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Interpretation -- April 8, 2026
Interpretation -- April 8, 2026
This Week's Topic
This Week's Topic
Volunteers as Teachers: Interpretation - Unit 23 in your textbook. Optional guided reading page
Our Expert on Stage
Our Expert on Stage
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
Use Lisa's VMS slides to log last week's attendance in VMS
(If you missed class, contact Nancy to schedule a make-up.)
Opportunity: Init Training-Class 09
Date: April 1, 2026
Hours: 3.0
Description: Plants with Dr. George Diggs
Complete your class feedback survey ASAP. We need your participation!
Look over Unit 23 in your textbook. Optional guided reading page
Watch Craig Hensley's Interpretation video part 1 (21:55) and part 2 (28:01)
Read Peter's brilliant Understanding Adult Learners in a Nature Walk Setting. He has condensed a career's worth of expertise into a 2-page, easy to read document. It is concise, bulleted, and USEFUL information.
Print the interpretation worksheet (or hand write your answers on a piece of paper). Using the worksheet, research your assigned topic and bring your notes to class. Remember that this is not just a listing of facts, you'll be adding some history points or stories to stimulate interest. You can see a worksheet example here. Your pod will pool the collected information and choose the best bits to create a 5-minute presentation to be shared with the whole class.
Pod 1 - pecan tree
Pod 2 - copperhead snake
Pod 3 - cattails
Pod 4 - barred owl
Pod 5 - black willow tree
Pod 6 - monarch butterfly
Pod 7 - coyote
Pod 8 - dragonfly
Pod 9 - ragweed
Bring to Class
Bring to Class
Your completed interpretation worksheet
End-of-Class Presentations & Projects (TedTalks and educational products)
End-of-Class Presentations & Projects (TedTalks and educational products)
While these projects are optional, I would encourage everyone to consider signing up. (You earn Volunteer Hours for your time spent in preparation and presenting.)
If you choose to prepare a project, you have three choices:
Prepare and present a "TedTalk" at our last class on May 6. These have a 10 minute maximum. Any topic in the TMN curriculum (your textbook) is fair game!
At the January BPTMN Chapter meeting, four members of the Class of 2025 reprised their presentations. (And received rave reviews, I might add!) If you missed this meeting, you can watch the recording of the four presentations HERE to get an idea of how varied the topics can be.
We will have 12 presentation slots, so sign up early with Nancy.
Prepare and record a presentation. Like the live TedTalks, these will have a 10 minute maximum. Again, any topic in the TMN textbook is fair game. These recordings will be added to our chapter education library. Your audience could be children, youth, the general public, or Texas Master Naturalists. When you sign up, please list the topic you will be covering. Sign up with Nancy.
Prepare a "product" such as a brochure, cheat sheet, etc. There are numerous possibilities here! Anything that you think advances the BPTMN mission of education about beneficial management of natural resources in our community. Again, your audience could be children, youth, the general public, or Texas Master Naturalists.
Product examples: Monarch Butterfly Waystations, Nature Journaling, Stream Assessment
Sign up - Send Nancy an email at nancyc@bptmn.org listing the topic AND the type of resource you plan to prepare.
Sign up - Send Nancy an email at nancyc@bptmn.org listing the topic AND the type of resource you plan to prepare.
Reminders
Reminders
Logging Hours
Logging Hours
If you attended the Field Trip to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center, enter it in VMS as:
Opportunity: Init Training - Field Trip (A) if it was your 1st, (B) if it was your 2nd, (C) if it was your 3rd
Date: April 4, 2026
Hours: 2.5
Description: class field trip to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center with Stephanie LoSoya
If it was your 4th or more field trip, log it as:
AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-approved Training
Date: April 4, 2026
Hours: 2.5
Description: ADDITIONAL class field trip to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center with Stephanie LoSoya
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
Volunteers (VH) Opportunities
Volunteers (VH) Opportunities
Docents & Trail Guides at the Heard - contact Laura Ragan at lragan@heard.org
Docents & Trail Guides at the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center - contact Stephanie LoSoya at stephanie.losoya@bpraptorcenter.org
Trail Guide at LLELA - contact Erin Piper at epiper@cityoflewisville.com
Community Engagement events - contact Tina Burke at tinab@bptmn.org
Youth Engagement Events - contact Lisa Travis at lisat@bptmn.org
Docents & Trail Guides at Hagerman NWR - contact Cathy Van Bebber at cathyvanbebber@gmail.com
Outdoor Education Instructor at Holifield Science Learning Center - contact Brett Taylor at brett.taylor@pisd.edu
See Chapter Calendar for MANY other AT and VH opportunities
"Extras" - additional information presented during class
"Extras" - additional information presented during class
Other Resources
Other Resources
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
Meet at the Science Resource Center at the Heard Museum
Week TEN: Wednesday, April 8, 2026
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Class meets IN PERSON
WEEKLY CLASS UPDATE
WEEKLY CLASS UPDATE
WEEK TEN CLASS UPDATE
I hope you enjoyed George's class as much as I did. When you're out driving, take pity on the "out of sync" squirrels and slow down. 🙂 You can see all of the links from the rotations and class presentation in the "extras" section at the top of the Plants class webpage.
Notes from Last Night:
End-of-Class Presentations & Projects:
Take a look at the End-of-Class Presentations section of the Week 10 webpage. You can see a detailed description for each of the three options and some examples. The presentations are optional, but you can earn VH for all of the time you spend preparing and presenting. If you want to sign up, send me an email with your topic choice and which type of project you plan to do: live presentation, recorded presentation, or educational project (brochure, etc). Let me know your topic BEFORE you begin working on your presentation or project.
Field Trips:
As part of your certification training, you are required to attend 3 field trips. There are only 3 dates left on the calendar so please make arrangements to attend.
ListServ:
How to Sign-Up:
Add your name and email address to the designated boxes
Select your subscription type. NOTE: With a regular subscription, you will receive individual postings immediately as they are processed. With a digest subscription, you receive larger messages with a collection of individual postings at regular intervals.
Select the “Subscribe” button and begin receiving emails!
If you're planning to attend the annual meeting, you need to choose the REGULAR subscription.
Highlighted Volunteer Opportunities:
Grow Out Team - if interested, contact Paulette at paulette.platko@gmail.com
Heritage Farmstead - 1st & 3rd Thursdays, 4th Saturdays, 8:30-10:30am; look on chapter calendar for details & contact info
Blackland Prairie Raptor Center Field Trip Day - April 8th, 9:15am-1:30pm; email marla.layne@bpraptorcenter.org
(Other events are listed further down in the email)
Week NINE: Mar 26-Apr 1
Pre-Work:
Check out your pre-work for next week with Marla and Dave. I broke the long video into 2 smaller ones, but don't be daunted by the length of the videos. Craig is a great presenter and the information is really good. Peter's handout is also chock full of great information.
Make sure that you complete your topic research and interpretation worksheet prior to class. Your pod will be pooling all of its shared research into one presentation for the class. We've given you a worksheet example in the pre-work.
Events This Week:
Field Trip to Blackland Prairie Raptor Center
Saturday, April 4th
12:00-2:30pm
1625 Brockdale Park Rd, Allen 75002
(Do not put Blackland Prairie Raptor Center in your GPS! Navigate to Brockdale Park)
Park in the gravel lot and make your way to the picnic tables near the entrance.
Please arrive early to park and settle in,12:00pm is late.
Wear your nametag, outdoor walking shoes and dress for the weather.
If your plans change, don't forget to update the SUG.
Make sure to monitor your inbox through Saturday morning for a possible rainout of the BPRC field trip.
Events Next Week:
Field Trip to Frisco Commons Park
Saturday, April 11th
10:30-12:30pm
8000 McKinney Rd, Frisco 75034
Meeting spot TBD - stay tuned
Please arrive early to park and meet up,10:30am is late.
Wear your nametag, outdoor walking shoes and dress for the weather.
If your plans change, don't forget to update the SUG.
Looking Ahead on the Calendar:
Heritage Farmstead Native Plant Beds Construction Project (VH event)
April 17th, 18th, and 19th
8am-noon, come & go when you can
Sign up here
Monarch View Park Planting (VH event)
Saturday, April 18th
9am-noon
Sign up here
City Nature Challenge (VH event)
Friday, April 24th - Monday, April 27th
TONS of iNat activities in our area that weekend so go ahead and pencil the dates on your calendar.
Join the iNaturalist CNC group for DFW here. You can see general CNC info here.
Mothing Events (VH or AT)
No registration needed, just show up.
Saturday April 25 Frisco Commons
Sunday April 26 Heard Museum
Friday May 8 Erwin Park
Friday May 22 Hagerman NWR
Saturday May 30 Brockdale Park
Saturday June 6 Breckinridge Park
Saturday June 20 Oak Point Park
Saturday July 18 Spring Creek Forest Preserve
Saturday July 25 Heard Museum
Saturday September 12 Connemara
Interested in joining the Moth Squad? Contact Rick at travisfam2@yahoo.com
Project WILD Training (AT event)
Saturday, May 1st
10am-4pm
Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA)
Until April 1st, registration is open just to chapter members. On the 1st, it will open to the public.
Field Trip to Parkhill Prairie
Saturday, May 2nd
9:00-11:30am
17109 CR 668, Farmersville 75442
Please arrive early to park and get ready,9:00am is late.
Wear your nametag, outdoor walking shoes and dress for the weather.
If your plans change, don't forget to update the SUG.
Stiff Creek Wildflower Walk (AT status is TBD)
Saturday, May 2nd
9:00am-1:00pm
4545 CR 412, McKinney 75071
Hayride transportation and brunch potluck
Native Plant Society of Texas members assist with native wildflower ID
Sign up information will be given later this month. For now, just note the date on your calendar.
Helpful Links:
See you next week,
Nancy
Nancy Casillas, Training Director
Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter
nancyc@bptmn.org
214-725-2309
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