4th Quarter 2019 * Volume 27, Issue 4
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A Quarterly Newsletter Sponsored by the Friends in Support of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge
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Dear Friends,
I hope each of you had a wonderful summer! While it is still hot outside, the Friends are planning some cool member events in 2019 and 2020 for our
1,000 members
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That’s right. We did it! YOU did it! YOU made history! Thanks to everyone who renewed and joined during our membership drive in May and June, we reached our goal of 1,000 members. Members received a 15-month membership for the price of 12 months. Your membership helps the Friends provide much-needed support for the Nature Center. This year, the Friends will be providing interns, animal care, staff training, permitting assistance, and marketing. Thank you for your passion and support for the Nature Center!
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It’s that time again for members-only events! We are planning several events this fall, including Bagels & Botany with Bob O’Kennon, S’mores by Starlight, and Breakfast with the Bison. Scroll down to Upcoming Events to see how to sign up for one (or all!) of these events. We hope to see you there!
Earlier this summer, we honored the legacies of Rick Shepherd,
Bill Richerson, and
Bob O'Kennon
for their long history of commitment and support as members of the Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center board. Their combined service of more than 100 years has been invaluable. We recently sat down with these three long-time supporters for a memorable conversation about what the Nature Center has meant to them and this community. Listen in to the podcast in Bluestem Broadcasts below.
Please put a Friends membership on your holiday gift list! We will be offering a membership special in November/December so you can give the gift of nature to your family and friends. Look for details in an upcoming email.
Your friend,
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Haily Summerford, MBA
(Above photo by Tom George)
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Behind the Scenes at the Refuge
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New Refuge technicians and a new set of interns mean one thing: we must tackle as many projects as possible to train everyone in what it takes to manage the Refuge, all while making great memories along the way.
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The Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center and Nature Center staff have been working to identify ways to expand educational opportunities that can take full advantage of the Refuge’s 3,600 acres.
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Thanks to a bill recently passed by the Texas Legislature, Texans now have a chance to make their voices heard about funding for state and local parks and historic sites.
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Nature Center Cabinet of Curiosities
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As a professional naturalist, I must abide by the unwritten rule that is part professional responsibility, part personal pride. The rule, known as Chapter 4, Section 1, Subsection A, Paragraph 1.1 of the Professional Naturalists’ Unwritten Code of Ethics, states: A professional naturalist, upon being asked a natural history-related question for which the naturalist does not know the correct answer, will diligently seek factual information to answer the question being presented.
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Fall is here. The leaves are changing colors, falling, and collecting in yards. The change in season also means it’s time for fall activities such as Halloween. Children everywhere are making that important decision of what to wear as they trick or treat.
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The Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge runs on volunteer effort and the support of the people who love what the Nature Center has to offer. Many supporters have been contributing to the organization for decades. Recently, Rick Shepherd, Bill Richerson, and Bob O’Kennon (L to R) were honored for their combined 100 years of service to the Friends. We caught up with them for an unforgettable conversation at Greer Island. Listen in.
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Dotting the landscape of the Fort Worth Nature Center is the recognizable and adaptable Texas State Plant: the prickly pear cactus. Designated the official plant symbol of Texas in 1995, the prickly pear cactus shares its recognition with other familiar Texas flora such as bluebonnets, pecan trees, and Texas sage.
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Staff and Volunteer Spotlights
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Training for the 2019 Cross Timbers Master Naturalist class marked the 5th anniversary of when I first stepped into the Murray James Auditorium at the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge as a green new student, unsure of what this adventure had in store for me.
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November 2 is National Bison Day. Let's celebrate!
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