Friends of Hagerman NWR upcoming events

Cancelled: Mother's Day Butterfly Garden Walk (May 10, 2026)

Sun, 10 May 2026 19:30:00 GMT

The Mother's Day Butterfly Garden Walk has been cancelled due to expected stormy weather conditions.

Bat Monitoring Workshop (May 14, 2026)

Thu, 14 May 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Eastern Red Bat found By Merlin Tuttle

Bat Monitoring Workshop

Free and Open to the Public, Registration Required

Have you ever wondered if there are bats on your property or flying around your yard at night? Maybe not, but now that you are thinking about it, wouldn’t you really like to know? Now is your chance to learn more about bats!

Join the Friends of Hagerman (FOH) Bat Monitoring Team to participate in this hands-on workshop that includes an indoor presentation and an outdoor field experience at the refuge. Learn how to identify bats of North Texas, use tools and techniques to survey bats, and request a bat monitoring session on your property. Space is limited, so sign up today using the QR code or click FOH Bat Monitoring Workshop.

This workshop is being conducted by FOH as one aspect of its grant “Music of the Night: Citizen Science Bioacoustic Bat Monitoring at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge” funded by the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s O’Brien Prize.

Schedule

6:00 – 7:00 pm (Presentation in the Visitor Center)

An introduction to North Texas bats, mist netting techniques, acoustic monitors (bat detectors), analysis of acoustic data, permit requirements, and the North American Bat Monitoring Program

7:00 – 7:15 (Break)

7:15 – 10:00 pm (Field Session)*

Set up and monitor mist nets
Deploy bat detectors (Song Meter Mini Bat 2 and Echo Meter Touch 2 Pro)
Observe data collection from live bats
Observe real time identification of bat calls using an iPhone app

*Please note that bat activity is weather dependent and the field portion may be rescheduled due to rain or cold temperatures. Although bats have been previously observed at the field site, they may not be present on any given night. If needed, you may leave the field session early on your own.

What to Wear/Bring (Field Session Participants)

Long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and close-toed shoes or boots
Flashlight or headlamp
Participants must be at least 8 years old; youth younger than 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian
Suggested items: jacket, insect repellent, gloves
Workshop Leaders

Workshop Leaders

Dr. Bryon Clark – retired university professor and administrator, mammalian ecologist with nearly a 50- year interest in bats, and certified Texas Master Naturalist

Dr. Margaret Avard – retired university professor, environmental scientist, experienced bat acoustics analyst, and certified Texas Master Naturalist

Help bat conservation in North Texas by discovering “Music of the Night”

at Hagerman National Wildlife Refuge!

BioBlitz and Mothing Event: All Are Welcome 5/22 and 5/23 (May 22, 2026)

Fri, 22 May 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Nature'Ology: A Free Single Day Nature Camp for Ages 11 and 12 (June 06, 2026)

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 12:45:00 GMT

Nature’Ology

A Free Single Day Nature Camp For Children 11 or 12 Years Old

June 6, 2026, 7:45 AM until 4:00 PM

Nature’Ology is a free, full day of hands-on discovery all about nature—snakes, spiders, prairies, birds, and the water cycle!

We’ll kick off the day with a guided nature hike, complete with loaner binoculars so every child can explore up close. Next, “The Snake Guy” of Grayson County will introduce his collection of live snakes, followed by a fascinating spider exhibit featuring hundreds of live specimens.

Students will create their own terrariums and learn about prairie ecosystems with Texas Master Naturalists. Then it’s off to the Butterfly Garden, where they’ll learn about Monarch Butterflies.

With plenty of opportunities to explore, get a little dirty, and learn by doing, this is a day kids won’t forget!

Siblings and friends are welcome! Please register each child separately.