WEEK 12: April 17 - 23
Prairie Ecology & Soil Science -- April 23, 2025
This Week's Topic
The Blackland Prairie Ecoregion: Read pp. 142-145 in textbook.
Our Expert on Stage
Pre-work - Must be completed by class time
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
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)
Bring to Class
Wear footwear and clothing appropriate for playing in the dirt outside (maybe mud too).
Reminders
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
Volunteer and Training Opportunities
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
Other Prairie Ecology Resources
Selah, Bamburger Ranch - National Geographic short film
New Landowners Course - Texas A&M AgriLife
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
CLASS MEETING INFORMATION
Meet at the Science Resource Center at the Heard Museum
Week TWELVE: Wednesday, April 23, 2025
6:00 - 9:00 PM
Class meets IN PERSON