#TMNTuesdays

Title: State Program Document Updates: A Look at the Brand Guide, CMOP, and More

Speakers: The Texas Master Naturalist Program – Michelle Haggerty, Mary Pearl Meuth, and Hannah Ferguson

Date: December 9, 2025, at 12PM CT

Description: Join the TMN state program office as they walk through the new Brand Guide and the updates to the TMN governing documents.

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Title: New World Screwworm: A Re-emerging Threat to Texas

Speakers: Dr. J Hunter Reed and Dr. Sara Wyckoff, TPWD Wildlife Veterinarians

Date: November 18, 2025, at 12PM CT

Description: New World Screwworm (NWS) has become a topic of growing concern among stakeholders across Texas. To help address questions, provide clarity, and prepare for this pest, we will discuss the history and biology of NWS, current treatment and prevention strategies, and the public’s role in potential response efforts.

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Links to know:

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Fact Sheets and Resources

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Who to Contact List and Resources

Texas Animal Health Commission Livestock Resources

US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Stop Screwworm

Title: From Passion to Profession: The Unexpected Power of Volunteering with the Texas Master Naturalists

Speakers: Sam Kieschnick, Lauren Young and Jill Zipperer

Date: Friday, October 17, 2025, at 7PM CT (Note: this will be broadcast live from the Annual Meeting. Due to dinner services at the meeting, the start time may be delayed as needed. The webinar will be open at 7pm, but the presentation may begin later).

Description: Join us for the Friday evening Keynote at the 2025 Annual Meeting! Many join the Texas Master Naturalist program to learn about nature, give back to their community, or find a new hobby- but for some, the program is the start of a life-changing journey. This panel features three Texas Master Naturalists whose volunteer experiences transformed their personal and professional paths in unexpected ways. From launching new careers in conservation to returning to school, their stories highlight how volunteering can exceed expectations and open doors to new opportunities.

Learn how these everyday volunteers used their time in the program to forge connections, build confidence, and grow as leaders. Ideal for current and prospective TMNs, audience members will have the opportunity to hear personal stories, engage in a Q&A with the panelists, and gain practical insight and inspiration into how to craft their own journey. In doing so, they may discover that when you give your time and energy to nature, it often gives back in deeply rewarding ways.

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Title: 2025 TMN Annual Meeting Chapter Project Fair

Speaker: The Texas Master Naturalist Program

Date: September 9, 2025, 10:00am – 1:30pm

Description: Join the Texas Master Naturalist Program state office and various TMN Chapters from across the state as they present their submissions to the 2025 TMN Annual Meeting Chapter Project Fair.

• 10:00am: Introduction
• 10:10am: Indian Trail Chapter – Using NaviLens for the Visually Impaired at Mockingbird Nature Park and Beyond +Q&A
• 10:30am: Sabine Neches Chapter – Recovering Pollinator Habitat Project +Q&A
• 10:50am: Trans Pecos Chapter – Living Landscapes: Interpreting Desert Ecology and Indigenous Heritage at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology +Q&A
• 11:10am: Galveston Bay Area Chapter presents Glow Patrol Firefly Survey Team +Q&A
• 11:30am: Break
• 11:50am: Good Water Chapter – From Balconies to Backyards: Coexisting in a Warmer Drier Climate +Q&A
• 12:10pm: Hays County Chapter – Hays County Birding +Q&A
• 12:30pm: North Texas Chapter – Rogers Wildlife Rehabilitation Center: Wetland Assessment +Q&A
• 12:50pm: Elm Fork Chapter – Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area +Q&A
• 1:10pm: Closing

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Title: Combatting Chronic Wasting Disease through Citizen Science

Speaker: J. Hunter Reed, DVM, MPH, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Senior Wildlife Veterinarian

Date: August 12, 2025, at 12PM CT

Description: Using his varied on-the-ground knowledge of disease topics as well as his working relationships with governmental, academic, and private entities, Dr. Reed seeks to support the long-term conservation of wildlife resources in Texas and across the country. Dr. J Hunter Reed received his veterinary degree from Cornell University and his Master’s of Public Health degree from the University of Minnesota. Currently, Dr. Reed is a Wildlife Veterinarian for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) where he investigates a wide array of wildlife disease issues across Texas in addition to assisting with wildlife health policy, rule development, and research. Prior to working for TPWD, Dr. Reed also worked at Texas Animal Health Commission as a Field Epidemiologist investigating disease issues in Texas livestock, primarily focusing on chronic wasting disease and cattle fever ticks.

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Title: True Bugs: A Look at the Order Hemiptera

Speaker: Wizzie Brown, AgriLife Senior Extension Program Specialist

Date: July 14, 2026, at 12PM CT

Description: All bugs are insects, but not all insects are bugs! This webinar will discuss what makes a true bug and give tips on identification of common families.

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Title: Shell by Shell: Community-Based Oyster Gardening for Ecosystem Recovery

Speaker: Amy Nowlin, Texas A&M AgriLife Matagorda County Extension Agent – Coastal & Marine Resources

Date: June 10, 2025, at 12PM CT

Description: Discover how the Mid-Coast Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Program is leading the way in coastal stewardship through its innovative Oyster Gardening Pilot Project. This engaging session introduces participants to the fundamentals of oyster gardening—growing oysters for conservation, not consumption—and explores how this grassroots effort enhances water quality, supports marine habitats, and fosters community science along the Texas coast. Attendees will see habitat cages, learn how volunteers are collecting valuable ecological data, and explore how the project is making waves across Matagorda, Calhoun, and Aransas Counties. Hands-on, place-based, and scalable, this effort exemplifies how local action can drive meaningful environmental impact.

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Title: Turning Field Work into Funded Projects: Grant Strategies for TMN Chapters

Speaker: Arlene Siller, Ph.D., Ascend Nonprofit & Business Solutions CEO and Founder

Date: May 12, 2026, at 11:30AM CT

Description: Texas Master Naturalist Chapters across the state are leading impactful conservation efforts — from habitat restoration and pollinator initiatives to youth education and citizen science. Yet many chapters struggle to translate their on-the-ground work into strong, competitive grant proposals. This session will provide practical, accessible strategies for turning field work into fundable projects. Participants will learn how to clearly articulate environmental impact, align projects with funder priorities, and avoid common mistakes that volunteer-led organizations often make in the grant process.

Designed specifically for chapter leaders, project coordinators, and volunteer teams, this webinar will offer straightforward tools that can be immediately applied to strengthen project proposals and increase funding success. By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Frame conservation projects in funder language; Translate habitat restoration, pollinator initiatives, and educational programming into compelling problem statements and measurable outcomes.
• Align projects with funder priorities; Identify how to match chapter projects with corporate, foundation, and public funders focused on conservation, climate resilience, biodiversity, and community engagement.
• Develop clear and measurable outcomes; Move beyond activity descriptions to define outputs and outcomes that demonstrate ecological and community impact.
• Build a realistic and defensible project budget; Understand key elements of a strong grant budget, including materials, labor, volunteer time, and sustainability planning.
• Avoid common grant writing pitfalls; Recognize typical challenges volunteer-led chapters face and learn practical strategies to reduce risk and improve proposal clarity

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