Lost Pines Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist Program

Welcome to the Lost Pines Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist Program! You can learn more about our chapter and the Master Naturalist volunteer program here. If you are interested in joining us, or have questions about our activities, please use the contact form to get in touch with us. Members: please use the contact form to update your address, phone number, or e-mail contact information.

The Lost Pines chapter serves primarily Bastrop and Caldwell Counties of Central Texas. These counties are predominantly in the Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairie Ecoregions. In addition, our area includes the unique "island forest" of the Lost Pines, - the western most extension of the loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), separated by about 100 miles from the pine forests of East Texas. Species in the Lost Pines are particularly adapted to the drier conditions here, and provide unique habitat for varied flora and fauna which can be seen in Bastrop State Park and Buescher State Park and other nearby natural areas. You can learn more about what makes these parks so special and see pictures of them by visiting our "Discover the Lost Pines" page; you can also find many links to information about the native plants, animals and ecology of the Lost Pines region on our resources page.

Lost Pines Chapter, Texas Master Naturalist Meetings

Lost Pines Chapter at the 2007 TMN State Meeting
Buff-bellied hummingbird

Congratulations to Marsha Elrod for 1st place in the landscape photo category (photo by Vernon Berger)

Lost Pines Chapter members at the State Meeting; pictured are Marcy Youngman, Marie Medrano, Vernon Berger, Carole O'Toole, Rick Johnson and Marsha Elrod. Not pictured, Sue Arcy. (photo by Vernon Berger)

Chapter meetings generally alternate between the Bastrop State Park Refectory, Red Rock Community Center, and the Lockhart Extension Office, and are at 6:30 PM on the third Monday of each month. Most meetings feature an educational program (Advanced Training unless otherwise noted), and are open to members, prospective members, and the general public.

April 21; 6:30 P.M. - Mark Klym will give a presentation on the TPWD Nature Tracker volunteer program; Bastrop State Park Refectory.

May 19; 6:30 P.M., Red Rock Community Center. - Dan Hardy, vice-president of the Austin Butterfly Forum, will present a program on "Common Central Texas Butterflies." He will discuss identification of both the butterflies and caterpillars, as well as the specific relationships between each butterfly and its host plants.

June 16; 6:30 P.M. - Bastrop State Park Refectory; speaker and program TBA.

Advanced Training: Amphibian Watch and Mussel Watch, June 13-14. Learn how to identify amphibians and freshwater mussel species, and how to contribute to citizen science monitoring programs! The Lost Pines Chapter and LCRA-McKinney Roughs will host two workshops presented by the TPWD Texas Nature Tracker program at McKinney Roughs Nature Park (1884 State Hwy 71 West, Cedar Creek; between Austin and Bastrop) . On Friday, June 13, an Amphibian watch workshop will be held (4 PM to 10 PM). This will include both a class room session and night time field trip. Pizza and refreshments will be included. On Saturday, June 14, we will have a Mussel Watch workshop at 10 AM, also at McKinnney Roughs. This will include classroom training until 2:45 (sandwichs and refreshments included), followed by field work until about 5 PM (plan to wade). Pre-registration is required, enrollment is limited. Registration for either workshop is $18; if you register for both, the total fee is $35. Texas Master Naturalist Approved Advanced Training. SBEC and TEEAC credit available for educators. . Fee includes materials, refreshments and pizza on Friday/sandwich w/chips on Saturday. To register and for more information please contact Mark McClelland at (512) 281-5516 (evenings or weekends) or Mark McClelland. Click here to download a detailed PDF flyer. (696 kB)

2008 Lost Pines Chapter Officers

LPMN elected officers at the December chapter meeting. Our 2008 officers are:

President, Mark McClelland
Vice President, Louise Ridlon
Secretary, Kathy McAleese
Treasurer, Marie Medrano
Past President, Andy Butler
State Representative, Michal Hubbard

Discover the Lost Pines Interpretive Hikes (Spring and Fall)

Lead (or take!) a short interpretive hike through the Lost Pines of Bastrop State Park. Hikes are conducted at 10:00 AM on Saturday mornings, spring and fall. We will begin our Spring hikes Feb. 16, 2008, and need volunteers to lead hikes through May. For information on volunteering to lead a hike, or just taking a hike, click here.

Second Lost Pines Chapter Colorado River Float Trip

LPMN members and guests recently floated the 6 mile "El Camino Real" paddling trail downstream from Bastrop. We had fabulous weather, and despite an encounter with the "River of Doubt" by some of the group, we had a great time. There were numerous osprey, belted kingfishers, and lots of odonates and mussels to contemplate. For a photo gallery , click here,

National Volunteer Week Award

At our May meeting, Jamie Hackett, TPWD Lost Pines Parks interpretive ranger, awarded our chapter a framed certificate of appreciation in recognition of our ongoing volunteer efforts in the State Parks. This award was presented in the context of National Volunteer Week. Thanks to all chapter members who have volunteered in Texas State Parks!

Members: Take Credit For Your Volunteer Hours!

Please report your volunteer and advanced training hours each month, using the Volunteer Activity reporting form. Bring your report to the Chapter meeting, or send them to Marsha Elrod.

The NEW Volunteer Activity reporting form (Word doc, click here) is available for download. You can open the form and fill it out in Word-compatible software on your computer. Then e-mail back to Marsha Elrod, or fill them in by hand and send in by regular mail (187 Billingsley Hgts., Cedar Creek, Tx 78612). Don't have Word? Then download the Acrobat PDF Activity reporting Form, print and fill in. Bring the completed form to the monthly meeting, or mail to Marsha.

2007 training class

The Lost Pines Chapter introductory class for 2007 began Monday evening, August 13. This class provides participants with a minimum 40 hours of in-depth training in wildlife and natural resource management taught by recognized experts in the field, customized to our local ecoregions. You will also have the opportunity for advanced training in special subjects that interest you. In return, LPMN members provide our communities with volunteer service in the form of educational activities, stewardship projects, or demonstrations. Examples of volunteer activities include serving on a speakers bureau to make presentations to community organizations, serving as a guide for interpretive hikes in parks, monitoring plants or wildlife at a nature center, or leading youth educational activities. Our fall classes will be held on Monday evenings, with several Saturday field trips, through the fall. For more information aand a class outline, visit our Master Naturalist Training page.

Master Naturalist Class of 2006

Congratulations to the 2006 Lost Pines Master Naturalist Training Class for completion of their initial Master Naturalist training. Class members, back row, L to R: Mark McClelland, Bryan Estes, Jan Kuchel, Jim Miller, Susan Blair. Front row, L to R: Kathy McAleese, Jim Estes, Louise Ridlon, Della Smith, Frank Ridlon. Not pictured, Dick and Mary Whittington. (Photo by Mark McClelland).

Lost Pines Chapter Yahoo Group

Elaine has set up a Yahoo "Group" for the Chapter, at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LPMN/. If you subscribe to the group, you will get occasional emails about upcoming events, reminders of Lost Pines Chapter meetings, and be able to view a group calendar. You will also be able to send such notices directly to the group. Eventually, we will be able to develop a "members only" archive of Chapter documents, as well. To join, click the icon in the left panel of this page.

First Lost Pines Chapter Colorado River trip

On November 13,2005, 12 Chapter members, five guests, and our guide Mary, from Rising Phoenix Adventures, canoed or kayaked 6 miles of the Colorado River, near Bastrop. We had a great time! For a photo gallery of the trip, click here.

Internet Resources for Master Naturalists (and others)

At our July meeting suggestions were made for what you would like to see included in our newsletter. Among those suggestions were requests for resources relating to ecology, environment and endangered species. Here, in clickable form is some of the information that Elaine Cearley found on these topics.

Texas Master Naturalists in the News

Master Naturalist Finds Rare Fossil

June, 2007: David Henderson, a member of the Heartwood Chapter, found a rare, complete pelvis from a mammal-like reptile predator that pre-dates even dinosaurs. He found the bones during a dig sponsored by the Houston Museum of Natural Science in north-central Texas. Read the complete article.

Texas Master Naturalist Program Featured in Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine

February, 2007: "Becoming a Master Naturalist is one of the best decisions I've made. The opportunity to work with enthusiastic, knowledgeable people while helping out Mother Nature is priceless." -- Eileeen Mattei

Eileen Mattei, a member of the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program, has a 6-page feature article about the Texas Master Naturalist Program in the February 2007 issue of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Magazine. The article, entitled "Masters of Nature", appears on page 34 through 39 of the February issue. Several other Texas Master Naturalist Volunteers, plus numerous instructors, were mentioned throughout the article.

The article is written as a synopsis of Eileen's first year in the Texas Master Naturalist program. She describes her training in the Rio Grande Valley Chapter, as well as advanced training and volunteer projects she has become involved in through her journey to date. The article provides an excellent taste of what it's like to share your passion for nature through the Texas Master Naturalist program.

The complete article (sans photos) is available on line from TPW Magazine

Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle Nests Found on Matagorda Island

Update June 17, 2007: Members of the Mid-Coast Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist program found the first Kemp's Ridley nest confirmed on Matagorda Island, in 2005. Mid-Coast Chapter members initiated the turtle patrol project along different areas of the coast expanding the patrol area outside of Padre Island National Seashore. The project requires extensive advanced training and long hours of overnight patrolling. A record number of Kemp's Ridley nests have been found in 2007. Read more in the Victoria Advocate.

Bill Watson on land stewardship

August, 2003: An interview with Lost Pines Chapter member Bill Watson appeared in "Country World - The Rural Newspaper of Texas." Bill discussed his reasons for involvement in the Master Naturalist program, particularly his interest in land stewardship and his desire to pass his love of the land on to his grand-children. Way to go, Bill! Read the article.

More Articles...