Sierra Club Monthly Program: Capital Area Master Naturalists

Our monthly Austin Sierra Club meeting will be online via Zoom.

We’ll start off with Announcements on current events… Tonite’s main program is Capital Area Master Naturalists (CAMN), with Lisa Audiffred, David Cook and Andrew Harrod.

CAMN is a chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist (TMN) program, a collaboration between Texas Parks & Wildlife and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. The program provides instruction and volunteer opportunities to adults who wish to learn about and demonstrate the principles of sustainable use, conservation, and maintenance of our natural resources. Master Naturalists are people dedicated to stewardship of the land and management of the natural resources entrusted to our care.

Chapters provide expert-led training for members on their local ecosystems as well as many advanced training opportunities. Members spend time volunteering in their communities by leading nature activities at community events, giving educational talks, leading interpretive hikes, and helping in eco-restoration work on Austin’s parks and preserves. https://camn.org/

Lisa Audiffred grew up in South Louisiana spending most of her childhood playing in the woods and creeks around her home. She developed a love for nature and with that a desire to protect the natural spaces around her and educate others in how to do the same. She has degrees in Business and Education and spent 15+ years educating children. Lisa joined the Capital Area Master Naturalists in 2021, to learn about ecosystems in her adopted Texas home, and to find ways to contribute to natural resource conservation work. She now spends most of her time volunteering around Travis County and serving as CAMN President. She also enjoys dancing Argentine Tango, traveling, and spending time on Austin’s many beautiful trails and waterways.

David Cook is a retired Project Manager following 30+ years in information technology. He now enjoys running, birding, nature photography, and exploring what Rachel Carson describes as “the sense of wonder” with the natural world. He is a recently certified Texas Master Naturalist in the Capital Area chapter and serves on the board of the Bull Creek Foundation.

Andrew Harrod grew up going to many of the parks in and around Austin, and this helped shape him into the naturalist and advocate for the environment that he is today. Andrew has a degree in Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences from Texas A&M. His professional background is in education with a focus in environmental education. He joined the Capital Area Master Naturalists in 2019 to learn new things, meet other naturalists, and expand his network. After a couple years of volunteering on the Austin Water Quality Protection Lands, he now works for them in the Austin Wildlands Division as an Environmental Conservation Information Specialist. In this position he coordinates hikes and some volunteer activities in the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. When not working you might find Andrew leading hikes for Austin Sierra Club or Save Barton Creek Association.

The URL to click on and join the meeting will be displayed after you RSVP. Using your camera and microphone is optional for the meeting but encouraged.