Turning Purpose Into Action
Explore, Connect, and Find Your Path
Samantha Youngblood
On June 13, following the final HCMN spring class, tables at The Shady Llama in Wimberley, Texas, filled quickly. It was a cheerful scene of Hays County Master Naturalist members and trainees, with lively conversations, familiar faces, and excited trepidation about what comes after training ends.
Not everyone knows what that next step is supposed to be. Don Locke remembers that feeling. He told me at the Pathfinder Program welcome event that he “felt a little lost” once classes ended. And when he mentioned it to others in his Fireflies class, they felt the same thing. That became the seed of something new and the reason why we assembled on that Saturday in the shade.
Starting Strong
The Pathfinder Program grew out of Don’s instinct to make our chapter feel more navigable for new members. The program materials describe the beginning of a Texas Master Naturalist’s journey as one shaped by “curiosity, connection, and small steps that build confidence.”
People stay engaged with the chapter when they feel like they belong. Don talks about this with passion as the leader of this new chapter initiative. He likes the program’s poster image of a trail with more than one direction, and the reminder that we’re all out here finding our way.
Pathfinders are paired with Trail Guides. The structure is intentionally light. A welcome call. A few beginner-friendly project suggestions. A check-in after a first outing. Encouragement when someone feels behind.
Some Pathfinders may start with trail maintenance or pollinator gardens. Others may do bird surveys or outreach tables. There’s no pressure to choose the perfect project right away. The goal is to build an on-ramp into conservation volunteer work so new volunteers don’t have to figure it out alone.
Where New Paths Begin
The Pathfinder Program reflects the people who have stepped forward to shape it. Don has a way of finding opportunities to strengthen our program and then building it. His work at the Patsy Glenn Refuge in Wimberley is a good example. (If you haven’t visited in a while, Don is coordinating the upkeep of trails and the bird viewing station, hands-on educational opportunities for kids, and a grant to expand the butterfly garden.) When I asked how he comes up with new project ideas, he shrugged and said, “I don’t mind.” The work is rewarding to him.
Don has recruited about a dozen Trail Guides so far for the Pathfinder Program and is looking for more.
Nelda Reyes was one of the first Trail Guides Don recruited. She is an outgoing, retired educator and member of the Fireflies class. She became a Trail Guide because she wants to help “get people not to drop off when they graduate.” She told me she learned so much during training that it inspired her to show others the places she discovered around Hays County.
Don and Nelda show what’s possible in a chapter that makes space for curiosity and evolving interests. Their approach seems patient, welcoming, and focused on helping people find what feels purposeful.
The Next Step
The afternoon at The Shady Llama showed how much energy and potential a new class brings. It also reminded me that excitement alone isn’t enough to build momentum. We need community to support us on that next step.
The chapter is changing. More people are joining who need flexible schedules and simple ways to get involved. The Pathfinder Program is one way we are adapting. It strengthens the chapter by keeping new members engaged, confident, and connected. It also creates opportunities for experienced members to share what they know and help others find their path.
If you enjoy welcoming people, listening, and showing someone around a project you care about, consider becoming a Trail Guide. If you are new and want support as you explore, sign up as a Pathfinder. Every path matters, and there is room for yours in Hays County.
Photos courtesy Betsy Cross