Volunteers as Teachers -- April 9, 2025

Volunteers as Teachers: Interpretation - Unit 23 in your textbook. Optional guided reading page

Chris Ulch, BPTMN Class of 2022

Read Chris's BIO

1. Look over Unit 23 in your textbook. Optional guided reading page

2. Watch the video (63:36) and complete the reflection question

NOTE: This is a relatively long video, but it's an excellent, inspiring presentation, so the time spent is well worth it! 

3. 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.

4. 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

Snack Sign-up

You can see the list of snack sign-up counts below. If you have not signed up yet, please help out HERE. (Each trainee was asked to sign up for 2 dates.)

April 9th - 8 of 9

April 23rd - 6 of 9

April 30th - 6 of 9

May 7th - 1 of 9

Field Trip Sign-up

Access the Sign-Up Genius here

Logging Hours

*Make sure that you have recorded last week's attendance in VMS.

(If you missed class, contact your pod guides to schedule a make-up.)  

Opportunity: Init Training-Class 9    

Date: April 2, 2025

Hours: 3.0 

Description: Entomology with Molly Keck

If you attended the Field Trips to Holifield or LLELA, enter it in VMS. 
      Opportunity: IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST FIELD TRIP, LOG IT AS:  Initial Training: Field Trip (A)

 IF IT IS YOUR SECOND FIELD TRIP, LOG IT AS:  Initial Training: Field Trip (B)

 IF IT IS YOUR THIRD FIELD TRIP, LOG IT AS:  Initial Training: Field Trip (C)

Date: date you attended
Hours: 2.5
Description: Class Field Trip to enter name of location

IF YOU HAVE ALREADY COMPLETED YOUR THREE FIELD TRIPS, Log as Advanced Training

Opportunity: AT: BPTMN Other Pre-approved training  

Date: date you attended

Hours: 2.5     

Description: ADDITIONAL Class Field Trip to enter name of location

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 Marla Layne at marla.layne@bpraptorcenter.org

• Trail Guide at LLELA - contact Erin Piper at epiper@cityoflewisville.com

• Community Engagement/Public Outreach events - contact Marla Layne at marlal@bptmn.org

• Youth Outreach events - contact Cali Bakker at calistabakker@gmail.com

• 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

WEEK TEN CLASS UPDATE

It’s hard to believe, but we are in the final countdown now! Including this upcoming week, we have only four more regular classes!

• Week 10: Interpretation - Volunteers as Teachers

• Week 11: Aquatic Systems ZOOM

• Week 12: Prairie Ecology

• Week 13: Forest Ecology

Remember, you must complete twelve of our thirteen classes in order to complete your training. (Herpetology class was rescheduled and made optional) If you have missed any classes and haven’t made them up, please contact your Guides or Rhonda Sanchez at rhonda_sanchez@hotmail.com right away to make plans for making up these classes.

Week 14: Our final week will be a special class! No pre-work, although some of you will be busy preparing your final End-of-Class projects! 

BONUS: If you have attended (or made up) twelve classes, you will be able to count this final class as three hours of AT!

May 15: Graduation Our graduation will be held at Myers Event Center, at 6:00 PM. This night is all about celebrating YOU, the class of 2025. It is lots of fun, and you are welcome to bring guests: spouse, parents, children, friends. We’ll have an RSVP sign up for graduation in a couple of weeks.

Week Nine leftovers:

I've added links to Molly's presentations and the mothing dates on the Resources page of the class website. Just scroll down to "Week Nine extras".  I added the insect-related VHAT opportunities list I shared in the zoom to week nine's webpage.

Week Ten - April 3-8:

Chris outlined the research portion of your pre-work when he visited our Zoom last night. Make sure to complete all of the activities prior to class and bring your completed interpretation worksheet with you.

Volunteer Opportunity:

LLELA has created a document that lists all of their volunteer opportunities and how to get involved. I've attached it to this email.

Helpful links:

Field Trips SUG

Snack Sign-up SUG

End-of-Class Presentations & Projects SUG

VHAT calendar

Class of 2025 calendar

Upcoming Events:

FT: Holifield Science Learning Center

Friday, April 4th

10am-noon

FT: LLELA Nature Preserve

Saturday, April 5th

9-11:30am

Chapter Meeting

The Joy of Flies with Laura Kimberly

Tuesday, April 8th

7:00pm

FT: Chalk Hill Farm – rescheduled

Thursday, April 17th

9-11:30am

New SUG slot

City Nature Challenge BioBlitzes

Friday, April 25 to Monday, April 28th

SUG link coming soon

For all field trips, use the SUG attachments for directions and info. Dress for walking/hiking outside and wear your nametag. Make sure to plan for the weather and monitor your inbox for updates.

If your plans change, update the SUG. Need help? Use these instructions. If all else fails, send an email.

See you next week at the Heard,

Nancy

Nancy Casillas, Training Director

Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter

nancyc@bptmn.org

214-725-2309