Announcements from the May 2023 Chapter Meeting

The Announcements

Upcoming Chapter Bylaws vote: note that at the June general meeting we will vote on adopting new bylaws from the state office.

Please view the full set of May announcements by clicking here. Further activities are listed on the chapter calendar. Opportunities and contacts, websites, and other details are available there.

Highlights of the Meeting

Environmental Conservation and Justice: A Community & Conservationist Partnership Story

Many thanks to Sherri Mixon, Executive Director at T.R. Hoover Community Development Center, and our own Kristi Kerr Leonard and Rebecca Posten for an engaging presentation on work in the Ideal+Bonton neighborhoods.

Rebecca and Kristi began with an overview of the area’s ecology and history, emphasizing the role of Ned Fritz in preserving the Trinity River and forest. They discussed the impact of redlining and flooding in Ideal+Bonton’s shift from a thriving neighborhood in the 1950s to one well into decline by the 90s.

In reviewing assistance efforts, they learned that there was often room for improvement in how volunteers approach the community. They also described their 2022 NTMN new class project, how it involved both work on the Buckeye Trail and community outreach. Kristi and Rebecca stressed this significant insight: that change in the neighborhood had been driven by the people in that community.

Sherri also discussed neighborhood decline, showing how continuing flooding drove residents away, leaving much of Ideal+Bonton vacant. Crime, lack of infrastructure and school closures became increasing problems.

Sherri described her mother, Ms. Jackie Mixon, as an organizer who readily engaged others to work together and fight for progress. Their neighborhood group evolved into a crime watch and then a non-profit, working with partners like Habitat for Humanity and Highland Park United Methodist Church. Together they saw over 55 homes and the T.R. Hoover Community Development Center built.

Sherri told about the impact of recent master naturalist community work in Ideal+Bonton. She discussed the importance of the new T.R. Hoover pollinator garden, bringing a bit of nature back to Bexar Street. The panel also covered the value of outreach events, seniors’ lunch and learn sessions and, especially, the contribution of the summer camp nature program led by Shelby Smith. Reaching youth with science education, hands-on in the classroom and on field trips, has had a very positive impact.

Ongoing challenges include continuing the work and involving more of the neighborhood, educating to remove barriers between the community and nature.

Sherri invites us to become more involved with the Ideal+Bonton community. She stressed that, above anything else we can bring, it is most important to give from the heart.

Going Deeper

T.R. Hoover Community Development Center
Bonton+Ideal: A Dallas Neighborhood Stories Film
NedFritz.com
Living with the Trinity Film

Thanks to our guests and members for participating in this month’s chapter meeting. I hope all feel welcome at NTMN.

Take care,
Scott Hudson
President
North Texas Master Naturalist

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September 30, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
October 1, 2025    
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Western Heights Cemetery Volunteer Day 1617 Fort Worth Ave. Callas, TX 75208 Contact lead: Van Johnson, vanindallas2@aol.com Every Weds, 9am  - 12pm, earlier during summer...
Leaf Your Yard Wild: What’s Happening Under Autumn’s Blanket? The Xerces Society spearheaded a social media campaign with the “leave the leaves” slogan. Essentially, they...
Name: Blacklighting at the Brookhaven Pollinator Garden Date and Time: Wednesday, October 1 8:45 p.m. to 11 p.m. (directly after chapter meeting) Location: Brookhaven Windmill Pollinator Garden Map...
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center || 1st Saturday Walk & Talk Bird Tour (AT) Saturday, October 4, 2025  ||  7:30am – 9:30am   CT Description:  Join...
October 4, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center || 1st Saturday Bird Walk   (AT) Saturday, October 4, 2025  || 8:30am – 9:30am   CT Description:  Join us for a morning...
The Moon and Nature at Night at Twelve Hills (AT) Saturday, October 4, 2025   7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Take a guided, full-moon walk and...
Greenbelt Guild of Eastwood Neighborhood Association||Tour of Native Grasses & How To Rewild A Meadow (AT) Sunday, October 5, 2025 || 2pm – 4pm   CT...
October 7, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
October 8, 2025    
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Western Heights Cemetery Volunteer Day 1617 Fort Worth Ave. Callas, TX 75208 Contact lead: Van Johnson, vanindallas2@aol.com Every Weds, 9am  - 12pm, earlier during summer...
LLELA || 2nd Saturday Bird Walk (AT) Saturday, October 11, 2025  ||  7:30am  – 9:30am   CT Description:  Birders of all skill levels are welcome to...
October 11, 2025    
8:00 am - 11:00 am
Event Name: Trail Maintenance Date/Time: Every Second Saturday of the month from 8am to 11am. Except for July and November. Address: 367 Freeport Parkway, Coppell, TX 75019...
Event Name: Paschall Park Butterfly Trail Fall Wildflower Workday and Tours Date/Time: Saturday October 11, 2025, 8am - 930am - Fall Wildflower project workday 93am-...
October 11, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
Heard Museum || 2nd Saturday Bird Walk (AT) Saturday, October 11, 2025 ||  8am – 9:30am CT Hosted by the Heard & offered by volunteers...
Friends of Oak Cliff Parks || Tree ID Walk- (AT) Sunday, October 12, 2025 || 10am – 12noon   CT Our guide is Chris Morris The...
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center || Guided Tree ID Walk   (AT) Sunday, October 12, 2025  || 11am – 12:30am   CT Description:  Join us for a guided...
October 14, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
October 15, 2025    
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Western Heights Cemetery Volunteer Day 1617 Fort Worth Ave. Callas, TX 75208 Contact lead: Van Johnson, vanindallas2@aol.com Every Weds, 9am  - 12pm, earlier during summer...
Heard Museum || 3rd Thursday Bird Walk (AT) Thursday, October 16, 2025 ||  8am – 9:30am CT Description: 3rd Thursday Bird Walks in the Heard...
Event Name: Paschall Park Butterfly Trail Workday (VH) Date/Time: Friday October 17, 2025, 8-10am Address: Paschall Park Butterfly Trail, 1001 New Market Road, Mesquite, 75149...
Trinity River Audubon Center || Morning Bird Walk (AT) Saturday, October 18, 2025  ||  7:30am  – 9am   CT Description:  Join us for a monthly bird...
Project site name changed to Prairie Creek Marsh and Wildscape (formerly Canyon Creek) Monthly workday 1001 G. Bush Freeway ( Hilton Garden Inn) Every third...
October 18, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center || 3rd Saturday Guided Boardwalk Tour (AT) Saturday, October 18, 2025 ||  9:00 AM – 10:30 AM    CT Description:  As...
Laura W Bush Native Texas Park || Guided Walk (AT) Saturday, Oct 18, 2025  ||  10:00am –11:00am  CT Join us for a free guided tour...
October 19, 2025    
9:00 am - 11:00 am
LLELA || Thrive Nature Walk –(AT) Sunday, October 19, 2025 | 9am – 11am   CT Description:  Sights of plants and wildlife, smells of fresh air...
Friends of Oak Cliff Parks  ||  Paw Crawl Nature Hike- (AT) Sunday, October 19, 2025 ||   10am – 12noon   CT Our guides are Roger Bolen...
October 21, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
October 22, 2025    
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Western Heights Cemetery Volunteer Day 1617 Fort Worth Ave. Callas, TX 75208 Contact lead: Van Johnson, vanindallas2@aol.com Every Weds, 9am  - 12pm, earlier during summer...
Prairie & Timber Audubon Society Field Trip || Clear Creek (AT) Saturday, October 25, 2025  ||  7am – 10am   CT Target Birds: Passerine migrants Leader:...
October 25, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
Laura W Bush Native Texas Park || Guided Walk (AT) Saturday, Oct 25, 2025  ||  10:00am –11:00am  CT Join us for a free guided tour...
October 25, 2025    
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Tandy Hills Prairie Sky/Star Party (FYI) Saturday, October 25, 2025   7:00 PM or after dark The Fort Worth Astronomical Society presents their Saturday star party...
Trinity River Audubon Center || Sunday Morning Bird Walk (AT) Sunday, October 26, 2025  ||  9am  – 10am   CT More Info & to register:  https://trinityriver.audubon.org/events/sunday-morning-bird-walk-11...
October 28, 2025    
8:00 am - 10:00 am
Name: Friends of Oak Cliff Workday Date & Time: Every Tuesday and Saturday 8am-10am Location: One of the three parks in Oak Cliff: Kidd Springs,...
October 29, 2025    
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Western Heights Cemetery Volunteer Day 1617 Fort Worth Ave. Callas, TX 75208 Contact lead: Van Johnson, vanindallas2@aol.com Every Weds, 9am  - 12pm, earlier during summer...
John Bunker Sands Wetland Center || 1st Saturday Walk & Talk Bird Tour (AT) Saturday, November 1, 2025  ||  7:30am – 9:30am   CT Description:  Join...
Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center || 1st Saturday Bird Walk   (AT) Saturday, November 1, 2025  || 8:30am – 9:30am   CT Description:  Join us for a morning...
Heard Museum || Guided Trails (AT) Saturday, November 1, 2025  |  9:30am – 10:30am CT Description: Experience the ecology, geology, flora and fauna of the...
Laura W Bush Native Texas Park ||  Guided Walk (AT) Saturday, Nov 1, 2025  ||  10:00am –11:00am  CT Join us for a free guided tour...
Event Name: Paschall Park Butterfly Trail Tours and BioBlitz Date/Time: Saturday November 1, 2025, 2-4pm Address: Paschall Park Butterfly Trail, 1001 New Market Road, Mesquite,...
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