Texas Master Naturalist Jon Watkins, a member of the Gideon Lincecum Chapter, reflects on sharing his TMN Program experience with his daughters:
Jon: “On the occasion of reaching my thousandth hour of volunteer service with the Texas Master Naturalist, Gideon Lincecum Chapter, I mark this moment by honoring my daughters, as together we continue a legacy rooted in nature and stewardship.
“The beginnings on the land that was to become our family retreat were rooted in the patterns of a traditional cow-calf operation, as the previous owner of the place had leased the pastures to the adjacent rancher. At first, the land was simply a place for feeding cattle and it was greatly overgrazed. Yet even in those early years, I could feel the quiet pull of the surrounding wild places: the flash of a herd of deer, a bobcat bounding from a tall tree in the nearby woodland, the call of various songbirds, the sense that the land was speaking in ways that conventional agriculture did not always hear.
“That quiet pull eventually led to an association with the Washington County Wildlife Society. I became a member partly out of curiosity, but also out of a growing desire to understand the natural life that existed everywhere. What I discovered in that community was a new vocabulary for the things that I was sensing—habitat, carrying capacity, succession, stewardship. There, among landowners, biologists, and conservation-minded neighbors, our family retreat was beginning to be seen not as an overgrazed cattle enterprise but as a living system capable of becoming something more.
“It was during this time that I encountered the writings of Aldo Leopold. His writing eloquence and the practicality of his propositions were greatly inspiring. His concept of a “land ethic” is that land is not simply a resource but a relationship. As understanding deepened, the transition from agricultural valuation to wildlife management unfolded with surprising ease. I began the careful work of converting the property—restoring native grasses, managing brush, and rethinking the land in terms of habitat.
“While participating in the county wildlife society, a like-minded friend noticed my passion for conservation and recommended that I join the Texas Master Naturalist program. After approximately 42 class hours with the Gideon Lincecum Chapter, I graduated in 2018. As a Texas Master Naturalist, I learned that conservation begins with understanding local ecosystems and the relationships within them. Through hands-on training and service, I gained a deeper appreciation for Texas’ diverse landscapes—from prairies and forests to wetlands and rivers—and the native plants and wildlife that depend on them.
“I spent years sharing my love of the outdoors with my family—teaching them to identify birds by their calls, to read the subtle signs of wildlife along a trail, and to appreciate the complexity of every ecosystem we explored together. This passion quietly took root in both of my daughters, who began seeing the natural world not just as scenery, but as something alive, interconnected, and worth protecting. In their own words…”
Liz: “I first stepped into Texas Master Naturalist, Coastal Prairie Chapter as a gift—meant to surprise my dad, meant to buy us time together outdoors, our hands busy with work that quietly gave back to the land. I later transferred to the Gideon Lincecum chapter so I could walk the same paths as my father and my sister, learning side by side, rooted in the same place.
Through TMN, conservation stopped being an abstract idea and became something lived and felt. I began to see how fragile our ecosystems are, and how deeply they need care and protection. That realization guided me to Wildlife Biology at Texas State University, where I am still learning—still becoming. With two years left, I look ahead to upper-level courses in biology, zoology, and ecology, eager for the deeper knowledge they promise. I hope to carry all of this forward into a life of wildlife conservation and rehabilitation, working to protect the living world that first taught me how much it matters.”
Amanda: “In January 2024, I embarked on a journey with the Texas Master Naturalist program. My original hope was to join the Hays County chapter, yet fate had other plans as it was already at capacity. In hindsight, this proved to be a fortunate twist, for it led me to the Gideon Lincecum chapter in Washington County—my father’s and sister’s chapter, as if the threads of destiny had woven us together. It was my father who first ignited the spark of my desire to become a Master Naturalist, back in September of 2023.
“We spent many hours in conversation, recounting the work he had done on our family farm in Brenham. There, he’d restored native grasses, crafted nest boxes for birds in need, and carried out prescribed burns—all in the name of conservation. Through his efforts, I’ve come to embrace a deep passion for tending the land, managing it with a reverence for Texas wildlife. It is a labor of love, and I am eager to continue this work, ensuring that the beauty and vitality of our land endures for generations yet to come.”
Jon: “Each daughter is finding her own path into the field she loves. One is pursuing her curiosity academically, eventually earning a degree in wildlife biology. The other is a member of the Products and Services Team with a company that designs wildlife management and habitat restoration plans—work that allows her to be involved in shaping real landscapes and safeguarding wildlife populations. Though their journeys differ, both daughters carry forward the legacy that was instilled in them: a commitment to understanding, conserving, and celebrating the natural world. In their own ways, each continues the work that began, turning a family passion into a shared purpose.”
If this is something you want to become a part of, find your local chapter here.