• 713-524-4CEC (4232)
  • info@cechouston.org
Houston Environmental News Update November 2, 2022
November 4, 2022

Houston Environmental News Update November 2, 2022

Become a CEC member, Park to Port Ride, Harvest Hoedown, Sunday Supper, Climate Boot Camp, Green Jobs, and more

Dear Friends,

When you donate to CEC, you help connect our environmental community, making it stronger and more effective. A gift of any amount helps support our work in a big way!

Donations of $40 or more allow you to become an individual member of CEC and begin a meaningful and ongoing partnership to support environmental issues in the Houston/Gulf Coast region. Every membership is vital to our organization’s ability to fulfill our mission to foster education, dialogue, and collaboration on environmental issues. Individual memberships include a variety of benefits, including the following:

  • Being an official supporter of the Houston environment!
  • Opportunities to participate in CEC committees and be considered to join the board; 
  • Coupons for various member organization events and merchandise, as available; and
  • Invitation to the CEC Member Convening!

At the upcoming CEC Member Convening, we hope to bring together CEC members for a fun evening of connection and reflection, and we will ask members to help us consider the future of CEC. We have some informal activities planned to collect feedback on CEC’s work, e.g. what programs are most valuable and what do our members (like you) really need? Aside from the chance to socialize, we’d love to have your input!

For more sponsorship and giving opportunities, reach out to info@cechouston.org.

As a reminder, Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, and early voting continues through Friday, November 4. You can learn if you’re registered, where your polling place is, and more at VoteTexas.org Environmental effects are felt locally, and several of our regional environmental groups have put together a questionnaire for local candidates. CEC and partners LINK Houston, Air Alliance Houston, Bike Houston, Coalition for Environment, Equity, and Resilience (CEER), created and sent out a questionnaire on environmental health and safety concerns to candidates in many of the local, statewide, and congressional elections. You can find the responses in the “Candidate Questionnaire Regarding Environmental and Safety Concerns“.

As always, we encourage you to visit the League of Women Voters of Houston to learn more about candidates. The League is a nonpartisan organization that believes in the power of every person to create a more perfect democracy–and they have a great voters guide.

CEC NOTES

Gathering for new environmental Executive Directors

Are you a new or first time Executive Director of an environmental organization? Email info@cechouston.org to join our monthly informal gathering of other new and first time EDs!

HISD, City of Houston, and State of Texas employees asked to remember CEC, Earthshare of Texas in charitable campaign

Support the environment through workplace giving! Look for Citizens’ Environmental Coalition under the EarthShare Texas heading in workplace giving for all state employees (code 035569), at HISD (0111), and at the City of Houston (code 1413).

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

Join fellow environmental educators every other Friday morning for a quick check-in to collaborate. The next meeting is November 4, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Bring your coffee (or tea) and ideas for things that are working in your programs (or questions about things that are not). The Zoom call is hosted by regional board members from the Texas Association for Environmental Education. Email Alicia.Mein@pct3.hctx.net or cwilems@galvbay.org for Zoom link and any questions.

Houston Environmental Resources for Teachers

Greater Houston Environment is an initiative of the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition with support from the Coastal Prairie Conservancy, and The Nature Conservancy. The website is a one-stop shop for formal and informal educators, parents, Texas Master Naturalists, Scout leaders, boating & wildlife enthusiasts, and child care providers that want to teach about the Houston and Greater Gulf Coast environment. Find all of these resources at greaterhoustonenvironment.org.

Other opportunities:

Please scroll down to read about public engagement opportunities and notes from our member organizations and the community.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Public meetings on Harris County bond propositions

On November 8, 2022, voters in Harris County will have the opportunity to vote on three propositions for the issuance of bonds totaling $1.2 billion. This bond package would provide funding for multiple categories, including public safety facilities, roads, drainage and transportation-related programs, and parks and trails. The County is collecting community input through meetings, online tools and comment submissions. This input will be shared with Harris County Precinct staff as they make decisions regarding future projects that could be funded through these bonds. A series of community engagement meetings is being held through October 20 to share information on the bond and gather input from the community. Find the full schedule of meetings and information about other ways to provide input at harriscounty2022bond.org.

TCEQ Stakeholder Meetings on Public Participation

The Texas Council on Environmental Quality will be holding two stakeholder meetings to discuss various TCEQ processes, including permitting, air monitoring, and public participation. Meeting one will be November 1 at Milby High School, 1601 Broadway St, Houston. Meeting two will be November 2 at Sam Rayburn High School, 2121 Cherry Brook Lane, Pasadena. The opportunity to see and ask questions about TCEQ mobile equipment and “Ask an Expert” sessions will begin at 5 p.m. The formal presentations will begin at 6:30 p.m. For full information, visit tceq.texas.gov.

Public Listening Sessions: Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 amended the Clean Air Act to create a new program, the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which will deploy $27 billion in competitive grants to mobilize financing for clean energy and climate projects that reduce or avoid greenhouse gas emissions, especially in disadvantaged communities. EPA will commence a series of listening sessions to allow members of the public and key stakeholder groups to provide insights to EPA staff on the implementation of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund. There will be session on November 9, from 6-8 p.m.

Texas Trustee Implementation Group Open House Public Meeting

On November 3, from 6:30-7:30 p.m., the Texas Trustee Implementation Group will hold a public meeting at the Rosenberg Library, 2310 Sealy Ave., Galveston. The agenda includes an update on Texas Restoration Area plans, projects, and activities. There will be a Q&A session following the presentation. Additionally, there will be an open house before the meeting where attendees will have the opportunity to speak with members of the Trustee Implementation Group, who are responsible for planning and implementing restoration projects for the natural resources injured by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. For more information, visit gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov.

H-GAC holds meetings on 2045 Regional Transportation Plan

Residents and stakeholders have another opportunity to share their thoughts on how to make getting around the Houston-Galveston region safer and better for years to come. The Houston-Galveston Area Council is hosting a second round of public meetings mid-October through early December to decide the top transportation priorities and strategies for its 2045 Regional Transportation Plan – which is being updated – and how they will drive the plan’s vision moving forward. To find a meeting near you, visit engage.h-gac.com.

Learn about additional public comment opportunities at cechouston.org.

COALITION & COMMUNITY NOTES

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

From Landfill to Solar Farm in a Black Houston Neighborhood

In a recent podcast from Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, Matthew Popkin, a researcher at the energy thinktank RMI, talks about how community solar projects get around the barriers of rooftop panels. The discussion centers on a new community solar farm project in Houston’s historically black Sunnyside neighborhood, which is set to be built on a long-controversial landfill. Hear the full podcast at energypolicy.columbia.edu.

Creosote Stories exhibition

On November 4, from 6:30-9 p.m., Rice University Solar Studios, 6100 Main Street (at the corner of Alumni Drive and College Way) will hold the Opening Reception and Conversation for the exhibition Creosote Stories. Through Fifth Ward residents’ oral histories and reconsidered documents, the exhibit highlights the present-day struggle between local community activists and the financial interests of multinational companies.  As part of the opening reception, authors Kathryn Savage and Willow Curry will discuss the process of using personal stories to investigate brownfield and Superfund sites, and the ways that stories can be used for critical inquiry. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

8th Annual Park to Port Ride

On November 5, beginning at 7:30 a.m., Hermann Park Conservancy will host the 8th Annual Park to Port Ride. The 20-mile round-trip bike ride takes cyclists from Hermann Park’s Bayou Parkland along the Bayou Greenway trail all the way to the Port of Houston. The ride is open to riders of all skill levels and is not a race. The event supports Hermann Park Conservancy and its stewardship efforts for one of Houston’s most beloved parks while promoting the ever-growing Bayou Greenway trail system. For more information and to register, visit hermannpark.org.

Plant It Forward Walking Tour

On November 5, from 9-10 a.m., AIA Houston will host a walking tour of Plant It Forward’s Westbury Community Garden. Plant It Forward is an innovative, not-for-profit organization, empowering refugees to develop sustainable urban farming businesses throughout Houston that produce fresh, healthy food for the entire community.  The organization secures land, trains and mentors farmers, and facilitates sales to local markets. Located throughout Houston, the farms are cultivated with sustainable practices that enrich the land and support the surrounding community. For more information and to register, visit aiahouston.org.

49th Annual Herb Fair

On November 5, from 9 a.m.-2 p.m., the Herb Society of Texas, South Texas Unit, will host the 49th Annual Herb Fair at the Southside Place Clubhouse​, 3743 Garnet Street, Houston. There will be a large variety of herbs for sale. Proceeds fsupport the South Texas Unit’s educational activities as well as the donations made to area arboreta and gardens the Herb Garden at the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. and to the educational outreach programs of The Herb Society of America. For more information, visit herbsociety-stu.org.

Field Trip: Armand Bayou Nature Center

On November 5, beginning at 9:30 a.m., the Houston chapter of the Naive Plant Society of Texas will host a field tip to the Armand Bayou Nature Center in Pasadena, which consists of 2500 acres and more than 5 miles of maintained trails that cover prairies, woods. The Center includes a bison viewing tower and a prairie viewing tower. For more information, visit npsot.org.

Unplugged Adventure: Geocaching in the Prairie

On November 5, from 10-11:30 a.m., Coastal Prairie Conservancy and REI will host a modern-day game of “hide and seek” at the Indiangrass Preserve using GPS coordinates for clues. While we’re finding geocaches hidden throughout the prairie participants will learn how to use a GPS unit, including creating waypoints, plotting a course, and transferring route information from a map to a GPS. For more information and to register, visit constantcontact.com.

Harvest Hoedown

On November 5, Blackwood Educational Land Institute will host the third annual Blackwood Harvest Hoedown, a fun, immersive, family-friendly fall festival and farm experience celebrating the bounty of the Gulf Coast community. Enjoy live music, a farmers market full of local vendors, farmers, and artisans, curated classes and demonstrations from fermentation to beekeeping, hayrides, delicious food, and much more. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit blackwoodland.org.

Rain Barrel Workshop

On November 6, from 12:45-2 p.m., Galveston Bay Foundation will hold a rain barrel workshop at First Unitarian Universalist Church, 5200 Fannin Street. The presentation will discuss the environmental benefits of collecting rainwater, as well as proper rain barrel preparation, installation instructions and tips. Cost for the event is $40 which includes one barrel plus one connection kit and admission to the workshop for the registrant and a guest. For more information and to register, visit donate.galvbay.org.

Fall 2022 Sunday Supper

On November 6, from 5:15-10:15 p.m., Urban Harvest will hold its Fall 2022 Sunday Supper at The Grove, 1611 Lamar Street. Five of Houston’s most esteemed chefs– Justin Basye, Felipe Botero, Chase Voelz, Tony Luhrman and Ryan Williams– will lend their unique talents to a multi-course, family-style meal created in partnership with local ranchers and farmers making for an unforgettable farm-to-table experience. Proceeds from this special evening benefit the programs of Urban Harvest: Community Gardens, Youth Education, Farmers Markets, Food Access, and Gardening Classes. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit urbanharvest.networkforgood.com.

Workgroup Continues Focusing on Single-Use Plastic Reduction Toolkit

The Trash Free Texas team from the North Central Texas Council of Governments and the Houston-Galveston Area Council invites cities, restaurants, third-party delivery providers, chambers of commerce, and restaurant patrons to participate in the next meeting of the Trash Free Texas Single-Use Plastic Reduction Workgroup on from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, November 7, on Teams. The purpose of this meeting is to provide feedback on two draft toolkits–one for cities and one for restaurants– that include resources, templates, and strategies for voluntarily reducing the use of single-use plastics in restaurants. If you plan to attend the meeting, please register to attend the meeting to receive details, and later, the two draft toolkits for your review. If you can’t attend the meeting but still wish to receive the toolkits for review, please click here to receive toolkits only. For this option, the instructions for providing feedback will come in the email with the two draft toolkits.

Climate Boot Camp

From November 7-19, The Climate Reality Project and EcoActUs are offering a free showing of Climate Boot Camp, an interactive, solutions-driven 12-day program designed by The Climate Reality Project and Harvard Alumni for the Climate and Environment. The program is designed for climate leaders across the globe who want to address sustainability and climate gaps within their organization.The program is designed with maximum flexibility to fit your schedule and learning needs. You can take the sessions on your own schedule and select the presentations and tracks that are most useful to you. Pre-register by filling out the form on ecoactus.org/pre-register. You will receive further instructions and updates via email.

Faithful Resilience: A Study on Climate Resilience for Faith Communities

On Tuesdays from November 8 through December 13, the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston will host a virtual, six-part study on how faith communities can become a force for climate resilience for the community. Whether a faith community has a large facility, land, social capital, or something else, those assets can be channeled into building climate resilience in preparation for the coming physical and spiritual storms of the climate crisis. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

White Oak Bayou Association Annual Meeting

On November 9, from 6-8:30 p.m., the White Oak Bayou Association will hold its Annual Meeting at the Historic Heights Fire Station 107 West 12th Street. The meeting will feature a presentation by conservationist Liz Rebstad, who will give a detailed view of the Houston Parks Board’s Conservation Program’s prairie restoration along the White Oak Bayou Greenways trail at W. 11th St. and TC Jester Blvd. For more information, visit whiteoakbayou.org.

Douglas Brinkley: Silent Spring Revolution

On November 10, beginning at 7:30 p.m., The Progressive Forum will present Rice University history professor and CNN commentator Douglas Brinkley, who will discuss his upcoming book, Silent Spring Revolution: John F. Kennedy, Rachel Carson, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and the Great Environmental Awakening. The book chronicles the rise of environmental activism during the “Long Sixties” (1960-1973), telling a highly charged story of an indomitable generation that quite literally saved the natural world under the leadership of three Presidents. The event will be held at Congregation Emanu El, 1500 Sunset Blvd. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit progressiveforumhouston.org.

Air Quality, Climate Change and Local Control

On November 10, from 7:30-9 p.m., the Houston Sierra Cub chapter will hold a virtual meeting featuring a presentation by Harrison Humphreys, Climate Programs Manager with Air Alliance Houston, who will discuss air quality and climate change issues challenging our region today, and how we might be able to affect these challenges during the upcoming legislative session. The presentation and discussion will include quick analyses of how the elections will affect the legislative session, major issues being considered during this session, and top priorities for environmental advocates going into 2023. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.

2nd Annual Sustainable Stories Film Fest

From November 10-11, the 2nd Annual Sustainable Stories Film Fest will be held on the campus of the University of Houston – Clear Lake. The festival will include film screenings and performances in the 500-seat UHCL Bayou Theater, and the official opening of a gallery exhibition in the UHCL Art Gallery, Participating pieces are about an aspect of sustainability. This does not only include environmental sustainability, such as sustainable water usage, sustainable energy usage, sustainable city planning, sustainable agriculture & gardening, resilience, etc., but also social sustainability and social justice, economic sustainability and educational sustainability. For more information, Events are free and open to the public. For more information, visit sustainable-stories.org.

CAST 2022

From Nov. 10-12, the the Science Teachers Association of Texas will present the Conference for the Advancement of Science Teaching, aka CAST, one of the nation’s premier science education conferences, at at the Hilton Anatole, 2201 N. Stemmons Freeway, Dallas. This professional learning event features hundreds of sessions, a massive exhibit hall, and connections, all showcasing innovative classroom strategies and resources. CAST attendees may represent each of science’s varied disciplines, but they are united by their passion for inspiring students to discover the world through science. For more information and to register, visit s6.goeshow.com.

2022 Cadence Bank Houston Open Community Green Team Program

Blue Strike Environmental, in partnership with the Cadence Bank Houston Open, has created The Community Green Team (CGT). The CGT program will offer groups in Houston the opportunity to be a part of the Cadence Bank Houston Open, Nov. 10-13 at the Memorial Park Golf Course, and raise funds for their organization, all while helping the environment. BSE is seeking people to sort through all trash and recycling material from the event and separate the items into the correct stream. The goal of the tournament is to be as environmentally conscious as possible, and the team will ensure that only necessary items go to the landfill. The hours are from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, and 12-16 people are needed per day. The pay is $15 per hour, and BSE will make a donation based on hours worked to participating organizations after the event. Interested organizations should send an email to Matt Fedorko, Blue Strike Environmental, at Matt@bluestrikeenvironmental.com. Tell them you heard about this opportunity through CEC and they will make a donation to us for your time!

Houston Urban Tree Conference

On November 11, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., the Houston Area Urban Forestry Council, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and partnering organizations will hold the 2002 Houston Urban Tree Conference at Houston Community College Katy Campus, 22910 Colonial Pkwy. Industry experts will discuss current tree pest problems and management, plant growth regulators, and large tree transplanting and care. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit haufc.org.

Galveston Bay Foundation’s Guardian Gala

On November 11, beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Galveston Bay Foundation will hold its Guardian Gala at The Revaire, 7122 Old Katy Road. The event will feature craft cocktails, a seated dinner, live entertainment, and auction items. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit galvbay.org.

Hurricane Destructiveness in the 21st Century

On November 11, beginning at 7 p.m., the Environmental Science Institute at the University of Texas at Austin will present a “Hot Science” webinar featuring Dr Kerry Emanuel, Professor Emeritus of Atmospheric Science at MIT, who will share his research on hurricane prediction models and the long-term risk of hurricanes. For more information and to register, visit esi.utexas.edu.

TEDxRiceU Countdown

On November 12, from 5-8 p.m., TEDXRice U will host the TEDxRiceU Countdown at the Moody Center of the Arts on the Rice University campus. The event will feature some of the greatest energy experts, climate scientists, student thinkers change-makers from the Energy Capital speaking on ways to address the climate crisis.

Call for abstracts: Urban Riparian Symposium

Abstracts are being sought for oral presentations, discussion topics (new format), and posters for the Urban Riparian Symposium on Feb. 8-10, 2023.  The theme is “Down by the River: Managing for Resilient Riparian Corridors”. The symposium will be held in-person only at the Embassy Suites and Convention Center in San Marcos. Please submit abstracts using this electronic form (or email to texasriparian@gmail.com) on or before November 15. Email Blake Alldredge balldredge@utrwd.com with any questions.

11th annual Walk for The Woods Project

On November 12, the 11th annual Walk for The Woods Project, a family-friendly walk through Houston’s historic East End and along the Buffalo Bayou, will be held. The Walk is a great opportunity to interact with The Woods Project’s students. Sign up for this fundraiser tto celebrate students and leaders and hear how TWP is changing the lives of Houston youth. For more information and to register, visit secure.qgiv.com.

3R Recycling Drive-Thru

On November 12, from 9 a.m.-noon, The Woodlands Townshp will celebrate America Recycles Day with the 3R Recycling Drive-thru. This event celebrates the importance of recycling in the community and offers a free opportunity to recycle select items that cannot be recycled in curbside carts. The event will be held in the parking lot of The Woodlands High School, 6101 Research Forest Drive. For more information, visit thewoodlandstownship-tx.gov.

Bayou Land Conservancy’s Land Lover Gala

On November 12, from 6-8 p.m., Bayou Land Conservancy will hold its Land Lover Gala, themed “The Art of Conservation,” will be held at Glade Cultural Center, 2000 Woodlands Pkwy, The Woodlands. The event will honor a Conservation Champion, a Trailblazer and others who have supported BLC’s work. The gala raises vital funds to help BLC protect our iconic natural landscapes. For more information and to register, visit cechouston.org.

Call for Participants: “Rooted in Health, Nurtured by Nature” Health & Wellness eventh

The first “Rooted in Health, Nurtured by Nature” Health & Wellness Event, presented by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Texas A&M Forest Service, Lone Star Family Health Center, and Recovery Untamed, will be held November 19 at W.G. Jones State Forest in Conroe, Montgomery County. The organizers are looking for community partners to help engage the public. Does your non-profit, agency or organization specialize in: art therapy for nature art, outdoor first aid and safety, safe outdoor recreation skills, veterans services, adult, youth and family health services and/or mental health services, disability populations, senior/elder adult services, multi-lingual services? If your organization, agency, or non-profit like to be a part of this unique opportunity to outreach to the public about health and nature, visit this form.

Call for art: Art x Climate: A Project of the Fifth National Climate Assessment

The U.S. Global Change Research Program, in collaboration with Smithsonian Institution, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, invites artists to engage in the development of the Fifth National Climate Assessment by creatively visualizing climate change in the United States: its causes, impacts, and manifestations; our shared vulnerabilities; and the strength of our collective response. Art x Climate seeks to strengthen partnerships between science and art and demonstrate the power of art to advance the national conversation around climate change. Selected art submissions will be featured in the Fifth National Climate Assessment as chapter covers and within the chapters. Selected artworks may also be used in case studies, in public events, or in communication materials. There are two calls, one for artists ages 13–17, and one for artists 18 and up. Artists who wish to submit their works must do so via the appropriate CaFÉ portal by 11:59 PM ET on January 27, 2023. For full information, visit globalchange.gov.

FALL BIRD MIGRATION

Lights Out, Texas!

Audubon Texas encourages all Texans to join us in participating in Lights Out Texas to protect migrating birds by turning off non-essential lights at night from 11 p.m. – 6 a.m. during the fall migration period through November 30. Each night and each light turned out helps save migrating birds. As an added bonus, turning off non-essential lights also saves money and conserves energy for cities, local businesses, and homeowners. The Lights Out Texas initiative is supported by a coalition that includes conservation non-profits, local Audubon chapters, universities, museums, governmental organizations, businesses, and individual Texans dedicated to the conservation of birds. We Learn more about how you can help migrating birds along their migration journey by visiting tx.audubon.org.

Smith Point Hawk Watch

One of the great spectacles in nature is a sky full of swirling raptors soaring their way to central and South America for winter. Smith Point on the eastern shore of Galveston Bay, a natural concentration point for southwardly moving raptors in fall migration. The Smith Point Hawk Watch, a project of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in partnership with Hawk Watch International and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, is an annual census of the raptors migrating through Smith Point each fall. Through November 30, the Hawk Watch is held daily at the Candy Abshier Wildlife Management Area where GCBO has a 30-foot observation tower. The hawk watch is staffed daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. You are invited to come out any day during the season. Learn more at gcbo.org.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

WaterSmart NativeScape Workdays

Artist Boat and Oppe Elementary Coastal Studies in Galveston are teaming up to create a WaterSmart NativeScape and need your help. Every Saturday through November 5, from 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m., adult volunteers are being sought to help with transporting rocks and soil with a wheelbarrow, planting native plants into the ground, installing irrigation systems, and more. For more information and to register, visit fareharbor.com.

League City and Galveston Bay Foundation Prairie Planting

Volunteers of all ages (under 18 with a parent or guardian) are invited to participate in a prairie planting event at the Dr. Ned and Fay Dudney Clear Creek Nature Center in League City on November 5 from 9-11 a.m. All participants must sign up in advance. For more information and to register, visit signupgenius.com.

Horseshoe Marsh Work Day – Native Planting

On November 5, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Houston Audubon invites volunteers are invited to help plant 1,000 native plants and 100 trees to drastically improve bird habitat in the Horseshoe Marsh Sanctuary. This 650-acre wetland complex, located near the Bolivar ferry landing adjacent to the historic Bolivar lighthouse, includes salt marsh and wet coastal prairie surrounding a shallow tidal lagoon. For more information and to register, visit houstonaudubon.org.

Entergy Coastal Natives Nursery Volunteer Work Day

On November 10, from 8:30-noon, Houston Audubon will host the first Entergy Coastal Natives Nursery volunteer workday at the High Island location. Join Natives Nursery manager Berri Moffett, Conservation Specialist Wyatt Egelhoff, and our field technicians to learn all about propagation of native plants. For more information and to register, visit houstonaudubon.org.

Putting Down Roots 2022 – Volunteer Prairie Planting

On November 12, from 9 a.m.-noon, the Coastal Prairie Conservancy will host a volunteer planting event at the Indiangrass Preserve in Waller. This free event is open to all ages. Planting tools, educational booths, and snacks will be provided. Dress for the weather, wear closed-toe shoes, and bring a reusable water bottle!For more information and to register, visit events.r20.constantcontact.com.

Keep Texas Beautiful Fall Sweep

Through November 20, Keep Texas Beautiful is coordinating the Fall Sweep for Texans who want to clean and beautify their local communities.The KTB Fall Sweep supports the efforts of KTB Affiliates, nonprofits, volunteers, corporations, scout groups and other community groups to organize fall cleanups and beautification projects. Registered participants will have access to an online event toolkit and receive trash bags and other cleanup supplies. KTB Fall Sweep events can take place in any public area such as parks, schools, main street/downtown, watershed areas and roadways. To participate, you can find a clean up in your community by searching the events calendar, contact a KTB affiliate, or organize your own community clean up. More information about starting your own clean up (or finding one near you) is available at ktb.org.

Volunteer Houston offers opportunities

Volunteer Houston, an initiative of Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston, connects individuals, groups, and companies with nonprofit agencies to transform the Greater Houston community for good through volunteerism. For opportunities to volunteer on environmental projects, visit VolunteerHouston and sort the opportunities by “environmental”.

CONTESTS

Take Care of Texas Video Contest

The Take Care of Texas Video Contest is a fun way for young people in grades 6–12 to learn about protecting the environment and come up with creative ways to share this knowledge with others! Students create a 30-second video that shows positive ways to Take Care of Texas. Contest sponsor Waste Management of Texas, Inc. will award prizes to the creators of the best videos. Entries may be submitted through December 2. For full information and submission guidelines, visit takecareoftexas.org.

NOAA Marine Debris Program Art Contest and Calendar

The NOAA Marine Debris Program holds an annual art contest to reach K-8 students and help raise awareness about marine debris. All students in kindergarten through eighth grade from all U.S. states and territories in recognized public, private, and home schools are eligible to participate. Students may submit entries on their own or as part of a classroom but must work individually. The resulting calendar, featuring the winning artwork, provides a daily reminder of how important it is for us to be responsible stewards of the ocean. The contest will close on December 16. For full contest requirements and submission guidelines. visit marinedebris.noaa.gov.

Reminders About Ongoing Opportunities

  • Climate Solutions 101. On Thursdays through November 17, the Interfaith Environmental Alliance of Houston invites you to participate in Climate Solutions 101, a weekly online discussion. This course, presented in video units and in-depth conversations, combines Project Drawdown’s trusted resources with the expertise of several inspiring voices from around the world. For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.
  • Living the Change weekly discussion group. On Wednesdays through November 30, the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston is hosting a virtual discussion group developed in response to the Walk on Earth Gently multifaith statement. Inspired by religious teachings to turn away from consumerism and to seek balanced relationships with all people and the planet, For more information and to register, visit eventbrite.com.
  • Texas Academy for Marine Policy webinar series. Through December 6, Texas Sea Grant is holding the Texas Academy for Marine Policy with an aim of creating educational opportunities for Texas graduate to learn and engage in the field of science policy. The webinar series is free, not-for-credit, and geared towards Texas graduate students who are interested in marine policy but may not have an opportunity or time to take a for-credit course in this field. To register for the series, visit tx.ag/MarinePolicy.

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.

  • Amy and Jeff Thompson just wanted a piece of property where they could ride their bikes. But one fateful phone call to get some plants identified changed their trajectory. After learning the benefits of native plants, they’ve discovered a new love for their property and a wealth of natural habitat creation projects
  • The disappearance of native coastal prairie grasslands in southeast Texas is alarming to conservationists, since this is an important landscape for treasured birds like the bobwhite quail. Thankfully, local ranchers are working hard to restore the land and protect the wildlife
  • Visit a park on the edge of East Texas where families find water, woods, and wildlife, along with primitive camping and some rather fancy cabins nestled in the trees
  • A unique recycling program is underway to help our bays. By returning old oyster shells up and down the coast, new oysters have more places to grow, and Texas reefs are on the rebound

Additional Upcoming Events

Check out the latest Green Jobs at cechouston.org/green-jobs/.

Skip to content