About us
What is a Nature Nerd anyway?
A Nature Nerd is someone who wants field based or hands-on experiences (e.g. hikes, citizen science, etc.), but is also interested in the current scientific research (i.e. astronomy, biology, ecology, physics, etc.). Anyone who wants to share what they know and what they are learning is included. Anyone is welcome and encouraged to join regardless of skill level, ability, or location!
Our basic expectation of behavior from everyone is "Be Considerate!'
The outdoor activities we schedule range from the Austin area, across all of Texas, and to other states. Hikes, observational activities (e.g. birding or astronomy), service/restoration/remediation projects with other groups (e.g Sierra Club), kayaking, and climbing are some examples. This includes more challenging back-country excursions with increased costs and skill requirements. If you have an idea for an activity or would like to participate as an event leader please contact any of the organizers.
"Men and women wanted for hazardous journey. No wages, bitter cold and sweltering heat, long hours of bright darkness. Safety doubtful. Wonder certain. More of the same in the event of success." [1]
We do have a basic rule that governs all activities:
No police, other LEA, firemen, EMTs, tax men, or other authority figures in a bad mood. If your event or project requires insurance, licenses, or needs to meet other regulatory requirements it is not Nature Nerds responsibility to provide them.
We also pursue deeper and more technical understandings of our interests by keeping up with the current literature (e.g. paper or book reading/reviews), as well as lectures and classes . These activities can be in person, virtual, or hybrid (i.e. in person and virtual).
Past activities have included nature walks to identify plants and animals, going to presentations (e.g. birds, grasses, and bats), and other activities that increased our knowledge and appreciation of the natural world. We have taken trips to Commons Ford, St. Edwards Park, Breckenridge Lab, and Canyon of the Eagles.
Sharing your experiences with pictures, videos, papers, computer programs, and other media is highly encouraged and your effort is appreciated.
Here are some links to better help explain the scope of our activities:
Basic Research -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_research
Hard and Soft Science -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_and_soft_science
Exact Sciences -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exact_sciences
Citizen Science -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citizen_science (This used to be called 'Amateur Science' and goes back to at least 1928)
The Amateur Scientist -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Amateur_S...
Open Science -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_science
Backcountry vs. Frontcountry -- https://www.trailspace.com/blog/2010/07/06/backcountry-versus-frontcountry.html
Wilderness Medical Emergency -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilderness_medical_emergency (Please seriously consider taking the time and effort to get CPR and WFA training.)
Leave No Trace -- https://lnt.org/
The 10 Essentials -- https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/ten-essentials.html (Be sure to select the Expert Advise menu page for more outdoor information!)
The Rule of Threes -- [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_threes_(survival)#:~:text=Normally%2C%20the%20rule%20of%20threes,(extreme%20heat%20or%20cold).](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_threes_(survival)#:~:text=Normally%2C%20the%20rule%20of%20threes,(extreme%20heat%20or%20cold).)
Lightning Safety - American Hiking Society -- https://americanhiking.org/resources/lightning-safety/
Crackpot Index -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crackpot_index
Discovery Hall -- https://txarchives.org/aushc/finding_aids/00673.xml (James Choate was a founding member)
The Exploratorium -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploratorium
Here are some groups that we partner with:
Austin Sierra Club (Disclosure - James Choate is an Event Leader for the chapter) -- https://www.sierraclub.org/texas/austin
Austin Astronomical Society (Disclosure - James Choate is a member) -- https://austinastro.org/
Austin Physics for Fun (Disclosure - James Choate is an organizer) -- https://www.meetup.com/physics-1/
Capital Area Master Naturalist -- https://camn.org/
Balcones Canyonland Master Naturalist-- https://bctxmn.org/ (Stephanie Putnam is a member of this group, please contact her if you are interested in joining.)
ASMBLY Makerspace - Was ATX Hackerspace -- https://asmbly.org/
Diogenes Makerspace - Private - Our primary build site -- Contact James Choate for more info
South Austin Makerspace (In formation) -- https://www.meetup.com/southaustinmakerspace/
Texas Rock Climbing -- https://www.meetup.com/Texas-Rock-Climbing/
Asheville Science Tavern (Asheville, NC) - We cross-post activities with this group -- https://www.meetup.com/Asheville-Science-Tavern/
@Boslab Boston Open Science Laboratory - We cross-post activities with this group -- https://www.meetup.com/BosLab/
Counter Culture Labs -- https://www.meetup.com/Counter-Culture-Labs...
[1] Brotherton, Mike. "Spider Star" (ISBN 978-0-7653-1125-2).
This is a quote which is itself a play on Ernest Shackleton's supposed request for participants in his Antarctic Expedition:
"Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success."
The irony is it appears that the quote was fabricated many years after the actual event and is nothing more than urban legend.
Upcoming events
46
Meteor Shower - Lyrids - Apr. 14 to Apr. 30 - Personal Activity
Location not specified yetYou do not need to sign up for this event. It is a placeholder only.
This is a personal challenge activity. If you have questions, need help, or want to organize with other members feel free to post comments below.
The International Meteor Organization has this to say...
The Lyrids are a medium strength shower that usually produces good rates for three nights centered on the maximum. These meteors also usually lack persistent trains but can produce fireballs. These meteors are best seen from the northern hemisphere where the radiant is high in the sky at dawn. Activity from this shower can be seen from the southern hemisphere, but at a lower rate.
Shower details - Radiant: 18:04 +34° - ZHR: 18 - Velocity: 30 miles/sec (medium - 49km/sec) - Parent Object: C/1861 G1 (Thatcher)
Next Peak - The Lyrids will next peak on the Apr 21-22, 2026 night. On this night, the moon will be 27% full.
Nature Nerds of Austin has this to say...
"Where is a good place to see the meteor shower?"
Good question, the darker the better. For the Austin area going either E or W will provide darker skies. I'd suggest looking at a light pollution map to help focus on areas as well.
https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/ https://darksitefinder.com/
https://www.cleardarksky.com/maps/lp/large_light_pollution_map.html
https://djlorenz.github.io/astronomy/lp2006/overlay/dark.html
Because meteor showers are pieces of rock and dust on an orbit that intersects Earth's orbit at some point in time and space the best time to pick as the middle of your observing window is 2am local. This is because of the way the sun, the earth, and the meteor shower interact. From sundown to 2am the light gets progressively darker and after 2am it gets progressively lighter until you hit sunrise.
You'll want a good low sitting chair that has a lot of lean back. You basically want to lay back and just stare at the sky unfocused until you see an event. They can last from very short blips to long streaks lasting several seconds. If you're lucky you'll see an air burst where a large bolide comes apart in a shower, they are extremely rare.
The best binoculars to use for stargazing are 25x70 but smaller ones will work. Larger ones have too much magnification and there is a lot of jitter just from your natural body motion so the image is not stable. Binoculars are not a lot of use for meteor showers.
The two best places to get basic information are IMO and AMS.
IMO Shower Calendar -- https://www.imo.net/resources/calendar/
AMS Shower Calendar -- https://www.amsmeteors.org/meteor-showers/meteor-shower-calendar/Austin Astronomical Society (AAS) - They have many activities through the year. Consider becoming a member. -- https://austinastro.org/
You should also use Stellarium to help map out the date/time/and sky position of the expected source of the shower for a given date. BE ADVISED meteor showers are EXTREMELY UNPREDICTABLE. So don't expect to go out there and see something in the first 15 minutes. You could be out there all night and not see anything. Other nights you may get lucky and see a shower that has a high rate.
Stellarium has the ability to turn the screen red so you can keep it live if you have a laptop at your observing site.
Stellarium -- https://stellarium.org/
3 attendees- $399.00
$$ Earth Day Weekend Kids Camp
Ikea, 1 Ikea Way, Round Rock, TX, USEarth Day Weekend Kids Canoe Campout
We’re excited to invite your young explorers to a special Earth Day weekend experience designed just for kids who love the outdoors! This 3-day, 2-night adventure combines canoeing, hiking, camping, and fun educational activities with the goal of building confidence, nature awareness, and real-world outdoor skills. More than just camp—this is an authentic outdoor learning experience led by certified instructors who specialize in working with kids in small group settings. Whether it's your child's first time camping or they’re already a budding adventurer, this is a safe, structured, and unforgettable way to connect with nature.
***
Explore. Discover. Have Fun! From forest walks and moonlight hikes to canoe trips and campfire sing-alongs, every activity is crafted to inspire curiosity and build confidence. Adventure Highlights:
- Canoe paddling instruction and nature-based river trips
- Map & compass navigation workshop
- Knife carving safety demo
- Guided hikes through forests and wetlands
- Stargazing and spooky stories around the fire
- Hammock lounging, primitive tent camping, geology activities
- Dutch oven meals, s’mores, and hot chocolate
- Fun group games and team-building challenges
***
What’s Included:
- Certified instruction in paddling and safety
- All field-tested gear: canoes, paddles, life jackets, tents, cookware, etc.
- All meals (including iron cast Dutch oven cooking)
- On-site guidance and supervision by experienced outdoor educators
- Transportation from the meeting point
- Group size capped for individual attention and a safe, supportive atmosphere
***
Dates: April 25–27, 2025
Duration: 2 Nights / 3 DaysAges: Boys & Girls, 8–12 years old
Group Size: Limited to 10 participants
Rate: $399 per person
Includes all gear, instruction, meals, and activities. Spots are limited—sign up today to secure your child’s place in this unforgettable Earth Day celebration! Have questions or want to learn more? Contact us at oakgeosciences@gmail.com or visit www.oakgeosciences.com
Let’s make Earth Day unforgettable—on the water, under the stars, and around the fire.1 attendee 
HABEX2 - High Altitude Balloon Flight - Design Update - Hybrid
13800 Dragline Dr, Austin, TX, USThis is the monthly design status and update meeting. Participation is both in person and online.
Members of Austin Physics for Fun are now involved in the effort. -- https://www.meetup.com/physics-1/
The meeting will be held at a private makerspace, Diogenes. It is located in the same building as the adult club Colette Austin. The door is at the left end of the building, Suite C. Go to the back of the first floor workspace and head upstairs.
Please post the topics, questions, or other items of interest to you, that you'd like to discuss, in comments below.
Unconferences: A Better Way to Run Meetups (28/30) -- https://psychotechnology.substack.com/p/unconferences-a-better-way-to-run
Zoom meeting details will be posted about a half hour before the meeting begins.
HABEX - High Altitude Balloon Experiments
The reference to experiments is two-fold. The first is in regard to the actual balloon construction and flight processes. The second is a reference to the payload and what it does during the flight (e.g. images, environmental measurements, etc.). To be clear, there will be two design processes going on in parallel, the balloon proper and the payload. This initial flight is really focusing on the balloon to get that process pinned down and clearly defined. The initial payload should be simple (e.g. digital camera taking pictures).
One of the primary design considerations will be the use of CanSat techniques in the design and construction process. We may need to build a technology demonstrator for this (i.e. dummy payload) before the actual flight process.
CanSat -- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CanSat
Design Process:
Design/Buy > Assemble > Test > Loop (Will it fly?) > Flight Plan
Meeting Sequence:
Pilot - Initial meeting (possibly two) to gauge interest and get first round of participants.
Design - Group responsible for the first four stages of the Design Process. - Multiple meetings.
Pre-Flight - Review process to date and verify readiness - Set the date of launch - Possibly two meetings
Launch - Two teams (Launch and Recovery)
Clean up - Launch team cleans up launch site and transitions to tracking and telemetry
Recovery - Recovery team (possibly several groups) chases the balloon and tries to stay ahead of it.
Post-Flight - Review, analysis, and release of flight report (including experimental results if any).
Flight Plan:
- Pre-Flight
- Schedule
- Assembly
- Launch
- Tracking
- Recovery
- Review/Release Results
Constraints:
- COVID 19
- Budget
- Resources/Tools/Facilities
- Legal (e.g. FAA rules about weight and number of modules)
- People
- Transportation
1 attendee
Past events
1879
