Research Rangers

Who’s brewing up knowledge at free family science events?
The Research Rangers team!

Jill Zipperer

A joint project between the Hays County Master Naturalists and the Texas State University Department of Biology, the mission of the Research Rangers program is to 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.

Led by Dr. Kristy Daniel, a Professor of Biology at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, the Research Rangers team is comprised of undergraduate and graduate students, fellow professors, and Hays County Master Naturalists, with mascots Binx and Scout.

Binx and Scout carry their science tools with them wherever they go!
Two mascot images courtesy Research Rangers project

Using a template designed by HCMN Sandy Fleming, the team created a library of free outdoor educational activities connected to 5th-grade science learning objectives. The library currently has 11 topics, including pollination, birdwatching, and fossil hunting. Each activity includes opportunities for outdoor observations, data collection, cultural connections, and extension activities.

Aman Kaur teaches a community member how to make recycled magazine buttons at the Summer Seasons of Science event at The Shady Llama. Photo courtesy Carrie Jo Bucklin

The Research Rangers team can be found at events across Hays County! From libraries to summer camps, farmers markets to festivals, the team is always ready to talk science.

Kristy Daniel chats with families as they decorate recycled plastic heat-shrinking keychains at the Summer Seasons of Science event at The Shady Llama. Photo courtesy Carrie Jo Bucklin

The team is often seen manning educational booths and promoting the HCMN chapter through its library of resources. However, sometimes you may find the Research Rangers team leading a group of learners along a trail! Each activity takes between 30-60 minutes to complete—the perfect amount of time for a guided outdoor nature exploration! Whether they are demonstrating how to identify types of oak galls or helping adults to identify their beloved childhood fireflies, the Research Rangers team loves to connect the public with biology.

This educational display board was created by the Seasons of Science team for their Summer event. It was used to teach participants about recycling, microplastics, and trash decomposition timelines. Photo courtesy Carrie Jo Bucklin

But that’s not all that the Research Rangers team does! Their newest project, **Seasons of Science**, is a labor of science love.

Led by Dr. Daniel and Dr. Carrie Jo Bucklin, these science events take place once per season at various partner breweries and include educational options for all ages.
The team sets up educational booths to share biology content, fun facts, and community science project options related to the season’s topic. The most recent event, “Wintery Wings,” provided learners with a chance to learn about birding apps like Merlin and interesting facts about the Central Texas migratory flyway.
Families are invited to play games, like the fall season’s Venus fly trap catch game, and make eco-friendly crafts, like last summer’s upcycled plastic keychains. Graduate students from the university collect data from adult participants, like Jill Zipperer’s project on adult perceptions of science and scientists in their communities.

This chalkboard was decorated by Jill and Dr. Carrie Jo Bucklin to welcome visitors to the Winter Seasons of Science events. Photo courtesy Carrie Jo Bucklin

To put all of the learning into action, the Research Rangers team leads participants through guided nature explorations using the team’s educational activities.

Mark your calendars

The next Seasons of Science event is coming up soon! Stop by and visit the Research Rangers team:

April 4th, 2:00 - 6:00 PM at Jester King Brewery
April 5th, 1:00 - 5:00 PM at The Shady Llama
April 6th 1:00 - 5:00 PM at Roughhouse Brewing

The theme for the spring season is “Science Blooms.” Prepare to learn all about pollinators and Texas wildflowers! The free, family-friendly event for all ages will include seed planting, flower pot decorating, a “pollen launcher” game, and lots of great educational information. Join the team for guided nature explorations to observe and learn about local pollinators—bees, butterflies, bats, and more!

Interested in learning more or volunteering with Research Rangers (HCMN Project 1903)? Send the team an email at Research.Rangers.TXST@gmail.com. Master Naturalists can volunteer to create booklets or help run public-facing events. We look forward to connecting with you!

Jill Zipperer and Hannah Baratang promoted Research Rangers at the Science Mill Earth Day Festival. Photo courtesy Jill Zipperer

Binx and Scout wanted to join in the on the fun and play the Traces of Texas tracks guessing game! Photo courtesy Jill Zipperer

Carolyn, Jill, and Mallika Saha connect with local community members to collect research data at the Summer Seasons of Science event at Roughhouse Brewing. Photo courtesy Carrie Jo Bucklin

Carolyn and Jill talk to families about their perceptions of science and scientists at the Summer Seasons of Science event at Roughhouse Brewing. Photo courtesy Carrie Jo Bucklin

Jill Zipperer is a Hays County Master Naturalist and Biology PhD Candidate at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

Image courtesy Research Rangers project

Mark your calendars

The City Nature Challenge