News, Events, and Field Trips

Summary

  1. Job Posting for NPAT Executive Director Position
  2. Nash Prairie Field Trip - May 17th (Sat.), West Columbia (Brazoria County, S of Houston)
  3. Clymer Meadow Field Trip (TNC) - May 17th (Sat.), Celeste (Hunt County, NE of Dallas)
  4. Pittman Ranch Field Trip (DWF/TNC) - May 24th (Sat.), Valley View (N of Dallas/Ft Worth)
  5. Fort Worth Prairie Park Field Trip (GPRC) - May 24th (Sat.), Crowley (SW of Fort Worth)
  6. Parkhill Prairie Field Trip - May 31th (Sat.), E Collin County (NE of Dallas)
  7. 21st North American Prairie Conference - August 4th-8th (Mon-Fri), Winona, MN (at Winona State University)
  8. NPAT and TXSER Joint Conference - Grassland and Savanna Restoration - August 8-10, Fort Davis, TX

Job Posting for NPAT Executive Director Position

Native Prairies Association of Texas (TX), Executive Director - NPAT seeks a full time Executive Director with a passion for conservation to lead the organization in its mission to conserve and restore the native prairies and other grasslands of Texas. NPAT is a land trust protecting over 1,200 acres of native Texas prairie, including critically imperiled tallgrass prairie. Responsibilities include fundraising and donor relations, strategic planning, and community outreach in addition to overall management of the organization. Candidates should possess a successful fundraising record, strong communication and management skills, and experience with conservation. Salary and benefits are competitive and commensurate with experience. NPAT is an equal opportunity employer. To apply, send cover letter, resume, and references to: (preferred) apply@texasprairie.org or NPAT, Search Committee, 2002 - A Guadalupe St. PMB 290, Austin, TX 78705-5609. Applications accepted until position is filled. Visit http://texasprairie.org/ for a full job description and more information about NPAT.

For more information, please go to the NPAT Executive Director Job Posting article.


Nash Prairie Field Trip

May 17th (Sat.) at 10am
West Columbia (Brazoria County, south of Houston)

Come visit Nash Prairie, over 300 acres of the best coastal prairie in existence!  The prairie is owned by the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and the West Columbia Hospital District. 

Rev. Peter Conaty, his wife Susan, and botanist Dr. David Rosen (who has conducted studies of the prairie) will lead the tour and tell us about the history of the prairie, the church's stewardship of this special piece of Texas, and the native plants that call it home.  Click here to learn more about Nash Prairie.

We will meet  at Nash Prairie at 10am.  From West Columbia, go on east on State Highway 35.  Turn left onto CR 25 and proceed north.  Nash Prairie is approximately 6.5 miles past front gate of Columbia Lakes on the left.  Park along CR 255 which is to the right of the prairie.  Click here for directions from Google Maps.

RSVP appreciated but not required.  Contact Jason Spangler at jason_spangler@texasprairie.org or 512-736-4199 for more information.  Wear appropriate clothing, and bring water, sunscreen, and a snack.

Clymer Meadow Field Trip (Nature Conservancy) 

May 17th (Sat.), 10am -3pm
Celeste (Hunt County, NE of Dallas)

The Nature Conservancy hosts a wildflower tour and dedication of a new prairie remnant at Clymer Meadow, the largest preserved Blackland Prairie remnant!

See the Nature Conservancy's event page for more details. Contact Jim Eidson, jeidson@tnc.org or (903) 568-4139 for more information and directions to the preserve.

Pittman Ranch Field Trip (DWF/TNC)

May 24th (Sat.), 10am - 1pm
Valley View (north of Dallas/Ft Worth)

Sponsored by the Dixon Water Foundation and The Nature Conservancy

Join The Nature Conservancy's Jim Eidson and ranch manager Robby Tuggle on a tour of a working ranch which supports a spectacular part of the Grand Prairie.  Owned by the Dixon Water Foundation, this carefully managed ranch is an example of the prairie as it was encountered by the early settlers.  Rare and beautiful wildflowers are expected!

Directons: At Valley View and IH 35 go west on FM 922 to FM 373.  Go north on FM 373.  Ranch gate is marked, and we will be waiting for you.  Click here to see the field trip flyer for a map and futher information.

For further information, contact: Jim Eidson, 903-568-4139

Fort Worth Prairie Park Field Trip (GPRC)

May 24th (Sat.), 10am-2pm
Near Crowley (SW of Fort Worth)

From the Great Plains Restoration Council:

Great Plains Restoration Council (GPRC) is working to protect 2000 acres (the former Rock Creek Ranch) of the biologically rich remaining Fort Worth Prairie Ecosystem as an anchor of urban tallgrass prairie wilderness, ultimately leading to a larger network of core wildland reserves and biological corridors connecting this lush remaining Fort Worth Prairie with the Western Cross Timbers. The State of Texas General Land Office owns the property and is seeking to sell it to developers.

Please RSVP by May 14th to Eileen Porter reporter@uwmail.com or 817-596-5567.

Parkhill Prairie Field Trip

May 31st (Sat.), 10am - 2pm
Eastern Collin County (NE of Dallas)

Join Master Naturalist and former NPAT board member Jim Varnum for a tour of the Parkhill Prairie for native grasses and wildflowers, grassland birds and butterflies. See native and restored prairie locaitons and gilgais. The tour includes a short stop at a nearby bison ranch for further information about life on the early prairies in North-Central Texas.

Parkhill Prairie is a 436-acre native blackland prairie preserve in eastern Collin County. Over 200 plant species were observed and identified in 2006-2007. Native grasses include little bluestem, big bluestem, eastern gamma grass and yellow Indiangrass. Wildflowers on the prairie include prairie parsley, Rattlesnake master, milkweeds, Indian plantain, coneflowers, Mexican hat, prairie clovers, Texas giant sage, several paintbrushes, and prairie celestials. Parkhill Prairie is the home of the Parkhill Prairie crawfish (Procambarus steigmani).

Parkhill is easily accessible from IH-30 in Greenville and US 75 in McKinney. Visit the park web site for directions. The tour is approved advanced training for Texas Master Naturalists. Bring cameras and binoculars, sun and insect protection, water and snacks.

Contact Jim Varnum at jevarnum@aol.com for more information. RSVP's are appreciated but not required.

21st North American Prairie Conference

August 4th-8th, 2008 (Mon-Fri)
Winona, MN at Winona State University

"The Prairie Meets the River" - Hosted by Winona State University, Winona, MN. See the conference web page for more information.

NPAT and TXSER Joint Conference - Grassland and Savanna Restoration

August 8-10, 2008
Fort Davis, TX

Join us at the Texas Society for Ecological Restoration (TXSER) and the Native Prairies Association of Texas joint conference, to be held on August 8-10, 2008 at Sproul Ranch and Indian Lodge in Ft. Davis, Texas. The conference theme is Grassland and Savanna Restoration, however presentation topics are open to all areas of ecological restoration.

Optional field trips are scheduled for Friday, August 8th followed by an evening mixer. The Plenary Address and 24 presentations (15 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A) will be held Saturday, April 9th, from 9 am to noon, and from 1 pm to 5 pm, and Sunday, April 10th, from 9 am to noon. An optional Saturday evening dinner and social is also scheduled.

Conference updates and additional information about Texas SER may be found at the Texas SER website: http://www.ser.org/txser. Information about the Native Prairies Association of Texas can be found at the NPAT website: http://www.texasprairie.org.   Click here to read the call for abstracts.

Hotel and bed and breakfast accommodations in the Fort Davis area can be found at: http://www.fortdavis.com/accommodations.html. Information about camping at Davis Mountains State Park can be found at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us.

More Events
...are being planned. Check back soon!

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