Speaker will be Sam Kieschnick, nature education specialist for Mansfield Parks and Recreation. Kieschnick is an enthusiastic and dynamic speaker who loves his work and will be presenting a program entitled "Does nature matter? The importance of parks for nature education."

Kieschnick will discuss the new nature education programs being offered in Mansfield, the role of the new Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park (similar, but on a smaller scale to River Legacy) and how Mansfield is using the new nature park as an outdoor classroom and venue for citizen science projects. He will also present some ideas on how cities like Arlington and Mansfield could possibly work together to make their park systems a win-win for residents, the parks, and the critters which live in the parks.