Coalition Notes 02-18-2013

1. NatureFest. NatureFest at Jones Park will take place on March 2, 2013, 9am-3:30pm at 20634 Kenswick Dr in Humble. Enjoy a fun, educational day as noted speakers discuss topics such as birds, native plants, and nature photography. There will be guided nature walks, pontoon boat tours, live animals, and nature-related educational booths will be available. All ages are welcome! More at http://cechouston.org/.
2. Global Warming – An Update with Tim Mock. Has climate disaster moved from possible to probable? Do we need to be preparing/adapting, as well as keeping disaster from turning into apocalypse? Tim Mock will facilitate a discussion of these issues with up-to-date videos and texts. This free lecture will take place at the Nature Discovery Center Classroom on March 6, 2013, 7-8:30pm. Snacks provided. More at http://www.naturediscoverycenter.org/.
3. Great Growout 2013 Kickoff! Get ready for the Great Growout of 2013! The Katy Prairie Conservancy and the Houston Chapter of the Native Prairies Association of Texas are teaming up to host a seed packing party at the next HNPAT meeting on February 27, 2013. Refreshments are at 6:30 pm and seed packing starts at 7 pm. The packets are an essential part of our Great Growout program so come eat, make some new friends, support KPC, and take some seeds home! If you any questions or concerns, please e-mail Christine Mansfield at cmansfield@katyprairie.org.
4. Free Speaker Event: Bird Conservation in the 21st Century. Houston Audubon invites you to the public debut of our Director of Conservation, Dr. Richard E. Gibbons. From climate change to adaptive management, Bird Conservation in the 21st Century covers the unprecedented changes in technology and the environment. With 17 years of ornithological experience ranging from the heights of the Andes to the lowlands of Louisiana, Richard presents a unique perspective on the multifaceted modern conservation debate. So join Houston Audubon on February 28, 2013, 7:00 PM at the United Way Center, mingle with Houston Audubon members and rediscover conservation. More at http://cechouston.org/.
5. For Good Celebration at Urban Harvest Farmers Market. How do you change a community? A city? A nation? The world? The For Good Celebration is setting out to do just that by asking a simple question: What are you doing for good? No matter the answer — whether it’s something simple, like sharing knowledge with those younger than you, or a part of something larger, like creating a community garden — everyone everywhere can do their part to build better, stronger, smarter, healthier, happier communities. On February 27, 12-2pm at City Hall, Neighborhood Centers and Mayor Annise Parker will host an inspiring afternoon at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market. Stop by and make a commitment to the For Good movement by participating in an interactive art display. Celebrate Houston, and work together to make it even better. More at https://www.facebook.com/.
6. Last Call for registration for Earth Day Houston! The expected attendance this year is 15,000 from the Houston region! Come one! Come all! This year promises to be exciting as there will be new elements like a food truck and beer garden. Earth Day Houston will be on April 14, 2013, 11am-5pm, at Discovery Green! Visit www.earthdayhouston.org or contact Sara Sara@airalliancehouston.org for more information!
7. Kayak Certification Courses. Artist Boat is hosting an ACA Level 1 – 3 Coastal Kayaking Course (IDW/ICE) March 9-13, 2013. Learn to paddle correctly, perform rescues, maneuver kayaks and learn essential kayaking techniques. Upon successful completion participants will have an ACA Instructor Certification and professional kayak training. For more info, contact Kelly Cloughly at kcloughly@artistboat.org or by phone at (409) 770-0722.
8. Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition Clean-up & Tree Planting. Join the Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition and other committed volunteers for the second-annual North Reach Clean-up and Tree Planting Event in the Greenspoint area. In partnership with Harris County Flood Control District and Trees for Houston, participants will plant 25 trees and clean several miles of bayou on March 9th from 8am-noon. Learn more at http://greensbayou.org/.
9. Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation. Mayor Annise Parker and Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis will ride along with participants in the 2013 Tour de Houston Presented by Apache Corporation. Cyclists will line up at Houston City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston 77002, on Sunday, March 17, 2013. The bike ride benefits the city’s reforestation efforts, which are managed by the Houston Parks and Recreation Department (HPARD). For more details on the bike ride, including registration and packet pick-up locations, visit http://www.tourdehouston.org/. For more information about HPARD, visit http://www.houstontx.gov/parks/.
10. Houston Tomorrow at the OKRA Charity Saloon. Houston Tomorrow has been chosen as 1 of 4 charities this month that you can support by voting at the OKRA Charity Saloon. All of the proceeds for next month will be donated to the charity who receives the most votes this month. Learn more at http://www.houstontomorrow.org/.
11. 9th Annual Wildlife Center of Texas Golf Tournament. Join the Wildlife Center of Texas for the 9th Annual Wildlife Center of Texas Golf Tournament at the Wildcat Golf Club on March 20, 2013. Make a “birdie for a bird” or be an “albatross or double eagle” on a course named one of the Top 10 Luxury Courses by Avid Golfer Magazine and help save the lives of injured, ill or orphaned native wildlife! The tournament has an 8:00 am shotgun start with registration beginning at 7:00 am. More at http://www.wildlifecenteroftexas.org/.
12. Birdies for the Birds – GCBO Golf Tournament. The Gulf Coast Bird Observatory will hold a golf tournament “Birdies for the Birds” on Friday, March 22 at the Wilderness Golf Course in Lake Jackson. Individuals and teams encouraged. For details, go to website www.gcbo.org.
13. New Webpage for Houston Chapter of Native Prairies Association of Texas. Wondering what happened at last month’s HNPAT? Now you can easily find out! Check out HNPAT’s new webpage where you can read and see photos of previous events and find information on upcoming meetings.
14. Sierra Club Partners with Native, Inc. to Help Families Go Solar. The Sierra Club, the nation’s largest grassroots environmental organization, today announced a new partnership with Native Inc., one of Texas’ leading residential solar and green construction providers, to help families go solar easily and affordably. The partnership will help consumers save money on electricity bills, reduce pollution, and support the Sierra Club’s overall mission to explore, enjoy and protect the planet. Through the new venture, Native is offering Sierra Club members a $500 credit toward solar installations and a $250 credit toward eligible energy efficiency upgrades. Native will also match the member credit by giving $250 to $500 to the Sierra Club. The partnership is available to qualifying residential customers who visit buildnative.com/sierra. More at http://guidrynews.com/.