Calendar
Landscape Photography WorkshopÂ
Saturday, February 22
12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Co-presented by Houston Center for Photography
16 years and older (adults and teens)
Class fee: $20
Explore the landscape of Houston Botanic Garden through the lens of a camera. Learn about basic composition guidelines, such as framing, perspective, leading lines, Rule of Thirds, and more and how you can incorporate these into your own photographs of the environment.
Trees not only help provide wildlife habitat, they help prevent soil erosion and reduce urban heat and noise pollution. Make a positive environmental impact by helping plant native trees and riparian plants along the Spring Creek Greenway. Bring a shovel, work gloves, and a refillable water bottle and get ready to make a difference! Dress for the weather and wear closed-toe shoes. Face coverings required.
Participate in the City Nature Challenge on April 30 – May 2. Be part of an international project, support outdoor learning and exploration, and even integrate technology into the classroom.
Find an Educator Toolkit here: https://
Find a student-friendly explanation video here: https://youtu.be/
Visit the Houston project page on iNaturalist here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/city-nature-challenge-2021-houston-galveston.
Join in a fun challenge to observe and record wild species. It is easy to participate by making observations on your own using the iNaturalist app. Just take a picture of a plant or animal, and the community will help identify which species it is. Any observation in the greater metropolitan area of Houston will count during the four-day challenge. You can participate by exploring the life in your backyard (and use the hashtag #backyardchallenge on social media), in your neighborhood park, or from an apartment balcony or courtyard. You can also help with IDs for other people’s observations to increase our species count.
Climathon 2021 Kick-Off!
They envision a more prosperous, inclusive, climate-resilient economy, where finance flows to green projects and activities, and where motivated people are empowered with the skills and capacity they need to take action.
This progress can only be achieved through systemic change – change that includes innovation across business, investment, regulation, governance structures, values and mindsets. They invite you to leverage Climathon Houston as a way to start ideating and innovating a solutions in these areas, or to continue working on and engaging people in solutions you may already be developing, especially those that relate to:
Urban Transitions
- Promote retrofit and decentralized energy
- Create green, resilient cities
- Accelerate clean urban mobility
Sustainable Land Use
- Make agriculture climate-smart
- Transform food systems
- Nurture forests in integrated landscapes
Sustainable Production Systems
- Recast materials production
- Reduce industry emissions
- Reboot regional economies
Decision Metrics and Finance
- Mainstream climate in financial markets
- Democratize climate risk information
- Foster bankable green assets in cities
Schedule:
- 12:00-12:10 PM Welcome + Climathon Introduction
- 12:10-12:40PM Challenge Lightning Round
- 12:40-13:00PM Next Steps & Breakout Rooms
Challenge Leaders:Â TBA
Learn More About the Climathon and Sign-up to Participate:Â https://climathonhouston.com
A Texas Sized Arbor Day Tree Planting Extravaganza!
Be a Texas-Sized Arbor Day Tree Planting Extravaganza Volunteer! Join Mercer arborist Laura Medick on Friday, November 5 and Saturday, November 6 between 8 – 11 a.m. and 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. each day. Five to six volunteers will assist in 3-hour shifts, to help monitor the tree planting process and distribute water to ensure tree planters stay hydrated.
Location:Â McKenzie Park, 23520 Gosling Road in Spring
Join the Texas Conservation Alliance in planting longleaf pine saplings.
Help care for nursery trees from the Historical Texas trees collection and other natives at the Mercer Botanic Gardens Horticultural Propagation Center. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring a refillable water bottle. Online registration begins at 9 a.m. 30 days prior to the event. Online registration closes 48 hours prior to the event.
Mercer Botanic Gardens offers a variety of volunteer opportunities at three facilities within one mile of the gardens, interested in volunteering? Then attend this event!
Online registration begins at 9 a.m. 30 days prior to the event. Online registration closes 48 hours prior to the event.
Join your community and several area partners on Houston’s Arbor Day, January 22nd. Bayou Land Conservancy and partners will be planting native trees that will help protect water quality and community health.
There are two shifts (either from 9:00 am to 10:30am or 11:00 am to 12:30pm). You can register for one or both, all are welcome to volunteer with Bayou Land Conservancy! Register here: bayouland.org/arborday22 or contact BLC for more information.
Chapter Meeting: Photographing Texas Prairies
Join the Native Plant Society of Texas for their chapter meeting on Zoom! Register
Monday, February 14 • 6:30 p.m.
Good photography can change hearts and minds. Join professional photographer Sean Fitzgerald for a presentation on how to photograph prairies for maximum impact, with a particular focus on often overlooked Texas prairie ecosystems. Learn valuable tips to take better photos using a variety of techniques to help you tell the stories you want to tell.