Projects On Tap
August 18, 2026
Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Hays County Master Naturalists
Setting up for the Project Fair and Advanced Training Presentation. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
A Taste of HCMN Projects
Hays County Master Naturalists gathered at Ghost Note Brewing in Dripping Springs, Texas, for the HCMN Fall Project Fair, giving members a chance to explore volunteer opportunities, meet Project Coordinators and Presenters, and find new ways to get involved.
From Projects to Pathogens
Following the Project Fair, HCMN Vice President Kelly Pierce, PhD, presented Wildlife Disease Ecology, an Advanced Training opportunity for the membership. More than 88 people attended onsite, with another 11 joining online. Her presentation focused on a subset of wildlife diseases in Texas and how the impacts of pathogenic microbes can manifest in the state’s flora and fauna.
Chapter Advanced Training Presentation by Kelly Pierce, PhD. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Dixie Camp (right), Director, Volunteer Service Projects. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
This fall’s Project Fair was organized by HCMN Director of Volunteer Service Projects, Dixie Camp, by whose count in August 2026, our Hays County Master Naturalists “have 62 projects across Hays County, with some extending into adjacent counties.”
Let’s look at some of them.
Wimberley Outdoor Educators - Project 809: Share your love for nature with the next generation! Volunteers are needed to coordinate with schools and lead students on educational trips to Wimberley sites, where they’ll learn about native plants, water conservation, fossils, and more. Project Coordinator and Presenter: Laura Steffy. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Hays County Managed Parks - Project 603: Join our team of volunteers at Hays County Managed Parks, including Jacob’s Well Natural Area, Karst Canyon Preserve, and Sentinel Peak Preserve. Opportunities include maintaining trails, removing invasive species, serving as docents, and engaging in conservation projects. Project Coordinators: Deborah Estes and Jessica Wollin. Presenter: Deborah Estes. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Light Pollution Education and Outreach – Project 1108: Join us in the fight against light pollution! Volunteers are needed to educate the public, staff outreach tables at local events, organize star parties, and help with Texas Night Sky Festivals. If you’re passionate about preserving our night skies, we need your help! Project Coordinators: Cindy Luongo Cassidy and Soll Sussman. Presenter: Soll Sussman. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Light Pollution Education and Outreach – Project 1108 Photo courtesy David Hatfield
City Nature Challenge - Project 2402: The City Nature Challenge is an annual four-day bioblitz with corresponding identification period immediately following. The Challenge takes place the last weekend of April, from Friday through Monday, via iNaturalist. Winners of the competition are recognized for the number of observations recorded, number of species recorded, and number of observers. Project Coordinator: Carolyn Langlinais. Presenters: Carolyn Langlinais and Bobby Langlinais. Photo courtesy Ulises Luna
Bat Acoustic Monitoring - Project 2601: Monitoring takes place during May and July. Two monitors are deployed at different locations around Hays County and sometimes in nearby counties. The monitors record for 4 nights. After retrieval, the data is downloaded and analyzed using Wildlife Acoustics Kaleidoscope Pro and a Bat Analysis Program. This data is shared with the landowner, TPWD, and NABat. This opportunity requires working with a statistical sampling map called GRTS, locating possible monitoring sites, coordinating the monitoring schedule, traveling throughout the county, and analysis. The three roles for this opportunity are coordinator, monitor, and analyzer. Project Coordinator: Carolyn Langlinais. Presenter: Bobby Langlinais. Photo courtesy Ulises Luna
Blanco Watershed Quality Monitoring – Project 802: Help protect our water resources by volunteering to monitor water quality in the Hays County watershed. We use approved Texas Stream Team methods, and your efforts will contribute to keeping our water clean and safe. Project Coordinator: John Moore. Photo courtesy Ulises Luna
Beautiful Hays County Activity and Coloring Book - Project 2301: Beautiful Hays County is a 3rd grade level coloring and activity book that will have additional content on the beautifulhayscounty.orgwebsite (TEKS connections, additional resources, links to related sites, etc). The book is intended to capture a child’s interest in nature, and to put that interest into action by visiting HCMN projects described in the book with their parents, who may then be motivated to become an HCMN themselves. Volunteer to present this wonderful resource at outreach events. Project Coordinator: Paula Glover. Presenter: Melinda Seib. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Research Rangers - Project 1903: Inspire people to spend more time exploring the natural world around them. The team encourages and supports people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to enjoy and study wildlife in their local area and to observe and record information about the local environment. We need volunteers passionate about science and education! Project Coordinator: Kristy Daniel. Presenter: Jill Zipperer. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Research Rangers - Project 1903 Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Kyle Parks and Recreation – Project 2102: Make a difference in underrepresented areas of Hays County by volunteering with us! We’re looking for volunteers to help with education, outreach, and the creation of a new hiking trail connecting to the Emerald Crown Trail. Be part of creating a wildflower and pollinator area that will benefit the entire community. Project Coordinator: David Hatfield. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
City of Buda Parks - Project 2101: Work in partnership with the City of Buda to enhance and protect the natural resources in local parks while increasing visibility of the Texas Master Naturalist program—especially among underserved communities in Hays County. Volunteers will assist with management of native plant areas including invasive species removal, native plantings, and pruning. Volunteers will also lead nature-based educational programs, support conservation initiatives such as Monarch City, Bee City, Tree City, and DarkSky Texas, and foster community science by organizing bioblitz events that engage residents in exploring local biodiversity. Project Coordinator: Martha Sanders. Presenters: Russell Sanders and Martha Sanders. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
San Marcos Discovery Center – Project 405: Support the community by maintaining native plant beds, planting and caring for trees, and removing invasive species. Volunteers can also lead workshops on habitat conservation. Opportunities are available Monday through Friday. Project Coordinator and Presenter: Dick McBride.
Austin Water Quality Protection Wildlands – Project 426: Contribute to water and wildlife conservation through habitat restoration, tree planting, and invasive species removal. Volunteers also monitor wildlife and vegetation, supporting conservation education for the public. Project Coordinator and Presenter: Dick McBride.
San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance - Project 424: Help protect natural areas in San Marcos by volunteering with the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance. Opportunities include conservation, stewardship, education, and support for passive recreation in these valuable spaces. Project Coordinator: Todd Derkacz. Presenter: Dick McBride.
Texas Parks and Wildlife - Project 403: Educational outreach, habitat restoration, biological surveys, sample processing, macroinvertebrate sorting, data processing, and maintenance and construction of demonstration beds. Volunteer opportunities arise throughout the year and will normally be advertised in a Chapter email. Project Coordinator and Presenter: Cindy Hobson. Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Photo courtesy David Hatfield
Photo courtesy David Hatfield