(WEEK 0: Thursday, Jan. 23– Wednesday Jan. 29)
Hello!
We're in the final countdown now. As I mentioned before, our weeks will run from Thursday morning's weekly email to Wednesday evening's class meeting. That means that Week ONE will begin next Thursday, the 30th. So, let's call this week...Week ZERO.
Things you should have already completed by today:
Bio & Pic - We are still missing 10 bios for the class yearbook. One of the things we try to foster in the training class is a sense of community. The yearbook does a great job of letting us get to know each other. With 46 trainees and 21 education committee members, we will all need to work at building connections. When you read the bios, you might notice that you have common interests with other trainees. If you haven't sent in your bio, please send it to Vicki asap. (vickis@bptmn.org)
Google account - You were asked to create a Google account if you didn't already have one.
If you use a Google email address, you don't need to do anything.
If you do not have a Google email address (gmail), you will need to use the instructions to link your current email address to a Google account.
Do NOT create a Gmail! It is important that the class website is linked to an email you regularly check.
iNaturalist - You should have signed up at iNaturalist.org and sent your username to Lisa Travis at lisat@bptmn.org. If you already have an iNaturalist account, just send Lisa your username. If you haven't done this, please take care of it quickly. (Sign-up help)
To-Do List for This Week:
Class Website - Once you are logged into your Google account, you can visit the class website BPTMNclass.net. Please do a test and make sure that you are able to access the website. This is where you'll find the information you need every week. Right now, only a few parts of the website are live. (You CAN see the yearbook!) We will add more features next week. Bookmark the site because you will be referring to it often.
If you have trouble accessing the site, make sure to check that you are logged into your Google account. If that doesn't help, you can try a different browser. After that, you can let me know and I'll see what I can do to help.
A Head's Up:
Feedback - At the end of the class in May, you will complete a Google Form feedback survey which covers all 14 class dates. We will also be collecting immediate feedback each week from 5 randomly chosen trainees or committee members. A simple paper survey with 5 quick multiple-choice questions will be paper clipped to your name tent at the sign-in table. (Each person will be chosen once.) When it is your turn, you will answer the questions, add comments if you wish, and turn it in at the sign-in table before you leave that night.
Upcoming Dates:
Meet & Greet Orientation
Sunday, February 2nd
2-4pm
Heard Museum's Science Resource Center
Due to space constraints, please plan to attend solo
Class ONE: Ecological Concepts & Urban Ecology
Wednesday, February 5th
6-9pm
Heard Museum's Science Resource Center
February Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, February 11th
7pm
Heard Museum's Science Resource Center
You will be able to count 1 hour of Advanced Training (AT) for attending the meeting.
I'll see you soon!
Nancy
Hello! I don't know about you, but this past week went by really fast. It's already time for your next weekly update. Enjoy. 🙂
Things you should have already completed by today:
Send bio and photo to Vicki Sanders at vickis@bptmn.org. If you haven't sent it, you are already behind. Please get this taken care of by this Sunday, January 19th. Remember to keep it short and sweet, aiming for 100 words. And make sure we can see YOU in your photo. You can see 4 examples here.
Pick up your TMN textbook at the chapter meeting OR contact your pod Guides to work out another plan. If you still need to do this, use the Training Committee contact list and Pod Directory to get connected.
To-Do List for This Week:
Create a Google account, if you don't already have one. (Instructions are attached)
If you already have a Google email address (gmail.com), you don't need to do anything.
If you do not have a Google email address (gmail.com), follow the attached instructions to connect your current email address to a Google account.
You do NOT need to create a new email address! Just connect the email you currently use to a Google account.
How to Create a Google Account without a Gmail Address
Why do you need to do this? Next week, you will be invited to access the Class Website. It is a private Google site and we can only send invitations to Google accounts.
Sign-up for iNaturalist at iNaturalist.org, and send your username to Lisa Travis at lisat@bptmn.org. (Sign-up help)
If you already have an iNaturalist account, just send Lisa your username.
What is iNaturalist?
It is a citizen science platform built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of biodiversity around the world. You might have heard that it can help you identify an unknown plant or animal. That is true, but it is so much more. Here is the description from their site:
Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. We share your findings with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data. All you have to do is observe.
You'll be hearing a lot more about iNaturalist in the weeks to come since we will be using the platform throughout the class. All you need to do right now is set up an iNaturalist account and let Lisa know your username.
Want to try it out?
Go ahead and download the iNaturalist app to your smartphone and start taking pics. Here's a Getting Started Guide to...get you started.
Add these dates to your calendar:
Meet & Greet Orientation
Sunday, February 2nd
2-4pm
Heard Museum's Science Resource Center
Class ONE: Ecological Concepts & Urban Ecology
Wednesday, February 5th
6-9pm
Heard Museum's Science Resource Center
February Chapter Meeting
Tuesday, February 11th
7pm
Heard Museum's Science Resource Center
You will be able to count 1 hour of Advanced Training (AT) for attending the meeting.
Until next week,
Nancy
Nancy Casillas, Training Director
Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter
nancyc@bptmn.org
214-725-2309
I hope that everyone is staying warm this week. As promised, this is your weekly class update email.
Notes and dates for the week:
Weekly Emails - If you take a look at the subject line above, you'll see that it starts with "BPTMN Class of 2025 Weekly Update". Each weekly email will start the same way to make it easier to find in crowded inboxes.
Our "Week" - During the training class, our weeks will run from Thursday to Wednesday. You will get your update email on Thursday mornings with pre-work (homework) to be done before the expert speaker presentation on the following Wednesday.
Textbooks - I will have the TMN textbooks at the January 14th chapter meeting. Please plan to attend in-person to pick up your book. After that, you will need to connect with your pod Guides to get your copy.
Speaking of Guides - By now, everyone should have been contacted by their pod Guides. If you have not received an email or phone call, please let me know.
Meet & Greet - Make sure that the Meet & Greet orientation has been added to your calendar. Please note: Due to space constraints, we ask that you attend solo without spouses or children.
Sunday, February 2nd
2-4pm
Heard Museum's Science Resource Center
Class Yearbook - Each year, we create a digital yearbook so we can all get to know each other. For your entry, please email your bio and photo to Vicki Sanders at vickis@bptmn.org.
In your bio, share your background, interests, and volunteer experience. Please aim for 100 words.
When choosing a photo, make sure that we can see your face.🙂 You can see my example here.
You do not need to create a slide! Vicki will add the emailed bios and photos to her master slide deck.
All photos and bios should be sent by next Wednesday, January 15th. If you have any questions, let me know.
Until next week,
Nancy
Nancy Casillas, Training Director
Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter
nancyc@bptmn.org
214-725-2309
Happy New Year!
We have a short FIVE weeks until your training class officially begins!
The Training Committee started planning way back in July and will continue with final preparations as we move through January. We're excited about this year's class and are looking forward to meeting you all in person.
Every week from now until class starts, I'll be sending out a "countdown" email. There will be a few tasks to accomplish and information you'll need to know to be ready. See this week's list below.
Notes and dates for this week:
Background Check Card - You should have received an email with a Background Check card today. This will be very important when you begin volunteering with our chapter partners and project organizations. If you have NOT received a card in your inbox (or spam folder), please let me know and I will have another copy sent to you.
Wait to Log Hours - Some of you have already started attending chapter meetings and volunteer events and that is absolutely fantastic. You are welcome to attend most of the things you see on the chapter calendar, but please be aware that you are not allowed to start logging volunteer hours (VH) or advanced training (AT) hours until you have attended your first training class. (This is a Texas Master Naturalist statewide rule.) For most of you, your initial training will officially begin with the Meet & Greet orientation on Sunday, February 2nd. If you attend the Meet & Greet, anything you do on February 3rd or later can be logged and counted toward the 40 volunteer hours and 8 advanced training hours required for your initial certification. If you miss the Meet & Greet, you can start logging hours on February 6th.
Last Call for Refunds - January 5, 2025 is the last day to withdraw from the class and receive a refund for your tuition fee. We hope to have you join us in February, but if your circumstances or plans have changed, please let me know ASAP. (We have a waiting list of people anxious to take any spot that becomes available.)
Add January Chapter Meeting to your Calendar - I strongly encourage you to attend the January 14th chapter meeting in person. It will begin at 7:00pm at the Heard Science Museum's Science Resource Center building, which is located behind the main building at the end of the museum's drive. I have three reasons for my strong encouragement 🙂:
It is a great chance to meet Training Committee members, chapter members, and fellow trainees.
The speaker duties will be shared by four members of the class of 2024. They will share the 10-minute presentations they created as their Week 14 capstone project. You will have the opportunity to do the same in May, so this is your sneak peek.
You can pick up your Texas Master Naturalist textbook at the meeting!
Guides - Each of you should have been contacted by your Guides. They are members of the Training Committee and they're ready to help you navigate the training program successfully. If you have NOT heard from your Guides, please let me know.
Until next week,
Nancy
Nancy Casillas, Training Director
Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter
nancyc@bptmn.org
214-725-2309