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Alamo Area Chapter www.txmn.org/alamo Volume 15 No. 9
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
September, 2011
By Liz Robbins
AAMN Class #29
On Thursday, September 8, at high noon, the 29th Master Naturalist class will meet at the Texas AgriLife classroom. Please come out and welcome our newest trainees and share your favorite dessert or side dish with the trainees and members present. The snack break will begin approximately at 1:30 PM. Contact Nancy Brown at nan.bro@att.net for more information.
2012 Executive Board Elections
The election for the 2012 AAMN executive board members is scheduled for the November 8th general membership meeting at the Texas AgriLife classroom beginning at 7:00 pm. Like all years, 2012 will have its own unique challenges and triumphs for our chapter. Being involved as an AAMN executive board member is a great way for you to share your skills and expertise in guiding our chapter through these challenges and triumphs. Please consider sharing your time in one of these AAMN chapter leadership roles. To learn more about the role of each position, visit the online bylaws and chapter operating handbook at (http://txmn.org/alamo/chapterbusiness/). If you would like to serve as board president, vice-president, secretary or treasurer, please contact the nominating committee by Wednesday, September 28th. Chair: Anton Hajek at tonyhajek@yahoo.com or Committee Members: Ron Tullius at rvtullius@sbcglobal.net or Wendy Thornton at wendymsw@hotmail.com. The names of all members wishing to run for an executive board position will be published in the October newsletter. In addition, if you would like to have a short bio published in the October newsletter, please contact David Reichert at reichert@satx.rr.com by Wednesday, September 28, 2011. As always, on the day of the election, nominations for executive board member are accepted from the floor.
Updating Membership Roster
The Board of Directors and appropriate committees are still working with our state sponsors to ensure that AAMN meets requirements to qualify for state liability insurance and funding. Needless to say, the Master Naturalist program has grown tremendously over the past few years and with that growth have come new responsibilities for our chapter and the state program. In the coming weeks you will receive information either via email or postal service, concerning the updating of the background check for members, active versus inactive membership, membership dues and reporting of hours.
Memorials
In loving memory of our Master Naturalist members who have recently passed away, we thank their families for sharing their loved ones with us and the Master Naturalist program. We also wish to thank the members who provided this information so that we could share it with you. Class # 3 Michael Laurence Mitchell http://www.boernestar.com/obituaries/article_06e545d6-b709-11e0-ad95001cc4c002e0.html#.TlU2r2v41qw.email
Class # 5
Rebecca Yoder
Class # 8
Pat J. O'Brien
http://www.boernestar.com/obituaries/article_5b497eb4-c9d6-11e0-93c0001cc4c03286.html#.TlU17mSn6uw.email http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Patricia-O% 27Brien&lc=7474&pid=152840665&mid=4763376&locale=en_US
Class # 23
Gary Trede
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sanantonio/obituary.aspx?n=gary-trede&pid=153269366&fhid=5701
Board Meeting September 13th 5:30 p.m. AgriLIFE Extension Classroom #208 General Meeting 7:008:00 p.m. AgriLIFE Extension Classroom #208 3355 Cherry Ridge San Antonio, TX 78232
President Liz Robbins srobbins@gvtc.com 830-336-2778 Vice-President Linda Gindler ljgindler@earthlink.net Treasurer Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net Secretary Barbara Harder bdjharder@sbcglobal.net
Immediate Past President Anton Hajek tonyhajek@yahoo.com
NEWS FROM THE BOARD COMMITTEES Projects to be reviewed for approval as a Master Naturalist activity must be submitted on the Submission for Activity Approval form before the event. Forms can be obtained by contacting Pamela Ball, pball12@satx.rr.com, or from the AAMN website at: http://txmn.org/alamo/jointhe-alamo-chapter/activity-approval-form/
PLEASE REPORT YOUR HOURS ! ACTIVATE YOUR 2011GOOGLE DOCS ACCOUNT TODAY Reporting hours is easy on Google Docs or with the EXCEL spreadsheet form that was developed for e-mail submission or for mailing in your hours. The Excel spreadsheet form is available for download at AAMN Volunteer Hours Log . Google Docs is quicker and easier.
Where to report your hours by mail or e-mail: Last names A-H Last Names I-M Last names N-Z Nancy Thoss Howard Homan Ling Yin Liu 1610 Forest Spring 1218 Olympic Club 4946 Dare Lane San Antonio, TX 78232 San Antonio, TX 78260 San Antonio, TX 78217 nthoss1610@yahoo.com hhoman@satx.rr.com ling.liu@sanantonio.gov John Wolcott, jwolcott@satx.rr.com, & Roy Yarnold, royyarnold@sbcglobal.net, have not only volunteered to assist you with this effort but also serve as the clearing-house for information regarding reported hours, hours that have vanished and those that have gone unreported. ‗One of a kind‘ certification pins are awarded each year to those who achieve eight hours of advanced training and 40 hours of volunteer service. This year that pin is a Horned Lizard. Milestone dragonfly pins are also awarded for 250, 500, 1000, 2500, and 5000 VSH.
MONTHLY MEETINGS Meetings Approved for Advanced Training
September 13th Meeting A lean month for awards, must be AgriLIFE Extension Classroom #208 tooooooo hot. The following have earned Conservation Along the Gulf Coast awards this month: Mr. Mark Dumesnil‘s talk will focus on restoration Name Class Award efforts by the Nature Conservancy along the Gulf Coast including seagrass protection, oyster reef Ben Lewis 27 Dragon Fly restoration, and colonial nesting bird island restoraMarti Nordstrom 28 Dragon Fly tion using a variety of conservation strategies. Speaker Biography Richard Adams 27 Horned Lizard Sue Mellard 28 Horned Lizard October Meeting Susan Morgan 28 Horned Lizard Patrick Boyer, Land Conservation Manager for Nancy Phillips 20 Horned Lizard Green Spaces Alliance of South Texas, will speak about conservation easements as a way to conserve Howard Homan 26 250 Hours and preserve large sections of land. Conservation easements are a voluntary legal arrangement beNancy Phillips 20 500 Hours tween landowners and a nonprofit to conserve land. They may provide various tax benefits to the landIf I have missed someone or you have owner, and they can ensure that lands are able to questions or concerns about the Google process, don‘t hesitate to contact me. John stay in the family and that natural resources are protected. The City of San Antonio‘s Aquifer ProWolcott, membership chairperson jwoltection Initiative is a public program that uses concott@satx.rr.com or 210-497-4365 servation easements to protect land areas sensitive to the Edwards Aquifer. That program has already PHOTOS PHOTOS PHOTOS protected 100,000 acres and is about to protect anancy Phillips is working on a proother 100,000 acres after recently being renewed by ject that will display all the wonvoters in San Antonio. derful things our members are doing out in the community. Send your photos, AAMN Documents Online with captions when possible, to At: AAMN Documents anrjp1@aol.com. Photos are also Access important chapter documents including byneeded for the web & facebook. laws and minutes online. 2
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Activities Information Chair Pam Ball pball12@satx.rr.com Community Outreach Lissa Martinez lisa@satx.rr.com Historian Nancy Phillips anrjp1@aol.com Hospitality Chair Nancy Brown nan.bro@att.net Membership & Pin Awards Chair John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com Hours Submission Nancy Thoss nthoss1610@yahoo.com Howard Homan hhoman@satx.rr.com Ling Yin Liu Ling.liu@sanantonio.gov Media & Technology Chair David Reichert reichert@satx.rr.com Newsletter Editor reichert@satx.rr.com Calendar Frank Ballard fm4459@sbcglobal.net Web Pages Evelyn Penrod epenrod@gvtc.com Marketing Info & Materials Milly Alejos mildred.alejos@sbcgloball.net Programs Chair Jessica Leslie jleslie01@hotmail.com Education & Training Chair Pam Ball pball12@saxt.rr.com
Update Your Contact Info CLICK HERE to update your contact information. Just fill in the form and click SUBMIT.
Vol. 15, No. 9—September, 2011
Explore! Fall 2011 Week-day classes at Friedrich and Eisenhower Parks
Elementary classes - Targeting 1st – 4th grade All classes meet from 9:30 – 11:30 Explore! Ants Friedrich Park Sept. 13 or 15 Eisenhower Park
Sept. 19
Class 19 Cal Eichler 210-828-0833
Ants are everywhere and they have extremely diverse life styles and habits. Let‘s look at our local ants and see what food they prefer, learn a bit about the ants of the world and make a cool ant farm to take home with you. th th
Class 20 Suzanne Benavides & Palani Whiting
All classes meet from 12:30-2:30 Explore! Ant Architecture Friedrich Park Sept. 13 or 15
Class 21 Nancy Brown nan.bro@att.net & Wendy Thornton
Middle School classes - Targeting 5 – 8 grade
Explore the many lifestyles of ants and the structures that they make. There‘s a lot to be learned about hard work and cooperation! Try your hand at making a model of an ant nest and learn how to identify some local ants. Suggested donation: $5/child/session – maximum of $10/family/session Please dress for the weather. During most of the classes, we will be outside some!! Email peggy.spring@sanantonio.gov or call 210/564-6402 for information and reservations. www.sanaturalareas.org Approved for Volunteer Service Hours
6 Annual Wildscapes Workshop — Native Plant Society of Texas th
Fredericksburg Chapter, September 10th, 2011, 7:30am-3pm Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 1800 North Llano Street For Registration Information, go To: https://www.npsot.org/Fredericksburg NATIVE GRASSES—NOT JUST FOR MOWING! Texas native grasses are beautiful and drought tolerant, useful and diverse, offering the home and professional gardener many practical options in size, shape and texture that are suited to any location and microclimate. Guest Speakers: Bill Neiman, Owner of Native American Seed, Junction, TX ―What on Earth will we do with the Texas Hill Country‖ With Bill, we will discover how our native grasses help sustain the uniqueness of this ecological treasure, the Texas Hill Country With few exploitable natural resources – agricultural land, oil or mineral deposits – much of the Edwards Plateau Hill Country remains in large, unbroken parcels. The Texas Hill Country region has been valued for its native rangeland grasses, abundant clean rivers and a variety of wildlife from the earliest Native Americans to current residents and tourists. Flo Oxley, Director of Plant Conservation, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, Austin “Got Grasses?” Join Flo for an intriguing look at some of our most overlooked wildlife resources, native grasses! We all know wildflowers are fabulous for wildlife gardens, but what do we know about grasses? Like native wildflowers, grasses provide habitat, nesting, food and shelter for a variety of wildlife, including some of our most beautiful butterflies and birds. John Snowden, Owner of Bluestem Nursery, Arlington, TX ―Wise Up! To Grasses as Ornamentals‖ Learn the ―how to‖ as John educates us on the effective use of water conserving, native ornamental grasses to both beautify our landscapes and promote natural habitat rehabilitation. Using native grasses for decorative purposes in our landscapes can be a challenge for those of us who are accustomed to growing flowers and small shrubs as ornamentals. But these droughttolerant, water conserving native ornamental grasses offer a wide variety of textures, sizes and shapes to do just that – ornament our gardens. Workshop Includes: Guest Speakers * Garden Tour * Catered Box Lunch * Native Plant Sale * Book Sale* Door Prizes * Raffle * Silent Auction * Exhibits An associated plant sale will offer many of the plants featured in the workshop presentations. For more information contact Beverly Allen at 830.997.8767 Approved for Advanced Training Vol. 15, No. 9—September, 2011
Class 22 Linda Painter Darst donlindadarst@msn.com & Jamie Daily jdaily8289@wildblue.net Class 23 Steve Guerrant Class 24 John Wolcott jwolcott@satx.rr.com & Susan Hunnicutt schunnicut@aol.com Class 25 & State Representative Ron Tullius 210-739-2566 rvtullius@sbcglobal.net Class 26 Dwight Henderson 210-496-5934 dwight10@hotmail.com Class 27 David Reichert reichert@satx.rr.com & Evelyn Penrod epenrod@gvtc.com Class 28 Joe Novy novyja@gmail.com & Phil Minor minorpa@hotmail.com
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Earth Native Wilderness School is pleased to announce our 9 month Wildlife Tracking Intensive program. The course will meet one weekend a month from September - May (Begins Sept. 24th) to study the incredible art and science of wildlife tracking. Based in Austin, the program will also venture out into West and South Texas with extended three day weekend tracking expeditions to Big Bend National Park in the fall and Laguna Atascosa NWR in the spring. The school will also be hosting a Cybertracker Track and Sign Evaluation for participants at the end of the program in June 2012. Program Topics Include: Identification of animal track and sign found in the field . Interpretation of gaits, and other behavior from track patterns . Aging tracks and sign . Ecological tracking to enable you to predict wildlife activity on a landscape . Trailing techniques for following animal trails . Observation methods that will help you locate and see more wildlife Please see the attached PDF flier for more information or visit: http://earthnativeschool.com/9-month-wildlife-tracking-i.html For core instructor biography - Dave Scott visit: http://earthnativeschool.com/instructors.html Dave Scott, Author/Environmental Educator, (425) 319-3685 www.EarthNativeSchool.com & www.SDavidScott.com Approved for Advanced Training
Tree adoption The scheduling of fall tree adoptions has begun… CD6 Fall Day for Pets: Saturday, October 22 from 10am – 2 pm (while supplies last) at the San Antonio Fire Academy, 300 Callaghan Spay/Neuter assistance 100 x 1-gallon trees (while supplies last) future shade for the pets BOOtanica: Sunday, October 23 from 10 am – 2 pm (while supplies last) at the San Antonio Botanical Garden Fun, games, and a costume contest 100 x 1-gallon trees (while supplies last) Please let me know who would like to volunteer so I can set up a schedule for the information booth that will include promotion of other programs/ events: i.e. Green Shade, Arbor Day, etc. It would be great to have at least two volunteers for each time slot (10am-12pm and 12pm-2pm). Michael Nentwich, City Forester, San Antonio, Parks & Recreation 5800 Old Hwy 90 W, San Antonio, TX 78227, 210-207-3108 Don‘t forget to ―Plant Trees San Antonio‖. http://www.sanantonio.gov/parksandrec/tree.aspx Looking for the right tree for your needs? http://texastreeplanting.tamu.edu/ Approved for Volunteer Service Hours
September 27 – 2-4pm. 30 Bugs Every Gardener Should Know Learn about the good, the bad, and the ugly bugs you‘ll come in contact with if you spend any time outside. This program will cover how to identify them (pictures and actual specimens will be shown), if they are bad, the damage they do, and how to manage or encourage them. Held at the Bexar County Extension Office, 3355 Cherry Ridge Suite 208. Please call or email Molly so she can get a head count. Molly Keck, Integrated Pest Management Program Specialist Texas AgriLIFE Extension Service, 210-467-6575 Check out my blog @ www.bexarento.blogspot.com Follow bugs on twitter: sanantoniobugs Approved for Advanced Training
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Government Canyon State Natural Area Hike the Canyon, Sat, Sept. 10th 8am – 12pm 12861 Galm Rd, San Antonio, TX (map) Join the Friends of Government Canyon and the Sierra Club for a jointly-led guided hike on one of the many trails at Government Canyon State Natural Area. Length of hike will range from 4 to 7 miles depending on the group. Open to ages 13 and over; minors must be accompanied by an adult; group size limited to the first 12 people; no pets please; Natural Area entrance fees apply. Dress appropriately and wear sturdy shoes for hiking over rough terrain; bring two liters of water and a snack. Meet at the Visitors Center by the rainwater harvesting tower; subject to cancellation. For more information and to confirm program, call (210) 688-9055, ext 291. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting
Explore the Canyon, Sept. 17, 8am-12pm Knowledgeable guides discuss the flora, fauna, natural and cultural history of this awesome natural area on this exploration. Length of walk and interpretive topic will vary, depending on the the group. Open to all ages, group size is limited to the first 12 people. Natural Area entry fees apply. Meet at the Visitors Center by the rainwater harvesting tower. For more information , call (210) 688-9055, ext 291. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours if Assisting
Grasses of South Central Texas Fri, September 9th & 16th, 9am – 12pm (map) SOL Center & Crown Ridge Canyon Natural Area, Grasses may be the most important and least understood of the plant families. Not only do they hold the soil in place and feed us, they perform many other functions in our ecosystem. What makes a grass a grass? What are its parts? How do you tell them apart? Come learn from THE grass expert, Dr. Floyd Waller. In this course you will gain familiarity with basic structure and morphology of grass plants and learn to identify the grasses found in our region. The first session, in the classroom at the SOL Center, will explain grass parts and the technical terms useful for using an identification manual. This session will include a short slide show. The second session takes place at Crown Ridge Canyon Natural Area to identify the grasses in the field. Patty Leslie Pasztor will assist with the field session. This course is ideal for all interested in learning our native grasses – both beginners and those more advanced. Publicity is co-sponsored by the Bexar Audubon Society. Instructor: Floyd Waller, Ph.D., grass taxonomist. Schedule: Two Fridays, September 9 and 16, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Tuition: $35 by September 2. Register early, limited enrollment. Enrollment: 12 minimum / 20 maximum. Payment may be made by check mailed to the SOL Center or by credit card if you call the Church Office. Call the SOL Center office (210-732-9927) if you have questions. Approved for Advanced Training
Vol. 15, No. 9—September, 2011
Where Do All The White-Winged Doves Go? By Jessica Leslie White-winged doves were originally in Mexico and the Texas Rio-Grande Valley region. In the last 20 years, white-winged doves have moved into most of the State and appear to be heavily concentrated in urban areas. Several questions have arisen, and a longrange study was designed to help answer some of these questions about life spans, breeding season, migratory habits, range of travel, mortality rates, etc. Are they staying in the cities? Do they migrate as they did in the past? What are their survival rates? Texas Parks and Wildlife is working with U. S. fish and wildlife service and with several neighboring states and Mexico. The Alamo Area Master Naturalists have been cooperating with Texas Parks and Wildlife for four years to aid with the study in Bexar County. Each year in May, under the direction of Wildlife Biologist Richard Heilbrun, Master Naturalists receive instruction in the trapping, handling and banding of white-winged doves. They are then licensed by the State to band doves. The trapping season begins on June 1 and ends on August 15 or earlier if all bands have been used before then. For the 2011 season,
there are 18 banders in Bexar County located in various parts of the city and county. Dove banders use a funnel trap baited with corn and black oil sunflower seeds to entice the birds to enter the traps. Banders then record information on the bird, noting injuries, if any, feather molt status, hatch-year or after hatch-year status, date, time, location where banded, etc. If it is recaptured or reported by a hunter, the data help to answer the questions pertaining to breeding habits, travel or migration habits, life span, etc. For the 2011 year, 1,852 white-winged doves were banded, and 370 doves were recaptured in Bexar County. Recaptures are those birds that were already banded. Their information is also recorded and used in the same way as if a hunter reported the bird. Each bird is banded (unless it is a recapture) and released, hoping that some hunter or other citizen will find the bird and call in the band number with location information and status of the bird. Hunters are the primary source of information about the birds, but some birds are reported by citizens or banders who may have recaptured them in their traps. What have we learned about the white-winged dove? Well, the verdict is still out on many of the questions. More retrieved birds are needed before definite conclusions can be drawn. But we can report some interesting facts. From 2007 through 2010, over 52,000 white-winged doves have been banded in the state of Texas. Of the 52,000 birds banded, only 2,177 doves have been recovered or reported , about a 4% return rate. Approximately 88% of the birds recovered were found in Texas, 10% were recovered in Mexico and the remaining 2% were recovered in El Salvador, Guatemala, Louisiana, New Mexico, Nicaragua, and Oklahoma. A few were of unknown location, and one bird was recovered at sea. Of the 52,000 banded birds, over 20,000 were after hatch-year birds (not born in the year banded or recovered), and over 30,000 doves were hatch-year birds (born the same year they were banded or recovered). 76% of the birds recovered had survived only one year since they were banded. 16% had survived 2 years, and only 2% had survived 3 years. The oldest white-winged dove ever recorded in Texas was 17 years old, and the oldest white-winged dove on record was banded in Arizona and was known to live for 21 years! The Alamo Area Master Naturalists have been instrumental in helping TPWD with this study. They have dedicated many hours toward the effort, not only in banding the doves, but also by making presentations to various groups, including the Junior Master Naturalists. So next time you see a white-winged dove, look at its right leg to see if it is banded. Chances are it was a Master Naturalist who banded it.
Bird Count/Survey, Sat, September 24, 8am – 12pm Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, 10750 Pleasanton Road, San Antonio, TX (map) Bird count/Survey is conducted every fourth Saturday. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, including a hat, long pants, closed-toe shoes. Wear sunscreen and bring water! We can even loan you binoculars if you need them. For more information, email us at mlac@audubon.org or call (210)628-1639. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours. A reminder: Docent Training continues. Vol. 15, No. 9—September, 2011
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WaterSaver Walks Fri, September 2 & Saturday, September 17, 10am San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl (map) Sponsored by the San Antonio Water System. Looking for ideas about how to have a beautiful landscape at your home AND conserve water? Wondering what plants grow best in San Antonio soils and are the most efficient water users? Get answers to your landscaping questions by joining San Antonio Botanical Garden Guides for a tour of the WaterSaver Garden exhibits. The tour includes information about planning, planting and maintaining your low-water use landscape year-round. WaterSaver Walks are free with Garden admission. Participants receive a FREE copy of the San Antonio Water System's Landscape Care Guide. For more info contact: Sasha Kodet sasha.kodet@sanantonio.gov (210)207-3270 Approved for Advanced Training
Beginning Bird Walk Sat, September 17, 9:00am – 10:30am San Antonio Botanical Garden, 555 Funston Pl (map) third Saturday of each month. Meet at Carriage House. Enjoy birds in native habitats at the Garden and check out our Bird Watch in the South Texas area. Our bird checklist is at www.sabot.org. Walks held on the third Saturday of the month. Free for SA Botanical Garden members; nonmembers $8/adult. 555 Funston. 207-3250. Approved for Advanced Training
NEISD has a program for fifth grade from September 26 through December 16. The program is held at John Knox Ranch, in Fischer (near Canyon Lake/ Wimberley). The students spend three days learning about nature, land management and outdoor recreation. I need people to work in various roles during these sessions. You are not expected to work the duration. Most of the slots involve a morning or an afternoon. You can sign up for as much as you like - a week, a month or even a day. The 5th grade Environmental Outdoor Education program is referred to as "camp." Another of our programs is the "Day of Observation" held at Honey Creek State Natural Area inside Guadalupe River State Park. Third grade students rotate through four activities from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM each day for most of October and March. We need people to present activities and/or to help set up the activities and work "behind the scenes". This is called the Honey Creek program. If you would like to volunteer, sign up to attend an informational and training meeting. After the meeting, you can select the days and times convenient for you to volunteer. (no commitment needed to attend) Your help and support is always appreciated, especially in these economically difficult times. Information and training dates: 5th grade Camp -Thurs. Sept. 8, 1:00 to 2:30 at John Knox Ranch. 3rd grade Honey Creek Program Wed Sept 14 or Sat Sept 17 9:30 to 12:30 at Honey Creek To sign up contact me at tplatz@neisd.net Ph: 210-407-0360 Directions/maps and additional information will be sent when you sign up. 6
Leon Creek Greenway. Every Tuesday this summer a group of dedicated members of the Balcones Satellite of the Texas Invaders have been flagging, girdling and eradicating invasives along the Leon Creek Greenway. The map shows the areas we have already completed. Most of the invasives we have removed have been chinaberries, although we found a gigantic stand of bamboo and some lantana camara. It‘s been hot but since we start and end early and have a paved path to follow our work has been easier. We welcome any new volunteers who would like to join us for two hours of invasive activity. Activities range from flagging invasive species to eradication activities to dragging cut specimens off the trail. No prior experience or invasive plant recognition expertise is required – just bring gloves and water and let us know if you are coming so we can have loppers and saws available for you. It‘s a great way to get in some of your AAMN volunteer hours. We anticipate that the major work on the Leon Creek Greenway will be complete early this fall. If you want to join us and get a weekly email with details and directions to which specific site we are working, contact lonnieshockley@satx.rr.com September schedule. 7:30 am – 9:30 am Leon Creek Greenway, September 13, 21. 28 Other sites regularly served by the members of the Balcones Satellite group include Madla Natural Area, Rancho Diana, and Headwaters Sanctuary. For information on the Headwaters Sanctuary, see information posted on page __ of this newsletter. Because we change locations of entry frequently and will cancel in the event of severe weather conditions (we should be so lucky to have to cancel due to rain!) be sure to email Lonnie (lonnieshockley@satx.rr.com) by 6 pm on Monday if you plan to join us. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours
Headwaters Workdays Please email Michelle Dangler, michelle.dangler@amormeus.org for information about First Friday workdays. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours
Vol. 15, No. 9—September, 2011
Cibolo Nature Center These events approved for Advanced Training &/or Volunteer Service Hours
Outdoor Classroom Guide Training Meeting Wednesday, September 7, 9 am - Noon, CNC Auditorium We need you! Please come to our spring Outdoor Classroom organization meeting and see if you would like to become a Trail Guide. Help us lead children in fun-filled educational activities that teach about natural systems and the importance of conserving our natural resources. No formal teaching experience necessary. Breakfast provided. Contact Mary Gomillion: 830-249-4616 or education@cibolo.org. Science in Nature, Saturday, September 10, 10 am – 2pm Cibolo Creek Elementary is partnering with the CNC for this year's event. Children and families will have a chance to learn about the natural world from scientists and science teachers with a variety of outdoor hands-on activities and learning opportunities designed for participants ages 7 and up. Activity stations will include Monarchs in Motion, All About Rocks, SKULLS, Bird Art, Old Shoe Planters, Birding for Kids, Recycled Crafts and more. Free and donations are welcome. Boerne Birders/ Family Birding Day/CNC Saturday, September 10, 8-10 am, Meet at CNC pavilion. Lead by avid bird watcher Jane Henry, this free outing is especially for families with children who have an interest in birding. Bring your favorite bird identification book and binoculars. If you are just getting started and need to borrow, we will have some to share. The group will check out the Visitor Center bird feeders, look for birds along Cibolo Nature Center trails and talk about the fall migration. For information, call 830-249-4616. Butterfly Identification Class/Survey Friday, September 16, 9 am -Noon (9-10:15 - classroom, 10:30noon - in field). CNC Auditorium $20 for members; $25 for Non-Members Learn to identify common butterflies of the Texas Hill Country with Tom Collins. He has documented the butterflies, birds, and other fauna of Riverside Nature Center and compiles the annual North American Butterfly Association count in Kerrville. This workshop will include a classroom presentation and time in the field. Attendees are encouraged to bring hat, water bottle, and binoculars. Reserve your space at 830-249-4616. Fall Grasses Workshop, Friday, September 23, 9 - 11 am Cost: CNC Members $20/person; non-members $25/person. Limited to 20. Pre-registration required. Call 830-249-4616. Bring your grasses and questions for grasses expert Dr. Floyd Waller! This program includes an easy walk to look at and learn about the numerous fall grasses growing at the Nature Center. Be sure to bring your hat, walking shoes, and a bottle of water. Texas Monarch Monitoring September 21 1 pm-5 pm ,September 22 9 am-4 pm , September 23 9 am- Noon, CNC Auditorium. Cost: $30 Pre-registration required. Call 830-249-4616. Volunteers for Texas Monarch Watch, Cibolo Nature Center and Texas Master Naturalists will present this MLMP Workshop. Learn how to conduct MLMP activities at your own local sites. This training will enable you to participate in monarch tagging, monitoring milkweed for monarch life stages and collaborating with international monarch research. Training is approved for credit for Master Naturalists. Vol. 15, No. 9—September, 2011
Our partner, the San Antonio River Authority, is sponsoring a number of public hikes and walks. If you have gone through SARA's training or are interested in doing so, please consider volunteering for one or more of the following activities: September 17 -- Mission Reach Phase 1 Guided Nature Tour September 27-29 -- Mission Reach REWIND field trips for McArthur High School Please contact Ron Tullius @ rvtullius@sbcglobal.net for more information or Matthew Driffill, SARA Education Specialist @ mdriffill@sara -tx.org to volunteer. Approved for Volunteer Service Hours Sierra Club monthly meetings. These meetings are scheduled for 6:30 PM the 3rd Tuesday of every month at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway (free parking garage). September 20, 2011. Matthew Driffill from the San Antonio River Authority. Presentation of the concepts and principles of ecosystems restoration as applied in the Mission Reach Ecosystem Restoration Project on the San Antonio River. The presentation will include history of this portion of the river, a definition of ecosystem restoration, goals of the project, and future use and development of the San Antonio River.
River Walk Garden Workday Volunteers are needed to cut, trim, and plant at the San Antonio River Walk Garden. Bring cutting tools such as shears, rakes, and clippers and also gloves and water for this workday. This is an AAMN project at the corner of Aubrey and Old Guilbeau on the Riverwalk. September 9, 9am-1pm Lan Eng (830) 980-2300 or lanbceng@gmail.com Approved for Volunteer Service Hours
Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation (WRR)
(map) WRR offers many volunteer opportunities. Volunteer wishing to work hands-on with animals need to attend an orientation. We hold orientations at 2 locations: one in San Antonio (137 Earl Street, 78212) and one in Kendalia (335 Old Blanco Rd, 78027). The SA orientations are on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month, the Kendalia orientations are on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays. Orientations begin at 10:00 am. Potential volunteers can fill out an application on the day of the orientation. It is requested that anyone attending an orientation first contact the Director of Outreach, Krystal Mathis, at krystalm@wildlife-rescue.org or by phone at 830-336-2725, x304. Those wishing to participate without working hands-on with animals can help in other ways. For those in the Master Naturalist progam, potential volunteers in the fields of diet preparation, gardening, landscaping, maintenance, and construction do not have to first attend an orientation. There are periodic group opportunities as well as daily individual or small-group opportunities. Anyone wishing to become involved should contact Krystal Mathis, using the information above. Approved for Advanced Training and Volunteer Service Hours
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