Master Naturalist Training at the Texas Department of Corrections Ellis Unit Horticulture Program A Pilot Project

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1 Master Naturalist Training at the Texas Department of Corrections Ellis Unit Horticulture Program A Pilot Project Scott Ball (Heartwood), James Langley (Lee College) & Teri McArthur (Heartwood)

2 Agenda Unintended Consequences Lake Livingston Friends of Reservoirs Project Lee College Horticulture Program Ellis Unit It Takes A Village State Leadership, TMN Chapter Support, TDCJ Support, Curriculum, Instructors Challenges Schedule, Dual Class, Support Material, Volunteering Some Unexpected Surprises In Their Own Words Graduation & Conclusions Next Steps?

3 It All Started With This

4 Bringing Lake Livingston Back to Life

5 LLFoR The Basics 85,000-acre lake nearly devoid of native aquatic plant life Bulkheads line much of 450 mile shoreline Siltation and loss of standing timber increases turbidity 4 th year of a 10 year plan 12,000 American Water-willows, 17 sites 200 Multi-Generational volunteer team 16 to 80+ Anglers, Master Gardeners & Master Naturalists 50% Planting Success Rate Growing school involvement

6 01 Restore habitat with American Waterwillow on shorelines, islands, and shallow water flats 02 Reduce erosion, improve water filtration and quality, and provide habitat for juvenile fish, reptiles and birds 03 Reestablish Lake Livingston as a prime destination for anglers and outdoor recreationists 04 Enlist local high schools to grow, propagate, and plant Project Goals

7 Why American Water-Willow? Non-invasive Rhizome Fast Growing Grass Carp Hate It Hearty Easy Colonization

8 School Participation Big Sandy, Coldspring-Oakhurst, Corrigan-Camden, Goodrich, Livingston, Onalaska, New Waverly ISDs Propagating, growing, planting Self-management Competitions to incentivize

9 Ellis Unit - TDCJ

10 Lee College Program at the Ellis Unit Overview We currently have 5 tanks We are currently experimenting with different fertilizer ratios, organic vs non organic chemicals, and different soils We are also testing the growing habit with full sun, part shade and shade

11 Lee College Program at the Ellis Unit Background Family Tradition- First Started with my father, who taught for Lee College for 31 years. Several Courses taught. Landscape Design, Propagation, IPM, Small Farming, etc. Program -The program provides students with an opportunity to receive their Associates Degree in Horticulture Awards- National Garden Bureau Therapeutic Garden of the Year in 2016

12 And Here Is Where It Gets Interesting!

13 It Would Not Be Possible Without These Two Men TDCJ Ellis Unit Lee College The Partnership

14 What Do We Do Now? Contacted TMN State Leadership Allowed to proceed by Michelle and M.P. Approval by Heartwood Board Definition of Master Naturalist Certificate Limitation on volunteering a reality Inclusion of a required intern presentation to graduate

15 Challenges with Instruction Visitors only allowed on weekdays 7am to 1:30PM Limits us to primarily retirees Uncomfortable with going to prison Presentations carried in on memory stick Posters or paper handouts only NO auxiliary instruction material like plants, feathers, bones, leaves, etc. BUT WE DID GET 20 Rocks In!!!!!

16 It Takes A Village -Textbooks

17 Instructors Heartwood - TMN Piney Wood Lakes - TMN Jesse Jones Park Volunteers Houston Texas Parks & Wildlife

18 Master Naturalist Training Curriculum Introduction to the Master Naturalist Program Historical Naturalists in Texas, Land Stewardship, Citizen Science Forest Ecosystems & Snakes/Reptiles Monarch s Texas Waters Specialist - Watersheds & aquatic biology Birds of Texas Ornithology Native Plants & Pollinators Insects & Dragonflies Geology & Soils Water Resources, Water Quality, Eco-systems Mammals & Wildlife Habitat

19 The Class! 2 Classes = 39

20 Lets Get Started TMN Program Historical Naturalists Citizen Science Geology & Soils

21 Forestry Monarch s Heartwood & JJP Pct. 3 JJPV

22 A Funny Thing Happened Along The Way

23 Addition of Texas Waters Program Contact with Johnnie Smith Donation of 20 textbooks Megan Bean (TPWD) Watersheds & Aquatic Biology Webinars (4) Self-Study Program Completed in September

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25 Observations Along The Way It was an evolution Its not quite a volunteer exercise since we had a captive audience - though 100% volunteered Varying levels of interest, but an increasing level of enthusiasm as the program progressed Interest in doing more and interest in how to maintain the initiative AFTER the program was over.

26 Comments Along The Way After Ornithology I guess if I woke up one morning and no birds were making any noise I would be pretty sad After Reptiles We have a pond out back when you throw a chicken in they can swim real well until the alligator gets em After Monarch s It s Male! No, It s Female! After Tx Water Quality Wow, you know its really all tied together, watersheds, ecosystems,,,,

27 The Video Contest It Was An Omen

28 An Additional Partnership with the Ellis Unit

29 Spotlights very best Texan-led conservation projects occurring in the state Gain national visibility Linked into the state conservation conversation Ellis Unit contributed 1000 water willows to the student planting (9/13/17) Wolf Creek Park

30 Graduation

31 Heartwood

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33 In Their Own Words

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40 Conclusions & Thoughts Was this worth it? Should we do this again? (Can we do this again?) What if they get out and join a chapter? I like most of these guys and some of them have done some really bad things. Is it worth teaching someone that may never get out?