Calendar
Nature Camp is a week-long overnight camp for 8-14 year olds. Our goal is simple: get kids outside and active for the summer! At Blackwood, we understand the importance of giving kids the chance to play and develop a relationship with the outdoors. 
Do you have any fond memories of your childhood in nature with friends? We find that those memories are often some of the best, and we want to pass on that opportunity to the next generation.
Adventure comes to life at Blackwood during the summer. Capture the flag through 33 acres of forest? Ultimate frisbee on the prairie? Soccer, tag, Ringalevio!? Not to mention sleeping under the stars at night; with campfires, s’mores, and stories on the back porch of the straw bale house.
Throughout their week of adventure, campers learn sportsmanship, camaraderie, and nature survival skills. Every camper belongs to a tribe and a clan; their tribe becomes their team, and their clan becomes their family. With the support of highly trained counselors, campers get to explore the wilderness and discover what secrets and wisdom the forest has to tell.
2018 Nature Camp Sessions
Session 1 | June 17th – 22nd: Elementary School Session (Ages 8-11)
Session 2 | June 24th – 29th: Mixed School Session (Ages 8-14)
Session 3 | July 1st – 6th: Middle School Session (Ages 12-14)
Session 4 | July 15th – 20th: Mixed School Session (Ages 8-14)
Session 5 | July 22nd – 27th: Mixed School Session (Ages 8-14)
Session 6 | July 29th – August 3rd: Mixed School Session (Ages 8-14)
High School Camp | August 5th – 9th: (Must have completed 9th grade)
Apply one or more campers!
For more information, visit blackwoodland.org.
Want to be a Camp Counselor or Counselor-in-Training? Apply here!
Interested in sponsoring a camper?  Click here to learn about our Underwriting Program.
Each year, the Texas Chemical Council (TCC) and the Association of Chemical Industry of Texas (ACIT) are proud to host an annual Science Teachers and Industry (STI) Workshop. The STI Workshop provides Texas science teachers in grades 5-12 with educational information about the chemical manufacturing industry and its impact on the environment and the surrounding communities. This valuable insight helps the teachers positively influence their instruction to hundreds of students each year. With outstanding leadership from the TCC Outreach Committee and our partnership with the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE), the 2017 STI Workshop had a great turnout of science teachers, with very positive feedback from all participants.
We are currently enrolling teachers for the 2018 workshop. The 2018 STI Workshop will be held at the Harris County Department of Education (HCDE) Building from July 16-19, 2018 in Houston, Texas. The workshop is provided free of charge through corporate sponsorships. Teachers who complete all 4 days of the workshop will receive a $300 stipend courtesy of the TCC. Teachers also receive 30 CPE hours and 6 G/T update hours. There are 60 spots available, with 23 openings currently remaining.  Registration will stay open until Friday, July 13th, or until all of the spots are filled. To find out more about the workshop or to register, please use the following link: https://adobe.ly/2HvdvCk
An opportunity to participate in stewardship work for registered volunteers–if you are not already a volunteer, please check out Armand Bayou Nature Centers’ website for more information.
Help restore the prairie by potting and planting native plants and forbs every Friday, rain or shine. You do not need to attend every Friday.
First time volunteers, fill out a volunteer application here. They are working on a variety of different volunteer projects at Indian grass Preserve and Shrike Prairie throughout the year. Join them during any of the times below.
Looking for a place to get your children outdoors? ABNC’s EcoClasses will allow your child to explore, discover and observe (STEM). Join them for some great nature experiences! Check out their website at abnc.org for details or call 713-274-2668 to reserve your spot.
EcoTots are for children 18-36 months with an adult every Friday.
EcoKids are for children ages 3-6 every Wednesday and Friday.
EcoSchoolers are for homeschool children ages 7-10 every Wednesday and Friday.  EcoAdventurers are for children ages 11-14 every Wednesday.
Please bring a Snack, Refillable Water Bottle, mask, closed toe shoes and dress for the weather.
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Bring your little ones to listen to a story every Friday morning in the McGovern Centennial Garden’s Family Garden. After the reading, children are invited to participate in a fun activity like coloring a picture or planting a seed to take home. For more information, visit hermannpark.org.
This is the true story of a 15,000-kilometer journey in the footsteps of one of the most devastating natural events on our planet: the Atlantic Hurricane.
Public Child&Public Senior: $10
Public Adult:$12
Member Child&Member Adult: $6
STS-AIChE – Third Friday Networking Lunch
Topic:  A Bold Vision: EHS Compliance in a Rapidly Evolving 21st Century World
Jed will walk us through regulatory compliance – past, present, and future—with a special focus on how to position yourself and your company to take advantage of some dramatic changes that appear to be coming in the regulatory compliance sector in the era of Trump. Come prepared with questions in your areas of concern. It promises to be extremely informative and relevant.
Speaker:Â Jed Anderson Esq
Mr. Anderson is recognized nationally and regionally as a leading expert in the areas of air quality and climate change law. He was formerly with the nationally prestigious law firms of Baker Botts, and Vinson & Elkins, and “of counsel†to the law firm of Bracewell & Giuliani. He is currently an Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Houston Law School.
Jed has given invited testimony to the Texas Senate Natural Resources Committee, and his work has caught the attention of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, as a catalyst for positive change on this complex issue.
Costs:  There is no registration fee. The lunch menu ranges from $8 to $12, and the South Texas Section will subsidize lunches by $3 per attendee. STS members, as well as non-members, are welcome to attend. We only request that you pre-register at the STS-AIChE.org website so we can get an accurate headcount for the restaurant.
Evening Chill Presented by TXU Energy Snowin’ in the South
Thanks to TXU Energy, the Houston Zoo is staying open late, so you can enjoy the animals in the cooler evening weather. Join us for Evening Chill every Friday & Saturday evening from June 22 through August 18. From 5 to 8 p.m. guests can enjoy added music and fun family activities that are sure to entertain kids and adults alike! All activities are included in Zoo admission and are free for Zoo Members.
Last entry into the zoo at 7.30pm.
Looking for a cool discount? All summer long, save $4 on regular Zoo admission (adult and child tickets!) when you arrive after 4 p.m.
Purchase anytime, valid for one use May 26 – Sept 3
Online only – cannot be purchased at the Zoo
You can help the park and understand more about the Kemp’s Ridley Sea Turtle, an endangered species that nests Galveston Island State Park. They will take a stroll down the beach and explore ways to help the environment.
They will meet at the day use picnic area and begin a short hike down the beach and through the dunes, patrolling for turtles on this easy, beach hike. Families, groups, and pets on a leash are welcome.
Where: Day use picnic area to begin
Who: Park Ranger Lisa Reznicek is inviting everyone to join
Before you can join us:
• Park entry fee paid before trip (park permit on vehicle)
• All children must be accompanied by an adult
What to expect:
• Great family fun for all ages.
• Prepared for physical activity
• Small group instruction and guide
• 1 hour program of games, activities, and short hike
• Restrooms available
• Camera-worthy shots of a great Texas beach
• NOTE: sea turtles may not be present on the beach during our event, but we need your help to look for them.