Chapter meetings are on the FOURTH Wednesday of each month and are open to all members and the general public. To further our mission, we are combining a completely virtual Chapter Meeting with a field trip the following weekend. (Details below.) The meeting begins online at 6:30 for chapter business updates, nature sightings, and announcements. An informative presentation begins at 7:00 followed by a Q&A with the speaker. CAMN members may log one hour of Advanced Training for each monthly meeting they attend.
Chapter Meeting and Field Experience
January Chapter Meeting
Wednesday, January 25 from 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Roots & Wings: Monarch Conservation and the Importance of Urban Greenspace in Central Texas
Presentation by Jess Wright, City of Austin
Virtual ONLY, held on Zoom
VMS: Attending this virtual presentation earns 1 hour of Advanced Training (AT: Advanced Training
CAMN Chapter Meeting)
Join us on Zoom to share fun nature moments, catch up on the latest Chapter news & events, VOTE on a new TREASURER (!!) and learn all about Monarch Conservation and Urban Greenspaces, Presented by Jess Wright, who serves as the Program Coordinator for the Roots & Wings Festival with the City of Austin’s Urban Forestry team.
January Chapter Meeting – Join on Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82855394497
Meeting ID: 828 5539 4497
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are one of the most popular and iconic insect species in the world. They contribute significantly to ecosystems and culture, and their annual migration continues to amaze. In fact, they pass right through Austin on their way to Mexico in October and November! However, due to factors like habitat loss, deforestation, pesticide use, and climate change, this iconic species has seen dramatic population decline in the last two decades and is now listed as an IUCN endangered species. Join us to learn more about this inspiring creature, ways to support its conservation, and how urban green spaces like parks, street trees, gardens, and even lawns are becoming foundational to this species’ survival…and our own health and well-being.
Jessica (“Jess”) Wright is a lifelong naturalist and insect enthusiast with diverse experience in conservation, including research and fieldwork, interpretation, project management, and community outreach. She is also a recent graduate of the Texas Master Naturalist program (CAMN Class of ’22!), as well as a Certified Interpretive Guide, Leave No Trace Trainer, and Project Learning Tree Environmental Educator. Jess loves hiking, reading, playing Dungeons & Dragons, going to punk shows, and walking her dog/gargoyle/warthog Ember.
Field Experience
Explore an Urban Greenspace & Trail in Austin
Saturday, January 28th, @ 10 AM – 12 PM
Hosted by CAMN & Jess Wright
@ Southern Walnut Creek Trail
5200 Bolm Rd, Austin
CAMN welcomes everyone to join us on Saturday, January 28th, at 10 AM to explore the Southern Walnut Creek Trail and surrounding areas. We will meet in the Parking Lot at Govalle Neighborhood Park (look for the CAMN signs and volunteers). “Southern Walnut Creek Trail is a nature lover’s delight. Located in East Austin, this beautiful twisting and turning maze of trees and foliage is the city’s newest recreation resource… Encompassing more than 7.3 miles of multi-use trail running by trees, flatland, soft hills and water, Southern Walnut Creek Trail consists of 10-foot wide concrete paths designed to accommodate a variety of users. This beautiful nature-filled trail extends from Govalle Park to the Walnut Creek Sports Park at Johnny Morris Road and Daffan Lane and includes 5 bridges, culverts, signs, and benches offering a breath-taking view at every turn.” You can learn more about the Southern Walnut Creek Trail on the City of Austin’s Web site.
This is a beautiful and very accessible trail, every time I am on this trail I see tons of birds and other wildlife. We will explore together for a couple of hours then feel free to keep wandering or maybe grab some friends and go for lunch at any of the wonderful local eateries nearby! Be sure to bring water, dress for the weather, and optional binoculars/camera/phone for iNaturalist/etc.
This event is tentative depending on weather – if the weather is bad we will cancel, check your email or Slack before heading out!
Chapter Meeting Recordings/Presentations
- January 2023: Roots & Wings: Monarch Conservation and the Importance of Urban Greenspace in Central Texas by Jess Wright – Announcements | Zoom Recording | Agenda
- October 2022: Community Science and iNaturalist by Craig Hensley, TPWD – Zoom Recording | Announcements
- September 2022: Land Management and Conservation in Austin by John Davis, Austin PARD – Zoom Recording | Announcements
- August 2022: Mycology 101 by Drea Mastromatteo – Zoom Recording | Agenda | Announcements PowerPoint
- July 2022: Purple Martins by Shelia Hargis – Zoom Recording
- June 2022: Moths: The Mysterious Majority by Val Bugh – Zoom Recording
- May 2022: Preview performance of nature-themed Ventana Ballet’s A Million Alien Gospels
- April 2022: Owls by Tania Homayoun – Zoom Recording
- March 2022: Foraging Edible Plants in Texas by Eric Knight – Zoom Recording | PowerPoint Presentation
- February 2022: Cultivating a More Inclusive Sense of Exploration by Tabria Williford – Presentation
- January 2022: Laws and Ethics by Michael Mitchell – Zoom Recording