Environmental Resource Guide
Purpose:Founded in 1992, Hermann Park Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park, one of Houston’s largest and most loved urban parks, where more than six million visitors make memories each year. Beyond raising funds to improve and maintain the Park, the Conservancy oversees strategic planning for Hermann Park’s future as well as programs focused on visitor services, conservation and stewardship, tree care, and operations and maintenance of the McGovern Centennial Gardens.…
Purpose: Levy Park is a six acre public green space in the Upper Kirby District which recently reopened after a $15 million renovation for the purpose of creating an entertainment and recreation destination for the immediate community and for the people of Greater Houston. The Upper Kirby Redevelopment Authority in partnership with the Upper Kirby District Foundation, funded the renovation and Levy Park’s many public amenities.…
Purpose: Founded in 2004, the CTC is an all-volunteer grassroots transportation advocacy organization. The Citizens’ Transportation Coalition advocates for a broad-based public educational and planning process to identify neighborhood aspirations, influences projects to achieve the best transportation options, and engages our communities in designing a complete multimodal transportation system that serves us all.
Dexter Handy, Chair
drhandy@aol.com
Carol Caul, Advocacy Chair
Ed Browne, Science and Technology Chair
Purpose: Established in 1964, the Houston Canoe Club’s members are interested in all types of paddlesport from canoeing to kayaking, quietwater, whitewater, touring and racing. We do it all and have fun doing it. Canoe safety presentations are available for school groups.
Meeting Time: 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77074.…
Purpose:Â Emerson Unitarian Universalist Church was chartered in 1960 to serve the growing western suburbs of Houston. Proudly recognized as a Welcoming Congregation (LGBTQ friendly), Emerson Church invites people of all races, ethnicity, ages, gender identities, and sexual orientations to join us. The congregation has the diversity of spiritual beliefs, cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations that make Unitarian Universalism such a dynamic faith.…
Purpose: The Friends of Mandell Park, a nonprofit Texas Corporation, was formed in August 2004 to improve, protect and assist in the maintenance of the City of Houston’s Mandell Park.
Publications: Newsletter, Informational Brochure
Programs: Organic Gardening in Meredith Gardens, Outdoor Movies, Exhibition Prairie.…
Purpose:Â The Texas Association of Environmental Professionals (TAEP), incorporated in 1988, is the premier organization for environmental professionals in the State of Texas. With 300+ local members and a subchapter in Austin, TAEP focuses on the advancement of the environmental profession and providing a forum to discuss environmental issues.
Meetings: Monthly luncheons on the 3rd Thursday at Brady’s Landing.…
Purpose: Â To educate the public and public officials about proper land management on our many streams, drawing on the latest science, and to advocate for enlightened flood and erosion control and drainage policies and practices that respect the natural process of our local bayous and creeks, their floodplains and watersheds, the trees and vegetation growing on their banks, all of which are so vital for the health of our waters, our environment, and us.…
Purpose:Â Our mission is to make the Houston Zoo a leader in conservation as it relates to the survival of threatened wildlife, wise use of natural resources, and the appreciation of our natural world by zoo visitors.
Publications: Members quarterly Wildlife Magazine.
Major Events: Conservation Gala, Call of the Wild Speakers Series, Earth Day, Feast with the Beasts, Zoobilee, Zoo Boo, Spotlight on Species Weekends.…
Purpose: To advance recycling through partnerships, education, and advocacy for the benefit of Texas.
Major Events: Annual Texas Recycling Summit– September 9-11, 2019 at the El Tropicano Hotel on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.
Texas Compost Summit– will take place October 2019. Date and location TBD.
Publications: Â STAR is helping Texans to learn more about the recycling industry through free informational webinars and quarterly e-newsletters.…
Since 1991, the mission of the Environmental Institute of Houston at University of Houston-Clear Lake has been to advance understanding of the environment through interdisciplinary research, education, and outreach. Purpose: It serves as a contact point for the community to access the expertise and resources of the university. Additionally, EIH partners with agencies, community and environmental groups, and businesses to conduct research and outreach projects in the Houston region.…
Purpose: To inspire a new generation of leaders to design a sustainable future for all. EcoRise develops standards aligned, K–12 school-based curricula that focus on sustainability, environmental literacy, design innovation, and social entrepreneurship. The curriculum empowers youth to tackle real-world challenges in their schools and communities. EcoRise also provides extensive teacher training and support with the curriculum and offers a Student Innovation Fund for student-driven grant projects.…
Purpose:Â Blackwood Educational Land Institute is an ecosystem and living classroom that inspires and teaches students of all ages to explore the natural web of life and to develop a healthy, respectful relationship with nature.
Major Events: Counselor Training Week, Blackwood Nature Camp Weeks, Edible Garden Tour, Sustainability Bike Ride
Children’s Activities: Blackwood Educational Land Institute reconnects children to nature through hands-on experiences that teach them about food and where it comes from, the value of community and collaboration, and the pleasure of being outdoors.…
Purpose:Â Provide environmental education, quality recreational facilities, and a variety of nature-related activities.
Programs: “Nurture Nature Series†a family program on the first Saturday at 10 a.m., each month is a different topic; Preschool thru high school education programs; Scout badge workshops; outreach; Spring Break, Winter Break and Summer camps; birthday parties; self-guided tours; teacher workshops; birding and wilderness trails.…
Purpose: To promote the evolution and implementation of Plan Houston as the basis for planning the City’s future. Blueprint Houston serves as a resource and catalyst for better long-term planning for Houston’s future growth and development.
Blueprint Houston was founded in 2003 to build community support for a coordinated planning process to make improvements to Houston’s quality of life.…
Purpose: Cultivating thriving communities through gardening and access to healthy, local food.
Programs: Every year, Urban Harvest conducts more than 100 classes on a variety of subjects ranging from canning vegetables to living sustainably through permaculture principles. We offer advice, education, and services to provide parents, teachers, and administrators with information to build and maintain a successful and sustainable school garden program. The Urban Harvest Farmers Markets bring the bounty of the garden to Houstonians several times a week year round, rain or shine. Urban Harvest supports more than 130 community gardens planted with a variety of goals.…
Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council’s (GINTC) mission is to connect people with Galveston’s natural environment.
Purpose:Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council is a non-profit, community-based volunteer organization that supports and develops nature-based educational and recreational activities, and promotes the value of area natural habitats and resources.
Interest in nature tourism is on the rise.…
SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines) educates grades 5-12 on marine debris & trash pollution in the Houston-Galveston coastal ecosystems. We facilitate TEKS-supported, interactive lessons virtually or in-person and offer off campus trash clean ups and data collection activities! Contact splashtx@abcbirds.org for more information!
Purpose: Founded 2005 as part of the Houston History Project (now the Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative), UH Center for Public History, UH-HHA is a public repository for books, documents, oral histories, and images related to the Houston region’s growth and development from 19th century to present. Particular areas of collection interest include energy development, environmental history and activism, and documentation of Houston’s ethnic diversity and activism.…
Purpose: Transition Houston serves to build on the wisdom of the existing resources in Houston’s diverse community to inspire, network and train localized communities to consider and adapt Rob Hopkins’ transition model. Together we can unite pools of ingenuity and skills to unleash the collective genius of our own people in finding self-determined solutions.…
The CEC has a searchable, web-based version of the Environmental Resource Guide. You may also download older versions of the printed guide below.
Archived Resource Guides