TEXAS
Events Volunteer Opportunities
Alamo Area Chapter
Education & Training
Volume 14, No. 6
Message from the Board By the 2010 AAMN Board ongratulations to the newly elected AAMN Vice President, Linda GindlerClass 23. Linda was selected by the board to serve for the remaining 2010 term as Vice President. She is already earning her “stripes” by helping to develop a simpler method for reporting volunteer service hours, one that will align with the TMN annual report. Thanks Linda, and welcome aboard! Friday, May 14, turned out to be a fantastic evening at Eisenhower Park for AAMN members who were able to venture out despite the storms, low water crossings, and flooding. We cannot thank Wendy Thornton and Nancy Brown enough for their time and effort to make that evening a success. Members who have worked for over 10 years at the San Antonio Riverwalk Demonstration Garden were recognized with native Texas flower bouquets. Past board members were awarded plaques in appreciation for their service to the organization. John Wolcott issued service pins to members present and Bill Woller-Class 1 was honored for his tireless volunteer service to the education and training of children and other Master Naturalists. The dinner plate of gorditas was scrumptious and the cake, donated by Wendy Thornton, was delicious. Everyone who attended had a great time and wants to make it an annual event.
C
June, 2010
E: UPDAT mer House trip m u due to The H ncelled a c n e e has b ation. particip lack of
The “Grand Opening of the Phil Hardberger Park” May 15 and 16, can also be considered a success, despite torrential rains the day and the night before the event. It was estimated that at least 2,000 people attended, although up to 5,000 had been expected. The AAMN booth was busy both days with hikers and visitors to the park. Many thanks go to all the AAMN volunteers who helped and assisted at this event. Don’t forget the monthly meetings have been changed to Tuesdays. Because of a scheduling conflict, June’s meeting will be held at the SA Botanical Garden. The board meeting will begin at 5:15 PM and the general membership meeting and presentation will begin at 7:00 PM. All board meetings are opened to the membership. Finally, please check all the 2010 newsletters on the website for current or ongoing approved training and activities. If you want to know which events are scheduled for a particular month, check the calendar. Frank Ballard is doing a great job helping to keep the calendar up to date. Remember at the beginning of each year, all activities and training sessions need approval so that: (1) a current contact is available for your questions and (2) TMN liability insurance requirements are met. Thanks go out to the AAMN board members for helping edit this message.
June 8 Meeting Program Hill Country Geology and the Canyon Lake Gorge
J
osie Gonzales (AAMN member, National Association for Interpretation Certified Interpretive Guide, and Gorge Preservation Society Education Chairman) will discuss the Canyon Lake Gorge as it relates to area geology and hydrogeology. This program is approved for advanced training hours.
Back to the Garden in June onio San Ant al Botanic Garden Board Meeting June 8 5:15 p.m. Program 7:00 p.m.
Officers President Liz Robbins srobbins@gvtc.com 830-336-2778 Vice-President Linda Gindler ljgindler@earthlink.net Treasurer Pete Cowger petercowger@gmail.com Secretary Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net Members-at-Large Lonnie Shockley lshockley1@satx.rr.com John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com Roy Yarnold royyarnold@sbcglobal.net Immediate Past President Anton Hajek tonyhajek@yahoo.com
Texas Master Naturalist Alamo Area Chapter News
News from the Board Committees Projects to be reviewed for approval as a Master Naturalist activity must be submitted on the Submission for Activity Approval form. Forms can be obtained by contacting Pamela Ball, pball12@satx.rr.com, or from the AAMN website at www.alamomasternaturalist.org. PLEASE REPORT YOUR HOURS !! Reporting hours is easy with the new EXCEL spreadsheet that was developed for e-mail submissions or for mailing in your hours. It is available online at www.alamomasternaturalist.org.
Where to report your hours: Last names A-M: Last names N-Z: Wilt Shaw Ling Yin Liu 104 Dove Meadow 4946 Dare Lane Boerne, TX 78006-4222 San Antonio, TX 78217 E-mail : WShawjr888@aol.com Phone: 210-207-0021 E-mail: ling.liu@sanantonio.gov ACTIVATE YOUR 2010 GOOGLE DOCS ACCOUNT TODAY! John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com and Roy Yarnold royyarnold@sbcglobal.net have not only volunteered to assist you with this effort but will also serve as the clearing-house for information regarding reported hours, hours that have vanished and those that have gone unreported. As most of you know, each year we award ‘one of a kind’ certification pins for those who achieve 8 hours of advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service. This year that pin is a wood duck. Additionally, throughout the year, the milestone dragonfly pins are also awarded for 250 hours, 500 hours, and 1,000, 2,500 and 5,000 hours of volunteer service.
Vote for Texas Master Naturalists
A
national dialogue about conservation in America has been launched to learn about some of the smart, creative ways communities are conserving natural areas and natural resources. The premise is that these ideas can be “voted” on or “promoted” and possibly selected as national models for the country to adopt through the recent “America’s Great Outdoors Initiative” and the national plan that will be developed. The Master Naturalist program has been added as one of the ideas to promote nationally using stats and information from the Texas Master Naturalist Program in the categories of: Reconnect with the Outdoors AND Public Lands Conservation. Visit the website to vote and promote the Master Naturalist Program Ideas as an idea or program that every state in the nation should have! Its easy-- go to: http://ideas.usda.gov/ago/ideas.nsf/ Click “Register” in the upper right side, then search “Master Naturalist” and click “promote”
AAMN Documents Online at: AAMN Documents
Access important chapter documents including bylaws and minutes online
Monthly Meetings Tuesday, June 8 @ Agrilife AgriLife Extension classroom 3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 208 San Antonio, TX 78230 No meeting in July Tuesday, August 10 @ Agrilife 3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 208 Tuesday, September 14 @ Helotes Creek Nature Center 14433 Old Bandera Road Helotes, TX 78023-3705
Committeees Activities Information Pam Ball pball12@satx.rr.com Calendar Frank Ballard fm4459@sbcglobal.net Community Outreach Pam Yarnold pyarn@sbcglobal.net Education Outreach Cindy Sims cindy.sims@sanantonio.gov Historian Vacant Hospitality Nancy Brown njbrown@sbcglobal.net Hours Submission Wilt Shaw wshawjr888@aol.com Ling Yin Liu ling.liu@sanantonio.gov Membership John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com Media & Technology Jessica Manley 210-454-8019 Newsletter Editor Joann Smith Designer Jessica Manley Photos by Lissa Martinez Public Relations Greg Harmon gregharmon@gmail.com Training Pam Ball pball12@satx.rr.com Web Sam Glass webmaster@alamomasternaturalist.org
Service to the organization is always approved for volunteer service hours.
Starting in October, all AAMN BOD and general membership meetings Visit our web site at www.alamomasternaturalist.org will be the the AgriLife Extension classroom at 3355 Cherry Ridge, Ste. 208, San Antonio, TX 78230 2------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vol. 14, No. 6 - June, 2010
Texas Master Naturalist Alamo Area Chapter News Michelle M. Haggerty Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Master Naturalist Program Coordinator 830-896-2504 Congratulations on 5,000 Hours mhaggerty@wfscgate.tamu.edu lease join us in congratulating Texas Masmasternaturalist.tamu.edu
State of the State
P
ter Naturalist Member, Diane Humes of the Galveston Bay Area Chapter as the most recent 5,000 hour Service Milestone Awardee! Diane joins 17 other Texas Master Naturalist Volunteers who have received this honor for their documented and reported service to the program to date. Those individuals are: Thea Platz (2004) Alamo Area Chapter
Margarett Pickell (2008) Galveston Bay Area Chapter
Edward Campbell (2005) Capital Area Chapter
Tom Collins (2008) Hill Country Chapter
Dick Benoit (2005) Galveston Bay Area Chapter
Tracie Teague (2008) Mid-Coast Chapter
Trudy Belz (2005) Galveston Bay Area Chapter
Jim Varnum (2008) North Texas Chapter
Molly Hollar (2006) Cross Timbers Chapter
Jim Renfro (2009) Cradle of Texas Chapter
Kip Kiphart (2007) Hill Country Chapter
Mary Jean Hayden (2009) Galveston Bay Area Chapter
Sara Beckelman (2008) North Texas Chapter
Angelo Falzarano (2009) Hill Country Chapter
Steve Houser (2008) North Texas Chapter
Priscilla Stanley (2009) Hill Country Chapter
Phil Huxford (2008) Cradle of Texas Chapter
Congratulations to you all!
11th Texas Master Naturalist Statewide Annual Meeting & Advanced Training
When: October 22-24, 2010 Where: T bar M Ranch in New Braunfels Room Reservations: Required by September 27. Make your room reservation on-line: www.tbarm.com Group # txmasnat Password naturalist If you have questions about reservations at T bar M., contact the reservationist at 800/2925469 24 hours a day and reference reservation number 308734.
Hours Reporting
D
ue to a new funding source, the Texas Master Naturalist Program is requiring all volunteer service hours to be reported quarterly.
Please update your hours on a monthly basis. Lonestar Land Steward Award
W
e are pleased to share that one of our own, Charlotte von Rosenberg, will be honored with a Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Lonestar Land Steward Award later this month. Charlotte is a member of the Gideon Lincecum Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program and will receive honors for the Blackland Prairie Region LSLS Award for her conservation and restoration efforts of her family’s Quebe Farm in Brenham, Texas (Washington County). Other LSLS Award winners for additional ecoregions throughout the state can be found in the recent TPWD news release at: http://www.tpwd.state. tx.us/newsmedia/releases/
Class
Representatives Class 17 Julie Fisher Class 18 Prem Nored premilla.nored@us.army.mil Class 19 Cal Eichler 210- 828-0833 Class 20 Suzanne Benavides & Palani Whiting Class 21 Nancy Brown njbrown@sbcglobal.net & Wendy Thornton Class 22 Linda Painter Darst donlindadarst@msn.com & Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net Class 23 Steve Guerrant & Gary Trede gtrede@earthlink.net Class 24 John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com & Susan Hunnicutt schunnicut@aol.com Class 25 Ron Tullius 210-739-2566 rvtullius@sbcglobal.net Class 26 Dwight Henderson 210-496-5934 dwighth10@hotmail.com
Vol. 14, No. 6 - June, 2010------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3
Texas Master Naturalist Alamo Area Chapter News
City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department Natural Areas
I
June 2010 Stewardship Activities
By Jayne Neal
had the opportunity to walk with one of our greatest native plant experts in the area, Lottie Millsaps. When she came to a little plant full of purple blooms, she stopped and marveled. The plant was Prairie Brazoria (Brazoria scutellarioides). The leaves of this plant are laid out perfectly at right angles (decussate); one layer of leaves runs north-south, while the other layer below runs east-west. This is much like the North American tallgrass prairie compass plant (Silphium laciniatum) in that it places its leaves north-south to avoid the noon sun’s heat and thus minimize water loss (NCRS: www.plant-materials. nrcs.usda.gov). This was thought to be a guide for the early pioneers navigating across the prairie. I have randomly checked a few plants here and there in the field with my compass and to my amazement, the leaves run north-south and east-west. Prairie Brazoria will be blooming until June so now is a great time to familiarize yourself with this wildflower and many others we have been blessed with this spring. You never know when you may need to rely on this clue in nature. June Work Project: Thursdays June 3, 10, 17, 24 7:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Vegetation Surveys at Scenic Canyon Park at Grey Moss Inn, 19011 Scenic Canyon Rd. Scenic Canyon is not open to the public and does not have any restrooms or water. June's work project will be will be vegetation identification and percent cover surveys. We will be teaching survey methods but it will help if you can identify Texas flora. Bring plenty of water, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, and bring a compass (if you have one). Brush/snake leggings will be available. Please do not plan to apply sulphur to the brush/snake leggings we loan to you. Our surveys include off‑trail strenuous hiking in sometimes very dense vegetation. Contact: Jayne Neal—jayne.neal@sanantonio.gov or Wendy Leonard—wendy.leonard@sanantonio.gov 210372-9124.
NPSOT
M
www.sanatualareas.org
Medina River Natural Area Summer Nature Camp
June 14 - 18 8:00 a.m. - Noon 2nd-5th graders, Assist Education Coordinator with conducting nature outdoor activities with campers.
Snakes Alive!
June 12 South Texas Herpetology Association. View up close native non-venomous and venomous snakes. Kid friendly mobile activity included. Medina River Natural Area, 15890 Highway 16 South. 9 - 11 a.m. Donations suggested $2 per person, $4 per family. 624-2575.
U Rock, Get Outdoors Camp
June 21 - 25 8:00 a.m. - Noon 4th -7th graders, Assist Education Coordinator with outdoor camp activities with pre-teens. Approved for volunteer service hours if assisting
FRIEDRICH PARK Wild! Weeks 2010
"Get to the Bottom of Things" June 14 - 18, June 21 - 25, June 29 - July 1 9 a.m. – 12 noon Ages 7 – 12 years Friedrich Wilderness Park, 21395 Milsa ant to get to the bottom of things about nature? Come help us explore animal feet, roots, bedrock and underground water. Make a rock collection. Compare mammal, bird, insect and snail feet and hunt for some insects. Confuse some termites. Paint rock art. Learn about the Edwards aquifer. Examine hearts. Make a plaster cast of an animal track. Investigate plant roots and sprout some seeds. Go on a virtual safari in the park. Take a photo hike and lots more! Cost: $75 per session. Call 564-6400 to register. www.sanaturalareas.org. Approved for volunteer service hours if assisting
W
Crown Ridge Canyon Natural Area Canyon Plants
eetings of the San Antonio chapter of June 12, 2010 - 10 a.m. to noon NPSOT are held on the 4th Tuesday of each 7222 Luskey Blvd. month and are free and open to the public. Walk through Crown Ridge Canyon Natural Area with 6:30 p.m. – Native plant and seed exchange native plant expert, Janis Merritt to experience the bounty 7:00 p.m. – Meeting and program of plantlife in this Natural Area. Approved for 1 hour advanced training Call (210) 564-6400 for reservations and information. Lions Field Adult Center Walk-ins will be accepted on a limited basis. Suggested 2809 Broadway (at Mulberry & donation: $3 per individual/ $5 per family. Broadway by Brackenridge Park) Approved for volunteer service hours if assisting Map at www.tinyurl.com/LionsField-SA 4------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vol. 14, No. 6 - June, 2010
Texas Master Naturalist Alamo Area Chapter News
The following AAMN members earned longevity awards:
AWARDS SUMMARY By John H. Wolcott
W
ow, 43 of our team have certified so far this year; ten from class 26 have earned their initial dragon fly and 33 from earlier classes now have earned this year’s wood duck. Below are the new awardees from this month: Person
Class Awards
Ileen Sloan
26 Dragon Fly
Bob Cobb
16 Wood Duck
Jamie Daily
22 Wood Duck
Ann Gulley
20 Wood Duck
Patsy Inglet
8 Wood Duck
Tom Inglet
8 Wood Duck
Nancy Klepper
23 Wood Duck
Arles Lenz
21 Wood Duck
Roy Leslie
24 Wood Duck
Nalga Mebane
21 Wood Duck
Nancy Philips
20 Wood Duck
John Prentice
23 Wood Duck
Flying Wild Facilitator Training is for… Audubon Centers, Nature Centers, Zoos, Museums, Natural History Centers, Aquariums, Parks, Refuges, Community Gardens, Learning Centers, Forest Institutes, Natural Science Centers, Conservancies, School Districts, Conservation Districts, Outdoor Schools, Ecology Centers, Wildlife Foundations, Natural Resource Divisions, Environmental Education Training Centers, Cooperative Extension, Scouting, 4 –H, Youth organizations, Home school groups, Teachers, and more… Are you a classroom teacher or environmental educator? Do you work for or volunteer with a locally based organization or group? Do you facilitate other Environmental Education training programs? Do you enjoy training educators?
Become a Flying WILD Facilitator
Help educators reconnect city kids with nature and build science and literacy skills through a focus on birds. May 25, 2010 (9a – 4p) Required Basic Training for All May 26, 2010 (9a – 12p) Supplemental Training for New WILD Facilitators Location: Cibolo Nature Center Pavilion Boerne, TX Cost: $15 (pending grant) To register for Workshop - Contact: Cindy at 830-249-4616 Email: nature@cibolo.org
Train formal and informal educators in bird education with the Flying WILD program. Provide interdisciplinary activities and environmental education for educators to help middle school students excel academically with a program that engages students in real inquiry and meets national science standards.
Ling Liu Lissa Martinez Chris Menzel John Prentice Ann Gulley Paul Mebane Judith Rodriguez
20 25 23 23 20 21 17
250 hours 250 hours 250 hours 250 hours 500 hours 500 hours 500 hours
John Wolcott@satx.rr.com or (210) 497-4365. If I missed someone, please holler.
Volunteers Needed
T
he Alamo Area Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists is seeking volunteers in the following areas: • Community Outreach • Web design • Public relations
If you can help for even one day, please contact: Pam Yarnold AAMN Community Outreach pyarn@sbcglobal.net 210-497-1088 Service to the organization is always approved for volunteer service hours.
Become a Class of 2010 Flying Wild Teacher
Flying WILD makes it easy for teachers to educate their students about birds and their conservation. Hundreds of teachers in the San Antonio region will be trained in the Flying WILD curriculum that engages children in bird conservation and gets kids outdoors! Are you a classroom teacher or environmental educator? Do you work or volunteer for a locally based organization or group? Do you facilitate other Environment Education training programs?
Become a Flying WILD Teacher Help reconnect city kids with nature and build science and literacy skills through a focus on birds. Date: June 9 and 10, 2010 Time: 9am – 12pm
Location: Eisenhower Park Pavilion OR Date: July 7 and 8, 2010 Time: 9am – 12pm
Location: Cibolo Nature Center Pavilion To Register for either Workshop - Contact: Mary Kennedy Email: mbkenned@sbcglobal.net
Formal and informal educators will be trained in bird education with the Flying WILD program. Flying WILD will provide interdisciplinary activities and environmental education for educators to help middle school students excel academically with a program that engages students in real inquiry, and meets national science standards.
Flying WILD materials provide interactive, interdisciplinary, standards-based activities to help students understand the importance of migratory birds and their conservation. ***Activities are grouped as teacherled, student-led, or volunteer-led.
Flying WILD materials provides interactive, interdisciplinary, standards-based activities to help students understand the importance of migratory birds and their conservation. ***Activities are grouped as teacherled, student-led, or volunteer-led.
Facilitator workshops: Facilitators learn how to conduct educator workshops, participate in hands-on activities from the activity guide which teaches basic biology, identification and ecology, and bird conservation/service learning activities. ***Participants receive great ideas as well as the curriculum guide to take back to their school or organization.
Teacher workshops: Teachers learn how to conduct WILD lessons, participate in hands-on activities from the activity guide which teaches basic biology, identification and ecology, and bird conservation service learning activities. ***Participants receive great ideas as well as the curriculum guide to take back to their school or organization.
Flying WILD is a program of the Council for Environmental Education. www.flyingwild.org
Flying WILD is a program of the Council for Environmental Education. www.flyingwild.org
Vol. 14, No. 6 - June, 2010------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5
Texas Master Naturalist Alamo Area Chapter News
Hot Tub Naturalist June, 2010 By Anton Hajek n the early evening the moon is a crescent catching the planet above it. A scene most of us naturalists would enjoy. Reminds me of sitting at the Rock Art Rendezvous with my fellow master naturalists watching the sky for hours. I intend to reprise my steak night treat to all MN comers. Mark your calendar for October 15-17, 2010. And RSVP. The space shuttle Atlantis is on it's last trip. (http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/skyblog/newsblog/93797484.html) I've been fascinated by the space program since Able & Baker were chimps in space. It is infuriating to me that the United States would be without a shuttle replacement, or to abandon the Hubble space telescope as it takes a lickin’ and keep on tickin’ having been designed to receive updates and replacement hardware. The Martian rovers are a great source of pride. Sent on a 90-day mission, they are both on year six of service. I know NASA is moving towards unmanned flight, but we should walk on Mars and establish a colony on the moon. What a hoot! Remember the challenge from JFK (to beat the Russians to the moon) and that "one small step for man." speech? Good old-fashioned heroic inspirational stuff. Of course, we could always spend the same money eradicating invasives and on water catchment. Not quite as trendy but still really good! Maybe we could also solve global warming and achieve world peace! Naa, lets just go to Mars in my lifetime. Then Saturn. Imagine a space station in the rings of Saturn. Who says I am not a romantic? Thank god the Sun is rock steady. Jeff Kuhn (University of Hawaii) and three colleagues find that the Sun's mean diameter hasn't changed more than one part in a million since 1998." I was concerned. See http://www.skyandtelescope. com/community/skyblog/newsblog/93745989.html Kudos to those who put on the member mixer May 14th. What a lovely time to hang out with old friends. Good food, good snacks, good decorations, and a good time. Thanks to all who had a hand in making this event happen! How about next time with a bat emergence? Beer and bats - no place but Texas!
I
Hip Tip! Easy Tick Removal
A
pply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for 15-20 seconds. The tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.
June, 2010
Cibolo Nature Center June 5, 2010
Brandon's Revue
5:30 pm - 11:30 pm www.cibolo.org Kendall Co. Fairgrounds Benefit concert in memory of Brandon Gallagher Manning (1979-2001). Approved for volunteer service hours if assisting. June 12, 2010
Rainwater Harvest Workshop
9:00 am - 12:00 pm CNC auditorium and visit to Kight installation With John Kight, learn about design and materials from someone who has done it himself! Approved for advanced training June 12, 2010 Kid's Club: Creek Critters! 10:00 am - 11:30 am CNC Backporch Our theme this month is creek critters! Donations gladly accepted. Approved for volunteer service hours if assisting. June 15, 2010
Mother Nature's Storytime
10:00 am - 11:00 am CNC Visitor Center Our theme this month is Hooked on Fish! Approved for volunteer service hours if assisting. June 26, 2010
SONGS & STORIES Concert
7:30 pm - 10:00 pm CNC Stage Bring a chair or blanket and picnic! Enjoy live music under the CNC oak trees. Featuring: Lost Mule Band CNC member $7.50, non-member $10, seniors (65+) $5, kids 12 and under free.
River Walk Garden Workday
Second Friday of every month 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. San Antonio Riverwalk Garden olunteers are needed to cut, trim, and plant at the San Antonio Riverwalk Garden. Bring cutting tools such as shears, rakes, and clippers and also gloves and water for this workday. This is our own Master Naturalist project at the corner of Aubrey and Old Guilbeau (north of Durango, the west side of the San Antonio river) on the Riverwalk. Contact Lan Eng 830-980-2300 or lanbceng@gmail.com or visit www.alamomasternaturalist.org Approved for volunteer service hours
V
6------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Vol. 14, No. 6 - June, 2010
Texas Master Naturalist Alamo Area Chapter News June @ the Garden
San Antonio Botanical Garden
A
very busy spring for all of us is almost at an end. I want to send out a big thanks to all Master Naturalists for your support of our educational programs, research and plant care in the Botanical Garden! The Garden has camps coming up this summer and a big event opening of Playhouse & Forts in June. So, once you are rested up, consider spending some time with us in the Garden this summer. Playhouses and Forts Exhibit Opening – Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27 (10 am to 2 pm) Two 3 hour shifts are needed: 9 – 12 & 11:30 – 2:30 4 - 6 people per shift Master Naturalist volunteers will man discovery stations on the forest, butterflies and other naturalist topics. Discovery stations are easily learned in just a few minutes and are fun and educational for both children & adults.
Training Committee
Camps: *June 14 – 18 (M – F) Junior Naturalist Camp (6 – 8 year olds) June 21 – 25 (M - F) Junior Gardener Camp *July 12 – 16 (M – F) Junior Naturalist Camp (9 – 12 year olds) July 19 – 23 (M – F) Junior Gardener Camp The Junior Naturalist Camp will be of particular interest to Master Naturalists but the Junior Gardener Camp covers many of the same activities. Volunteers are needed to assist the teachers and help with naturalist, hiking and gardening activities with the kids in the garden. Camps are from 9 – 4:30. Morning and afternoon shifts are available, 8:30 – 12:30 & 12:30 – 4:30. You may work all week or just a day or two. Contact: Cindy Sims—cindy.sims@sanantonio.gov or 207-3261. Approved for volunteer service hours
Class 26
Graduates Cynthia Barsun Bob Cage Eileen Campbell Bruce A. Fried Sandra Henderson Vincent Henderson Justin Hernandez Brenda Holland Sasha Kodet
Lucas Lane Catherine Lopez Bruce Martin Karen McMurry Myfe Moore Robert Pike Darby Riley Ileen C. Sloan Steve Webb Kermit J. Wegner Kathleen Whitten
Graduates w/ Certification Dwight Henderson Howard S. Homan Mary Homan Billie Murrell Cherry Pedrick James Pedrick Margaret L. York
INVASIVE PLANT ERADICATION AT RANCHO DIANA
M
aster Naturalists and members of the Balcones Invaders Satellite invite you to join us in our continuing efforts to eradicate invasive plants at Rancho Diana in northwest San Antonio. We are continuing our eradication of Chinaberry, Chinese Photinia, Chinese Pistachio, Ligustrum, Pyracantha, Japanese Honeysuckle and Nandina on the property. To date, we have eradicated over 6,500 specimens. Tuesdays, June 1, June 8, June 15, June 22, June 29 Wednesdays, June 2, June 9, June 16, June 23, June 30 Volunteers meet outside the gate at Rancho Diana at 7:30 A.M. and conclude at 9:30 or 10:00 A.M.
If you are interested in joining us, contact Cheryl Hamilton at cryhm@hotmail.com or 210-342-9721. It is Class 26 Training Coordinators important to eemail or call by no later than 9:00 P.M. the Left to right: Ann Gulley, Bryan Davis, Liz Robbins, Ron night before if you will be joining us, as we enter Rancho Tullius, Nancy Brown, Pam Ball and Lonnie Shockley Diana as a group. Approved for advanced training/volunteer hours. Vol. 14, No. 6 - June, 2010------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7
F
AAMN Social a Success
riday evening, May 14th, 2010 was our Alamo Area Master Naturalists social gathering at Eisenhower Park. We had a great turnout with almost all the classes--#1 to the newest, #26, for dinner and recognition. Special Recogntition went to: • Lottie Millsaps, Mary Frances Anderson, Helga Anderson, Gail Cooper, Tom Cooper, Sir Oliver Smith (Smitty), Les Yarbrough, Jim and Lan Eng for Demonstration Garden at the San Antonio Riverwalk • Diana Carkhuff & Kathy Gaudet for other long term projects • COSA & SA Natural Areas - Eric Lautzenheiser & Staff for providing the park • Cindy Sims for her tireless role as an advocate for Master Naturalists at the SABOT • Outgoing officers: Anton Hajek-Pres, Holly Camero-VP, Prem Nored-Treasurer, JW PieperPast President, Thea Platz-Outings. • Bill Woller for his tireless volunteer service • Nancy & Wendy for all the hard work putting this event together! This event was co-sponsored with the San Antonio Parks and Recreation. Roy & Jessica Leslie
Master Naturalists are volunteers dedicated to the conservation, preservation and restoration of our natural resources, promoting ecological education for all ages. The Alamo Area Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists gratefully acknowledges the support of our sponsoring organizations:
WWW.ALAMOMASTERNATURALIST.ORG Alamo Area P.O. Box 690356 San Antonio, Texas 78269 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Plant a tree with the click of a mouse!
T
exas State Parks need trees, and you can help by casting a vote online.
www.odwalla.com/plantatree
Click on Texas to “plant a tree” for our state. Every vote equals $1 for trees. Odwalla is donating $200,000 for trees in State Parks, so once 200,000 people have cast their vote- that’s it! Last year Michigan received over $50,000 for trees.