To view the announcements from the April 2025 Chapter Meeting, please click here.
To view the President’s Into Slides, please click here.
To view the President’s letter, with presentation slides and summary please click here
Chapter Meeting
Chapter Meeting – Wednesday April 2, 2025
Rain Gardens and Bioswales: Nature-based solutions for water quality and flood mitigation
Description:
An unfortunate effect of urbanization is the increase in impervious ground cover, including roads and parking lots which prevent water from soaking into the ground. Instead, water is either whisked away through hard drains or enters streams with high flow rates, causing increased erosion and streambank deterioration. Water quality also deteriorates as most pollutants are carried into surface water bodies. Fortunately, there are better, more effective ways to managing storm water and water quality: nature-based solutions such as rain gardens and bioswales. In this presentation, we will learn about nature-based solutions that can be integrated into urbanized areas to mitigate the impact of increased impervious zones on streams and creeks, including how to design and maintain them, and monitor performance. Understanding these solutions is not just helpful for our Master Naturalist projects, but also important for our work educating the public. Once you learn more about rain gardens and bioswales, you’ll never look at a parking lot or roadside the same way again!
Our Speaker:
Our speaker is Mr. Fouad Jaber, Ph.D., P.E. He is a Professor and Extension Specialist of the Biological and Agricultural Engineering Dept. of Texas A&M AgriLife. Professor Jaber received his Master of Science from the American University of Beirut and his PhD in Biological and Agricultural Engineering from Purdue University. He has also done post-doctoral research at the University of Florida.
Zoom Reservation Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_dHJ9y7I5T8mAEbt2Vdf3Ow
Schedule:
6:00 Come meet our special guest and get all your questions answered about Dallas Recycling
6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
7:00 Introduction and Announcements
7:20 Featured Presentation
8:45 Adjournment
6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
7:00 Introduction and Announcements
7:20 Featured Presentation
8:45 Adjournment
Join us in north Dallas at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, NOTE NEW LOCATION: Building X, Room 1091. (First Floor) Park in P6 or P7 (Brookhaven Campus map).
Or join us for a viewing party in south Dallas at Mountain View College, Building W, Room 282. (Mountain View Campus map).
Or join us for a viewing party in east Dallas at Eastfield College, Building C, Room 324 (Eastfield Campus map)
Chapter Meeting – Wednesday, March 5th, 2025
The Joy of Flies
Allograpta obliqua, Oblique hover fly, Family Syrphidae, Subfamily Syrphinae, Huntsville TX October 2023
Flies, taxonomically known as the Diptera, are colorful, elusive, beguiling, acrobatic, charming, and helpful. So, you ask, there’s more to flies than filth and bite? Yes! How would you know? Laura will guide you in a quest to find the joy of flies by taking a closer look at qualities across the wide diversity of the Diptera with an overview of dipteran life histories, feeding habits, and beneficial behaviors, and basic fly family identification. All that; so, you too can advocate for flies and their important ecological roles.
Our speaker, Laura Kimberly is a Texas Master Naturalist in the North Texas Chapter. Flies and other insects caught her attention and earned her appreciation as she worked to rescue, propagate, and plant native flowers and grasses as a prairie restoration volunteer. After completing the Texas A&M AgriLife volunteer entomology specialist training in 2017, she has pursued many opportunities, from podcasts to college courses, to learn more about the habits and habitats of flies and other insects. She is a community scientist and insect photographer who uses those skills to advocate for flies and extol the benefits of insects.
Zoom — register here. (If you are attending in person, you don’t need to register for Zoom.)Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xOsjyRKTSE6ln2ePymYyAg
Schedule:
6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
7:00 Introduction and Announcements
7:20 Featured Presentation
8:45 Adjournment
Join us at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Building H, Room 125. Campus map. Or participate via
NOTE: There is NO watch party at Dallas College Mountain View Campus for March due to scheduling conflicts. The watch party will resume in April at Mountainview.
Camera Roll:
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
Please bring snacks or food to share with others if you can!
Image descriptions or captions (provided for context and ADA compliance):
Image of a small fly with a yellow and black striped body, perched on the edge of a fuschia
flower.
flower.
Image of Laura Kimberly, a smiling woman with white hair and glasses,, wearing a purple
jacket over a lavender shirt.
jacket over a lavender shirt.
Announcements from the February 2025 Chapter Meeting
February Chapter Meeting / Awards Celebration Pot Luck
Join us on Sunday, February 2nd, 2025 from 5 to 7 PM at
TX AgriLife located at 17360 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX
January 2025 Chapter Meeting / First Day Hike
The January NTMN Chapter Meeting will take place at John Wilt’s Farm at 1127 Stacks Rd near Ennis, TX as a First Day Hikes with AT opportunities and a Pot Luck Lunch. Bring Food to share! Sign Up HERE.
Chapter Meeting Wednesday, December 4th, 2024
Green Shoots: Waking Up to a Natural Wisdom
(Iceland Fishing Village)
“To be surprised, to wonder, is to begin to understand . . . everything in the world is strange and marvelous to well-open eyes.” Jose Ortega Y Gasset
Periods of relative calm have encouraged patterns of human habitation that in recent times are coming into conflict with climate change. For eons our species responded to a changing environment, but, in our current awareness we are shocked when we stoically attempt to confront a constantly changing and dynamic bio-sphere.
We are and will always be in a timeless dance with the perpetually changing natural world. As an Architect, actively building living environments I was inspired by a recent visit to an Icelandic fishing village built around 1,000 CE. It gave me insight into mankind’s ability to adapt to a changing climate. The structures the Icelanders built utilizing available materials with incredible efficiency and an intuitive understanding of the brutally cold climate facilitated their ability to thrive!
My spiritual advisor, a shaman of the Lipan Apache tradition, taught me that there is “a spirit that moves through all things.” It is this earth power that is awakening our forgotten “nature knowledge,” the well spring of human progress.
With well-open eyes in quiet moments of thought and reflection, it is obvious to me, that Green Shoots are sprouting in every endeavor.
Our speaker will be Gary Gene Olp, FAIA, LEED Fellow
Gary Gene Olp, directs GGOArchitects, an acclaimed Dallas architectural studio dedicated to excellence in design and sensitivity to place and the environment. Established in 1987, GGOArchitects has secured 25 USGBC LEED certifications -many for local projects, including the first LEED Platinum certified home in Texas. His own home in Old Lake Highlands is an award-winning eco-friendly design. Known nationally for his work, Gary is committed to local civic involvement, including extensive work on the White Rock Lake Advisory boards and task forces.
Gary has provided a video to preface his talk that you can enjoy.
Meeting Information:
Schedule:
- 6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
- 7:00 Introduction and Announcements
- 7:20 Featured Presentation
- 8:45 Adjournment
Join us live at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Building H, Room 125. Campus map. Or participate via Zoom — register here
Add this to your personal calendar by going here and selecting “Add to Calendar”
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_1lX8tBm1SqKs5QEjlwhazg
(If you are attending in person, you don’t need to register for Zoom.)
Or join us in south Dallas at Dallas College Mountain View Campus for a watch gathering: Building S (Administrative offices), Room 1029. (Mountain View Campus map).
Note: It is best to enter the Mountain View campus from Duncanville Road; there is construction but you can park directly in front of the S building. Room 1029 is on the lower level, continue down past the administration areas and turn left once you see a Subway and go down short hallway.
Camera Roll:
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
Image descriptions or captions (provided for context):
Photo of an Icelandic Fishing Village
Photo of Gary Olp
Chapter Meeting Wednesday, November 6th, 2024
Navigating Transportation and Environmental Planning
Every year, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) plans hundreds of projects across the state. Behind the scenes, teams of archeologists, historians, environmental scientists, and engineers work together to address the needs of an ever-growing population. Join us for this presentation to learn how staff work to protect and preserve our natural and cultural resources while helping TxDOT deliver its mission of Connecting You with Texas.
Our speaker is Lauren Young, a native Texan and lifelong science nerd. While most kids dream of growing up to be a teacher, doctor, or superhero, Lauren chose the path of marine biology (crediting annual family trips to the Texas coast, Jacques Cousteau, Sylvia Earle, and The Little Mermaid). She received her M.S. in Biology from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, where she developed a lifelong obsession with Tex-Mex cuisine. Her 16 years of state service include TxDOT and TCEQ. She has been involved with the Texas Master Naturalist Program since 2015 and has logged over 2,000 hours of volunteer service. In her free time, she enjoys finding any excuse to be outdoors. She is enamored with bats, turtles, dogs, hippos, dark chocolate, music, and dad jokes.
Meeting Information:
Schedule:
- 6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
- 7:00 Introduction and Announcements
- 7:20 Featured Presentation
- 8:45 Adjournment
Join us live at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Building H, Room 125. Campus map. Or participate via Zoom — register here
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8f3T4Q6AR-a7EUAtuxyNKg
(If you are attending in person, you don’t need to register for Zoom.)
Or join us in south Dallas at Dallas College Mountain View Campus for a watch gathering: Building S (Administrative offices), Room 1029. (Mountain View Campus map).
Note: It is best to enter the Mountain View campus from Duncanville Road; there is construction but you can park directly in front of the S building. Room 1029 is on the lower level, continue down past the administration areas and turn left once you see a Subway and go down short hallway.
Camera Roll:
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
Image descriptions or captions (provided for context):
TXDOT Environmental Team surveying the land near a Texas highway
Photo of Lauren Young out in the field
Chapter Meeting Wednesday, October 2nd, 2024
Coyote Coexistence: Living in Harmony with America’s Song Dog
A lone coyote in a Dallas neighborhood
Coyotes are highly resilient creatures able to adapt to threats and acclimate themselves in almost every environment, including cities and suburbs. As a keystone carnivore, coyotes play a critical role helping to maintain healthy ecosystems and species diversity. This presentation will look at the current challenges coyotes face in a rapidly evolving human-centric landscape. We’ll examine the coyotes’ seasonal behaviors that often influence increased sightings and dispel some of the most common myths. In conclusion, we’ll discuss proactive methods we can use to help avoid negative encounters with coyotes.
Speaker Name: Karin and Robert Saucedo
Speaker Bios:
Karin Saucedo is a published wildlife conservation photographer born and raised in Dallas. She’s especially passionate about wild canids and felids and she spends a lot of her time studying wildlife behavior through observation and also remotely through camera traps. Karin’s images have been used to educate the public about coexisting with urban wildlife, to document wild canid field research and to create awareness about exotic animal ownership, breeding and exploitation. Most recently she’s been published in the book to accompany the film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story, by Ben Masters, and also Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas Fort Worth, by Amy Martin. Karin is the Texas State Coordinator for Project Coyote and works with The Canid Project as their Texas Outreach Representative. She’s been volunteering at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue for 13 years and serves on the Advisory Committee for Texas Native Cats. She’s a Texas Master Naturalist with the Blackland Prairie Chapter and is a Partner Photographer for Panthera.
Photography Website: karinsaucedo.com
Coyote Education and Awareness: songdogwatch.org
Instagram: @karinsaucedo
Roberto Saucedo is a life-long Texan, born and raised in El Paso and currently living in DFW. He has a background in creative marketing and has used that ability to hone skills in his passion for telling stories though wildlife & conservation photography. For the last 8 years, he has documented coyote behavior throughout north Texas through observation, photography and camera traps. Together with his wife Karin, Roberto serves on the Advisory Committee for Texas Native Cats and he also volunteers at In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue.
Photography Website: robertosaucedo.com
Coyote Education and Awareness: songdogwatch.org
Instagram: @rbtsaucedo
Meeting Information:
Schedule:
- 6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
- 7:00 Introduction and Announcements
- 7:20 Featured Presentation
- 8:45 Adjournment
Join us live at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Building H, Room 125. Campus map. Or participate via Zoom — register here
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/
(If you are attending in person, you don’t need to register for Zoom.)
Or join us in south Dallas at Dallas College Mountain View Campus for a watch gathering: Building S (Administrative offices), Room 1029. (Mountain View Campus map).
Note: It is best to enter the Mountain View campus from Duncanville Road; there is construction but you can park directly in front of the S building. Room 1029 is on the lower level, continue down past the administration areas and turn left once you see a Subway and go down short hallway.
Camera Roll:
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
As usual, show up or tune in between 6:30 and 7 pm for an array of photos by TMNs. Send your favorite photos to the Camera Roll.
Image descriptions or captions (provided for context):
Lone coyote in a Dallas neighborhood
Roberto & Karin Saucedo sitting in a field with their cameras waiting to spot a coyote at dusk.
Chapter Meeting Wednesday September 4th
The Ends of the World, Are We There Yet?
This meeting will be a survey of past mass extinctions and their causes along with comparisons to today’s conditions.
Our Speaker will be Dan Northcut
Dan Northcut in Iceland
Dan leading a group at 12 Hills Nature Preserve
Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UwugHSbYRiy2HFZPKTifCg
Schedule:
6:30 Camera Roll and Socializing
7:00 Introduction and Announcements
7:20 Featured Presentation
8:45 Adjournment
Join us at Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, Building H, Room 125. Campus map. Or participate via Zoom — register here. (If you are attending in person, you don’t need to register for Zoom.)
Or join us in south Dallas at Dallas College Mountain View Campus, Building S (Administrative offices), Room 1029. (Mountain View Campus map).
Note: It is best to enter the Mountain View campus from Duncanville Road; there is construction but you can park directly in front of the S building. Room 1029 is on the lower level, continue down past the administration areas and turn left once you see a Subway and go down short hallway.
Please bring snacks at 6:30 p.m. to share with others! (at both locations)