Weather & Climate -- April 15, 2026

Weather and Climate - Unit 8 In Your Textbook. Complete the (optional) quiz.

Dr. David Baker, Professor of Physics, Austin College and Adams Observatory Director

Read Dr. Baker's BIO

1. 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 10   

Date: April 8, 2026

Hours: 3.0     

Description: Interpretation with Dave Powell and Marla Layne

2. Complete your class feedback survey ASAP. Pleeeeeease...

3. Read Unit 8 in your textbook and complete the (optional) quiz.

4. Read this USFWS article about protecting endangered species in a changing climate

5. Watch this climate change video (9:45) and answer the questions

Optional Activities

After watching Pecos Hank's video on lightning (10:58), review the Lightning Types page on the NSSL website. 

Watch the video on cloud types (5:05)

Logging Hours

If you attended the Field Trip to Frisco Commons Park, 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 11, 2026

Hours: 2.0

Description: class field trip to Frisco Commons Park with Rick and Lisa Travis

If it was your 4th or more field trip, log it as:

AT: BPTMN: Other Pre-approved Training

Date: April 11, 2026

Hours: 2.0

Description: ADDITIONAL class field trip to Frisco Commons Park with Rick and Lisa Travis

Volunteer Service (VH) Opportunities

• See Chapter Calendar for approved opportunities

Advanced Training (AT) Opportunities

• See Chapter Calendar for approved opportunities

• AUSTIN COLLEGE WEATHER STATION

• My NASA Data - About the Biosphere - website & video

• The Complete Guide to Ten Cloud Types - From the What's This Cloud website

• NSSL on Lightning - website with photos

• How to Read Surface Weather Maps - National Weather Service (NWS) Jetstream website

• TexMesonet - Earth Observation data collection network

• Do cosmic rays cause lightning? - Article from Scientific American.

• Weather Resources from the American Meteorological Society

• Weather Underground (wunderground.com)

• WeatherBug - phone app, good for lightning alerts when you're hiking

WEEK ELEVEN CLASS UPDATE

Dave and Marla are hard acts to follow, but you guys did a fantastic job with your interpretive presentations. Always remember, the "Barred Owl Defense" doesn't work. 🙂

Notes from Last Night:

End-of-Class Presentations & Projects:

We've had a few people sign up, but there's room for more!

If you're thinking about a topic, but you're just not sure...talk to your pod Guides or chat with me or Lisa about it.

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. 

Highlighted Volunteer Opportunities:

Prairie Creek Wetland & Wildscape Workdays - 3rd Saturdays, 7:30-11am - contact Peter at petew59@gmail.com

Heritage Farmstead Construction Project - April 17, 18, & 19 and May 9, 10 - 8am-noon "come & go" SUG link

TMN Tuesdays for AT:

You can count the TMN Tuesday recordings from 2026 as AT hours. You're welcome to watch the other previous recordings too, they just can't count as AT.

Week ELEVEN: Apr 9 - 15

Pre-Work:

Check out your pre-work for next week with Dr. Baker. This is a light homework week. Enjoy it before the Entomology and Forest Ecology classes roll around. 🙂

Events This Week:

Field Trip to Frisco Commons Park

Saturday, April 11th

10:30-12:30pm

8000 McKinney Rd, Frisco 75034

Meeting spot  - small star on sidewalk entrance (restrooms on left)

Please arrive early to park and meet up. Remember that parking will be a real challenge with multiple events happening at the park. Overflow parking can be found at The Grove next door. Just park and walk over through the park.

Wear your nametag, outdoor walking shoes and dress for the weather.

If your plans change, don't forget to update the SUG.

Events Next Week:

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

Looking Ahead on the Calendar:

City Nature Challenge Events (VH event)

What to Bring: Smartphone with iNaturalist installed, water, sunscreen, namebadge, and comfortable walking shoes

How to Participate:

    Signup on the SUG

    Download the iNaturalist app

    Join the iNat project: BPTMN - City Nature Challenge 2026: Dallas/Fort Worth

    Take photos of wild plants and animals

Friday, April 24th

10am - noon  Stewart Creek Wetlands – Frisco

1 - 3pm   Arbor Hills Nature Preserve – Plano

Saturday, April 25th

9am - noon Brockdale Park / Blackland Prairie Raptor Center – Allen

4 - 6pm Frisco Commons Park – Frisco

7:30 - 10pm Evening Mothing – Frisco Commons Park – Frisco

Sunday, April 26

2:30-4:30pm Heard Natural Science Museum – McKinney

7:30-10pm Evening Mothing – Heard Natural Science Museum– McKinney

Monday, April 27

9am - noon Erwin Park – McKinney

1 - 3pm  Hoblitzelle Park – Plano

You can also participate independently anywhere in DFW and anytime from Friday, April 24th to Monday, April 27th.

Project WILD Training (AT event)

Friday, May 1st  

10am-4pm

Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA)

Registration link

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 event)

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

SUG link

Class Graduation Celebration

Wednesday, May 13th

6 - 9pm

Myers Park Event Center, McKinney

More details to come, just mark the date on your calendar for this fun evening!

Helpful Links:

Field Trip SUG

Class Snacks SUG

VMS login

Class Website

Chapter Website

Past Chapter Meeting videos

Volunteer Opps & How to Log

Texas Master Naturalist Listserv Sign-Up link

See you next week,

Nancy

Nancy Casillas, Training Director

Texas Master Naturalist, Blackland Prairie Chapter

nancyc@bptmn.org

214-725-2309