sandifer and Scott Hudson most weekends. He pens an online column, Law Man Walking, for D Magazine online.

Scott Hudson

Scott Hudson

An avid outdoorsman, Scott has backpacked the John Muir Trail in California and regularly enjoys backpacking trips to Big Bend, Colorado, and other locales. He explores trails all over Dallas County most every week. He finds his greatest inspiration being immersed in nature. A member of the class of 2018, he is the current NTMN president.

Moderator: Amy Martin

Amy understood from an early age that nature made more sense than humans and depends on time outside to stay sane in a crazy world. She is the author of Wild Dallas-Fort Worth: Explore the Amazing Nature of North Texas, to be released by Timber Press in late 2022, and the North Texas Wild columnist at GreenSourceDFW. A graduate of class of 2018, she has a special passion for prairies.

Bob Richie

Bob Richie

A Master Naturalist since 2012, but have been a practicing naturalist since he could walk. He grew up exploring the creeks and wild places from North Dallas to Pleasant Grove. Best are the places “hiding in plain sight” like that creek you see every day on the way to work or the railroad track at the end of the street.

Dana Wilson

Dana Wilson

Dana was in the 2001 NTMN class and was lucky enough to befriend Jim Varnum and Jeff Quayle, friends who cultivated her love of plants by spending thousands of hours in the field or on the computer. She draws her deepest happiness from leading hands-on nature walks and workshop and seeing folks come back to these classes again and again. Thank you, friends!

Camera Roll

As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send photos from your hiking adventures to Ashleigh Miller.

Covid Protocol

Please participate at the level you’re comfortable. We’re excited to meet in person, but we don’t take this decision lightly. We expect all attendees to consider the health and well-being of their fellow attendees and comply with all policies.

• MASKS are required at Dallas College in accordance with the Dallas County Risk Level Red.
• The room will be set to allow for SOCIAL DISTANCING (4 people per table for maximum capacity of 100).
• HAND SANITIZER will be available.
• Food and drinks will not be provided, but you may bring your own and share with others if desired.