Prairie Ecology & Soil Science -- April 23, 2025

The Blackland Prairie Ecoregion: Read pp. 142-145 in textbook. 

Brandon Belcher, Preserve Manager for the Nature Conservancy and Lorelei Stierlen, BPTMN Class of 2014

Read Brandon's BIO 

Read Lorelei's BIO

1. Reading:

Read pp. 20-42 from the intro section of Flora of North Central Texas. It has lots of good information that ties in with other classes, so highlight, make notes, etc. 

Take the open-book QUIZ over the reading material above. (Please do refer to the reading material as you take the quiz! We don't expect you to have memorized all that information.)

NOTE: The full Shinner's and Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas is available as downloadable, searchable PDFs

"Islands of Grass" TPWD magazine article

"A Prairie in Pieces" TPWD magazine article

2. Watch these four videos and complete the questions

"Last of the Blackland" featuring Brandon Belcher (5:18)

"The Blackland Prairie Ecoregion" by TPWD (5:34)

Little Bluestem (1:22)

Lorelei on Soil (22:01)

Optional Activities

You can read all of Chapter 4 (this week or in a later week) take the optional quiz  on Texas Ecoregions.

Additional video:

Features for Identifying Grasses (11:08)

Wear footwear and clothing appropriate for playing in the dirt outside (maybe mud too).

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 11   

Date: April 16, 2025   

Hours: 3.0     

Description: Aquatic Systems with Dr. Fouad Jaber

If you are working on a presentation, log your preparation hours in VMS

      Opportunity:  BPTMN:  Community Presentations
      Date: (date of your preparation work)
      Hours:  (actual hours of preparation or presentation, to the nearest quarter hour)
      Description:  (describe what you did and its purpose) example: Preparation for presentation: "First Steps in Tree ID" to be presented on May 7 to the 2025 Class

If you attended the Field Trips to Chalk Hill Farm 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

Advanced Training (AT) Opportunities

• See the chapter calendar for events

Volunteer Service (VH) Opportunities

These prairie restoration projects are listed on the chapter calendar. Check their listings for event details and information.

• Blackland Prairie Raptor Center - Prairie & Trail Maintenance, Wednesdays and Fridays, 9am-noon

• Connemara Meadow Preserve Restoration, Sunday-Friday each week, 9am-12pm

• Erwin Park Prairie Restoration, Mondays, 9am-12pm

• Wylie Prairie Restoration, Thursdays, 9am-12pm - on hold until a new project manager is found

• Clymer Meadow Preserve - 3rd Wednesdays, 9am-1pm

• Collin College Farmersville Prairie Restoration - 3rd Saturdays, 8:30-11:30am

• Clymer Meadow featured on TPWD TV episode

• Selah, Bamburger Ranch - National Geographic short film

• New Landowners Course - Texas A&M AgriLife

• Developing a Land Stewardship Plan for Your Property

• Center for Environmental Studies (Austin College) - website

• Learn About Clymer Meadow Preserve (The Nature Conservancy)  - video

• Lone Star Land Stewards (TPWD) - short video series

• Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute - website

• Texan by Nature - website

• Bob Mione's video about Connemara Meadow Preserve

WEEK TWELVE CLASS UPDATE