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Houston Environmental News Update December 18, 2019
December 18, 2019

Houston Environmental News Update December 18, 2019

Holiday Gifts, Christmas Bird Counts, Willow Waterhole Walking Tour, Owl Prowl at the Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary, Green Jobs, and more

This is it, folks. We’re coming up on the last few shopping days before the holidays (for those who celebrate). What better way to show off your interest in the environment (and encourage your loved ones to share in it) than to give an environmentally themed gift from a local environmental nonprofit? Below are just a few ideas.

  • The Texas Coastal Exchange (TCX) Carbon Storage Program is a non-profit, non-regulatory system designed to allow donors to support carbon storage in natural ecosystems, as well as support conservation and protection of Texas lands for future generations. A donation of $20 per metric ton of CO2 based on your estimated annual carbon footprint will support local ecosystem conservation along the Texas Coast with block-chain-valid trustworthiness–and makes a great gift. Learn more about donation at texascoastalexchange.org.
  • Wild & Scenic Film Festival Date Night! Purchase a pair of tickets to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour, hosted by the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition on January 28 & 29, 2019. Before the festival, enjoy dinner at Americas River Oaks, across the street from the theater, and Americas will make a donation if you let them know you are there for the film festival. On your way over to the show, stop in to Cacao & Cardamom for dessert (right next door to the theater) before the films start at 7:00 p.m. and CEC will receive a donation from each purchase.
  • The Buffalo Bayou Partnership offers several great tours on a regular basis – book a boat tour (they have history, ghost, bat, cupid, fireworks, music, and food boat tours), a cistern tour, or purchase a gift certificate at the online Bayou Boutique online. You can also become a member or gift a membership.
  • The Galveston Bay Foundation offers opportunities to adopt or name a dolphin to help fund the Galveston Bay Dolphin Research and Conservation Program. The research enhances our knowledge about the lives of bottlenose dolphins (a federally protected species) that make the Bay their home and are important to its ecosystem.
  • Houston Zoo has a Holiday Gift Guide which includes Membership Gift Certificates, Animal Art, and the Gift of Grub.
  • Local design house Magpies and Peacocks offers up-cycled, sustainably made luxury collections. 
  • Recipe for Success offers family cooking classes, accessories and more.
  • Hermann Park Conservancy offers a wealth of ideas in their Holiday Gift Guide.
  • Memorial Park Conservancy is offering the opportunity to have a name placed on a paver at the new Cullen Running Trails Center. Learn more here.
  • The Trees For Houston dedication program allows donors to commemorate a special occasion, honor a friend or loved one, or to make a memorial gift.
  • In addition to a shop at its Raptor and Education Center, Houston Audubon has cause-related marketing agreements with Land Sea & Sky, REI, and others.
  • You can give a membership to the Houston SPCA’s Wildlife Center of Texas care for over 10,000 animals every year. Learn more at wildlifecenteroftexas.org.
  • The Houston Botanic Garden, which will hold its grand opening next fall, is offering an opportunity to have a loved one’s name placed on the Bayou Bridge.

Of course, this is only a small sampling. Many of our member organizations would love to receive a gift donation during this holiday season. Find the one that most appeals to you or a loved one in our online directory.

Send info about additional green gift ideas to news@cechouston.org, or comment on the newsletter post on Facebook! Next week, we’ll be sharing information about New Year opportunities, so please send info to news@cechouston.org.

The most-clicked link in last week’s newsletter was to view jobs at Memorial Park Conservancy.

Scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community, or view the emailed version of the newsletter, which includes a green job listing.

CEC NOTES

Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Tour

Audience at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at River Oaks Theatre.
VOTE

Join CEC for two nights of inspiration at the Wild & Scenic Film Festival at the River Oaks Theatre on January 28 and 29, 2020. Each night will feature a different selection of films. The event will also feature local films from Houston Parks Board, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and Environmental Defense Fund, all winners of the Wild About Houston Film Festival in October. Consider sponsoring the festival or ordering a block of tickets for your coworkers, neighbors or extended family. Visit the CEC website or Facebook page to purchase your tickets today.

Scholarships available for educators to attend State of the Bay Symposium

Scholarships are available for environmental education providers to attend the Galveston Bay Estuary Program’s State of the Bay Symposium on January 22-23, 2020, at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Convention Center in Galveston. Plan on hosting an exhibit table, and participating in an EE workshop. For more information, please contact Alicia at alicia@cechouston.org.

Earth Day Houston: Exhibitor Registration now available

Earth Day Houston, part of the 50th worldwide observance, will be held at Discovery Green on Sunday, April 19, 2020.

Scroll down to read notes from our member organizations and the community, or view the emailed version of the newsletter, which includes a green job listing.

COALITION & COMMUNITY NOTES

We have endeavored to confirm the opportunities listed below. Please consider confirming directly with the hosts.

Christmas Bird Counts continue through Jan. 5

The 120th Annual Christmas Bird Count, sponsored by the Audubon Society, continues at locations throughout the greater Houston-Galveston region through Jan. 5, 2020. Click on the links below to find details about a bird count near you.

OLE! Texas seeks volunteers for Goose Creek CISD campus

OLE (Outdoor Learning Environments)! Texas is a statewide initiative that improves outdoor spaces at child care centers. Peter Hyland Center is an alternative high school campus for Goose Creek CISD students, and the Child Care Center provides a space for on‐site child care. OLE! Texas is working to add to the existing natural play area, and they are looking for volunteers to assist with the necessary components to turn the area into a rain garden. Please contact Justin Rahman at Justin.Rahman@phs.hctx.net if you are interested in volunteering for this project.

Lazy Gardener & Friends Houston Garden Newsletter

The  “Lazy Gardner & Friends Houston Garden Newsletter”, produced by Brenda Beust Smith, John Ferguson, and Mark Bowen (along with a supporting cast of contributing writers and technical specialists), offers gardening tips, spotlights on local experts, and a calendar of events and announcements. To sign up for this free newsletter, visit constantcontact.com. Find back issues at natureswayresources.com.

Map of the Month: Night Lights of Texas

Through its Texas Land Trends project, the Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute has been tracking and telling the story of rural land use changes and trends across the state for the past few decades. Using remotely sensed data, it can better illustrate these changes; especially those related to urban and energy industry growth. Nighttime illumination imagery from the Earth Observations Group at NOAA/NCEI are ideal for detecting location and patterns of dense human development due to the artificial light signature produced by a wide range of sources, such as city street lights or gas flares at industrial plants and oil or gas production sites. This month’s featured map depicts the dramatic increase of light sources since 1992, the first year illumination imagery became available.To read more, visit nri.tamu.edu.

Spring Branch Trail Study

The Spring Branch Trail Study is a community-driven planning process that explores the viability of implementing nearly 11-miles of continuous, safe, walking, and biking connections that will link Addicks Reservoir to White Oak Bayou Greenway through Spring Branch. This future trail will connect the Energy Corridor to downtown Houston and all the places in between. To learn more about the Spring Branch Trail Study sbmd.org/trailsurvey.

Memorial Park Conservancy seeks public input

Memorial Park Conservancy invites everyone in the greater Houston community to take a survey to provide critical feedback and help guide Park offerings and programming. The Conservancy requests members of the public take a few minutes to explain how they enjoy and experience Memorial Park. Please visit constantcontact.com to take the survey. You can also participate in the survey by visiting memorialparkconservancy.org or by following MPC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Greens Bayou and Halls Bayou Ribbon-Cutting 

On Dec. 20, 2019, beginning at 9 a.m. the Houston Parks Board and the Houston Parks & Recreation Department will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the connection of Halls Bayou Greenway to Greens Bayou Greenway. The ceremony will be held at 8469 N. Green Drive. For more information, visit houstonparksboard.org.

Blackhawk Park Prairie Planting Event

On Dec. 21, 2019, from 9 a.m.-noon, the City of Houston’s Parks and Natural Resources Department will hold a volunteer prairie planting event a Blackhawk Park, 9401 Fuqua St. Interested volunteers can email naturalresources@houstontx.gov for more information and to RSVP. Participants should bring a refillable water bottle and clothes and shoes that can get muddy. Gloves and shovels will be provided.

Sanctuary Work Party at Raptor and Education Center

On Dec. 21, 2019, beginning at 9 a.m., Houston Audubon will hold a volunteer Sanctuary Work Party at the Raptor and Education Center at Sims Bayou for a morning of gardening and sanctuary maintenance. Activities include trail maintenance, filling bird feeders and baths, litter pick-up, native gardening, carpentry and invasive species removal. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and meet like-minded friends. For more information and to register, visit the Facebook event.

Willow Waterhole Walking Tour

On Dec. 21, 2019, beginning at 10 a.m., the Willow Waterhole Greenway will hold a free Walking Tour of about 60-90 minutes in length which is easily walkable for all ages. Participants will learn about the history of the greenspace, upcoming events, and future plans. For more information, see the Facebook event.

Owl Prowl at Edith L. Moore Nature Sanctuary

On Dec. 21, 2019, beginning at 6 p.m., the Edith L. Moore Sanctuary and Houston Audubon will host an Owl Prowl. Participants can meet live, rehabilitated ambassador owls after a fascinating program at the log cabin, followed by a walk through the wooded trails in search of wild owls. For more information, see the Facebook event.

Holiday Break Eco-Art Camps for Kids begin Dec. 23

Artist Boat has won national recognition for its educational programs and is a leader in outdoor educational experiences for small groups led by scientists and artists. Its Holiday Break Eco-Art Camps will begin on selected dates starting Dec. 23. Campers will learning all about ocean creatures and their habitats and behaviors through critical thinking and hands-on exploration. Each camp culminates in the creation of cool artworks that illustrate the knowledge that campers have acquired about our ocean. For more information and to register, visit artistboat.org.

TV: Texas Parks & Wildlife

Broadcast on KUHT Channel 8 at 3 p.m. each Saturday and on municipal access cable channels in Baytown, Deer Park, Houston, Texas City, Galveston, Nassau Bay, Pasadena, Seabrook, Sugar Land, and on HCC TV. More info on the TPWD website (* indicates a segment about the Houston area). For a preview, visit TPWD’s YouTube Page.

  • Follow along as biologists deal with one of the toughest breeding seasons on record, as they struggle to save the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken, one of the most endangered birds in all of Texas
  • Hurricanes cause terrible damage to coasts, bays and wetlands. Rebecca Hensley is leading a team to monitor and preserve these valuable coastal assets
  • The west Texas desert may look harsh, but its unique plants are like nature’s grocery store for the wildlife and humans who call the desert home

Additional Upcoming Events