Calendar
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.
In 1996, a cross-section of stakeholders came together in Pittsburgh for the very first federally co-sponsored National Brownfields Training Conference. Now join National Brownfields Conference as we celebrate the 19th event from September 27th–30th, 2021, in Oklahoma City, OK at the Oklahoma City Convention Center!
Cosponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), the National Brownfields Training Conference is the largest gathering of stakeholders focused on cleaning up and reusing formerly utilized commercial and industrial properties. Mark your calendars for three days of training, networking, and business development!
Bike Around the Bay 2021
Ride Dates: October 23 & 24, 2021
Ride Start: Plantgistix – 5623 AmeriPort Parkway, Baytown, TX 77523
Ride Distance: Two-Day Route – 175+ miles. Day 1: 97 miles (century loop option). Day 2: 85 miles (one day options available!)
DAY 2 ROUTE CHANGE: Due to safety issues to construction on Business 146 and 99 after the Fred Hartman Bridge, TXDOT has asked them to find an alternate route from Sylvan Beach to our finish at Plantgistix. Their new route will take them under Hwy 146/Fred Hartman Bridge and then we will head towards the San Jacinto Monument. A new breakpoint will be added at Juan Seguin Park (across from the Monument Inn) and then they’ll take the Lynchburg Ferry across the Houston Ship Channel. When you exit the ferry, you’ll have another 13.5 miles before you reach the finish at Plantgistix. CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW ROUTE MAP.
Fundraising Requirement: $175 for One-Day Cyclists, $250 for Two-Day Cyclists. All funds raised from your ride will support the work of the Galveston Bay Foundation, a local environmental non-profit (all rider donations are tax deductible)
COVID-19: They will continue to monitor the situation. If they do have to cancel Bike Around the Bay 2021 due to COVID-19, they will offer refunds for all registration fees. However, any donations made towards your ride will be non-refundable. Please stay safe and healthy!
Bike Around the Island (a Galveston Island Ride)
Ride Date: Saturday, October 23 (Note: This is a separate ride from the Bike Around the Bay one- and two-day routes)
Ride Start/End: Moody Gardens – One Hope Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77554
Start Time: 8:00 AM
Route Closes: 1:00 PM
Ride Distance: 20 miles (1 rest stop) OR 43 miles (3 rest stops). Both are out and back routes.
Registration Fee: $40
Fundraising Requirement: $100
Questions? Please email info@bikearoundthebay.org
Saturday, November 6, 9am-11:30amJoin Architecture Center Houston and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership for a bike ride and tour exploring Houston’s past and future at Buffalo Bayou East.
In Houston’s earliest days, Buffalo Bayou was key to Houston’s future as a major trading and transportation center. Today, the eastern section of the bayou is dotted with abandoned industrial relics, but Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s Master Plan East re-envisions the area as a network of trails, parks, and multi-modal connections that create a continuous link between destinations and surrounding communities.
Learn about the plan and get insights into the future development of the historic bayou with José SolÃs, Buffalo Bayou Partnership Project Manager; and Natalye Appel, FAIA, and Donna Kacmar, FAIA, from Natalye Appel + Associates Architects.
Tour will meet at Tony Marron Park. (808 N York St, Houston, TX 77003). Space is limited and registration is required.
Attendees must bring their own bicycles. They encourage everyone to wear a helmet and bring water. Bicycles may be rented at the Bcycle station at Guadalupe Plaza Park (2311 Runnels). Head east on Navigation, turn right on North York, and Tony Marron Park is on your left-hand side.
Ticket Prices: $10 BBP and AIAH Members, $15 non-members
7TH ANNUAL PARK TO PORT BIKE RIDE
Saturday, November 13, 2021
7:30 am
Bill Coats Bridge
Blueprint Film Co
Get a bike’s-eye view of the Bayou City with the Park to Port bike ride, happening on Saturday, November 13!
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. Enjoy a turn-around party at Mason Park, but be sure to save some energy for a well-deserved post-ride party under the Bill Coats Bridge!
Park to Port is open to riders of all skill levels and is not a race. Whether you are well experienced or are riding just for fun, you can go at your own pace on this scenic city journey.
Register today at RunSignUp.com
Texas Trustees Holding Annual Public Meeting December 1
The Texas Trustee Implementation Group will hold its annual public meeting via a webinar on December 1, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. CT. During the meeting, They will present an update on Texas Restoration Area plans, projects, and activities. They will provide opportunities for attendees to submit questions as part of the webinar registration process, and during the Webinar via chat. The webinar is open to everyone, and they encourage your attendance and participation.
This free virtual event is brought to you by the Texas Water Resources Institute for those who will partake in the agency panel for program updates and a Texas A&M AgriLife Extension panel discussing continued engagement with stakeholders in response to COVID-19.
Join us for the 4th Annual Wild About Houston Green Film Festival, showcasing more than a dozen short films from the Greater Houston Area that tell the story of local environmental issues, their champions, and how you can make a difference.
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.