#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: 2026 TMN Annual Meeting Chapter Project Fair

Speaker: The Texas Master Naturalist Program and various TMN Chapters

Date: September 15, 2026, 00:00am – 0:00pm

Description: Join the Texas Master Naturalist Program state office and various TMN Chapters from across the state as they present their submissions to the 2026 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: Kelly Simon, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Conservation Strategy Coordinator

Date: August 11, 2026, at 12PM CT

Texas Parks & Wildlife has launched a fully online State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) app that helps turn complex species and habitat data into clear next steps for research and on-the-ground implementation. Key features of the app are the Species Explorer, Knowledge Gap Analysis (KGA) Conservation Opportunity Area (COA) geospatial model, and the SWAP Workbench.

The KGA sorts Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) into two practical buckets: Conservation Focus (good candidates for implementation) and Research Focus (species where specific information gaps need to be filled) based on the number and severity of gaps in critical conservation knowledge. The Species Explorer lets you find species based on criteria you select. The COA maps and highlights places where multiple rare species overlap and where study or conservation work can be most beneficial, and the SWAP Workbench gives valued partners and staff the ability to fill in data gaps and update existing information.

In this demo, we’ll walk through the app’s species pages, KGA summaries, linked threat and action pairs, and maps to see how they work together to: 1) surface strong project ideas, 2) strengthen proposals for State Wildlife Grants and other nongame/rare-species funding, and 3) contribute directly in the app to ensure our information is complete and updated. Whether you’re designing a study, planning implementation, or want to contribute information, the SWAP app offers a straightforward way to match your work with Texas’ highest conservation priorities.

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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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