Reveille Peak Ranch


Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center

PROGRESS | LEADERSHIP | HOW TO GET INVOLVED

The Upper Highland Lakes Nature Center at Reveille Peak Ranch provides understanding, appreciation and conservation of the outdoors and our natural resources through educational and recreational outreach to all ages and all people.

Thanks to the vision of Reveille Peak owner Vol Montgomery and Highland Lakes Master Naturalist Billy Hutson, the keystone of the UHLNC will be an education center built at Reveille Peak Ranch. The center will house teaching collections and classrooms, and interpretive trails will wind through parts of the ranch highlighting flora, fauna, geography, topology and geologic history of the 1,300 acres of mostly untouched acreage.

Our vision is to develop a series of structures each of which will carry forth a unique natural science theme, including, but not limited to:

  • Entomology
  • Weather
  • Water conservation
  • Honeybees
  • Botany
  • Birds
  • Herpetology
  • Insects
  • Erosion
  • Pollution
  • Mammalogy
  • Water monitoring
  • Archaeology
  • Green building/energy
  • Bats

Although our objectives are to provide education to all ages, we will concentrate heavily on children, the leaders of tomorrow. We hope to create a passion for science through fun and hands-on learning techniques accrued through many years of children’s programs with the Texas Master Naturalists and interpretive experience from several other sources.

The Friends of UHLNC number over 100 to date and will raise funds and provide volunteers to teach and care for the Nature Center. We’ve started a monthly lecture program for the friends group and will open it to the public upon completion of the Nature Center.


Progress

A number of partners are already involved in surveys and planning, including Texas A&M, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas Parks & Wildlife, Texas Tech University, and Texas Master Naturalists.

The UHLNC will be open to the public on weekends, expanding the program as the need arises. Self-guided hikes and planned interpretive hikes and lectures will be available  upon completion of first main building, as will geology tours and fishing programs for kids. Two bird blinds are in the planning stages, as are other structures for viewing wildlife.


Leadership

Billy Hutson, Founding Director and President
Retired engineer with five years of experience as a Texas Master Naturalist, past president of the local Master Naturalist chapter, past president and activities director of several local organizations.

Linda Fleming, Vice President
Retired and active in the Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Kingsland Garden Club, and Native Plant Society.

Sherry Bixler, Secretary
Retired and very active in the Bird and Wildflower Society, past secretary of the Master Naturalists, member of the Audubon Society.

Ed Myatt, Treasurer
Member of the Master Naturalists and Master Gardeners and treasurer of the Friends of the National Fish and Wildlife Service.

Our board consists of the above officers, Reveille Peak Ranch owner Vol Montgomery and member-at-large Phil Wyde.


How to Get Involved

Join. Click here to request a membership form.

Once your application is received, you may choose to volunteer on the committee of your
choice. You will also be invited to join our Yahoo group to stay up-to-date with meeting
minutes, updates, progress, work schedules, and event notifications.

For More Information

Email: billy@uhlnaturecenter.org
Phone: 830-265-8829