WEEK 10: Apr 3 - 9
Volunteers as Teachers -- April 9, 2025
This Week's Topic
Volunteers as Teachers: Interpretation - Unit 23 in your textbook. Optional guided reading page
Our Expert on Stage
Chris Ulch, BPTMN Class of 2022
Read Chris's BIO
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
Look over Unit 23 in your textbook. Optional guided reading page
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!
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
Your completed interpretation worksheet
Reminders
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
Volunteer and Training 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 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
Other Resources
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
Meet at the Science Resource Center at the Heard Museum
Week TEN: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Class meets IN PERSON
WEEKLY CLASS UPDATE
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:
End-of-Class Presentations & Projects SUG
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