Calendar
Because Breathing is Living!
Gather your friends, family and coworkers and join American Lung Association of Texas at this year’s LUNG FORCE Walk. American Lung Association of Texas are coming together to celebrate their power to make a difference in a people’s lives.
American Lung Association of Texas is getting ready for a morning of fresh air, healthy fun, and healthy lungs, and American Lung Association of Texas would love to see you there. It doesn’t matter whether you stroll, saunter or power-walk, everyone is welcome, regardless of age or athletic ability.
Register today and save your spot at the LUNG FORCE Walk – Texas on June 5, 2021 at 8:00 AM (CT). Help American Lung Association of Texas achieve their vision of a world free of lung cancer and lung disease.
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
The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston invites you to celebrate Earth Day/Month by joining our team for the online Earth Month EcoChallenge. This EcoChallenge focuses on the sustainable development goals of the United Nations, with categories of: basic needs & security, health & equity, education & livelihood, economy & communities and climate & ecosystems. You pick your challenges to complete during the month – to build a new sustainable habit, learn about an environmental issue, advocate for eco-justice, volunteer or spend more time in nature (among the many, many choices). Join the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston team & we’ll support each other along the journey. To sign up or to learn more, go to https://earthmonth.ecochallenge.org/. Questions? – Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com.
Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. Forest bathing has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and focus, enhance creativity, and lead to an increased sense of calm and altruistic behavior, in addition to other benefits such as boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure. As Christians, we understand that God is present in God’s creation, and after our guided forest bath, we’ll spend some time considering the Earth Examen as we reflect both on our time spent forest bathing and on our relationship with all creation. This activity is for a small group and space is limited. Please register at www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/forest-bathing-earth-examen-tickets-291848535827. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.
Calling people of all faiths or no faith at all in Houston to care for our shared environment in observance of Earth Day/Month!  We will engage in hands-on environmental stewardship at the Willow Waterhole Conservation Reserve. This event will offer activities for all ages and skill. Meet at the Swartz Gazebo in the park to sign in. Metro bus line 7 stops nearby, and line 49 is not far. Tools/supplies will be provided. This event is organized by Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston, in partnership with the Willow Waterhole Greenspace Conservancy. The conservancy requires signing of a waiver to participate. Please register for planning purposes on www.eventbrite.com at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spring-2022-interfaith-environmental-stewardship-event-tickets-273115956177. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com for more information.
The air quality in Harris County is influenced by multiple sources of pollution, including extensive road traffic, concrete batch plants, proximity to the largest petrochemical industrial complex in the United States, and port activities in the Houston Ship Channel. It is also important to note that environmental risks are not always uniformly distributed in urban areas like Houston, Harris County, and individuals classified with low socioeconomic status (SES) can become overburdened by environmental exposures. One pollutant of interest is particulate matter, specifically particulate matter of size 2.5 micrometers in diameter (PM2.5). PM2.5 is of particular interest because these fine particles pose the greatest risk to human health due to their small size and ability to reach multiple organs. There are long-term and short-term impacts of PM2.5 pollution on the human respiratory and cardiovascular organ systems. These short and long-term impacts may have contributed to poor outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). The COVID-19 Pandemic has impacted us all. An important public health objective is to identify key modifiable environmental factors that may contribute to the severity of the health outcomes related to this disease. Join Rachel White, MPH, PhD (c), University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, as she takes a deep dive into this topic and discusses how pollution may impact our understanding of respiratory illnesses such as COVID-19.  Time for interactive discussion with the speaker will be provided. Please register for this talk on www.eventbrite.com at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/is-there-an-association-between-air-pollution-and-covid-19-mortality-tickets-330848455637. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.
Experience forest bathing, led by a certified guide, followed by practice of the Christian spiritual discipline of the Earth Examen. Forest bathing, a practice that originated in Japan, involves taking in, in all of one’s senses, the forest atmosphere. Not simply a walk in the woods, it is the conscious and contemplative practice of being immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the forest. Forest bathing has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood and focus, enhance creativity, and lead to an increased sense of calm and altruistic behavior, in addition to other benefits such as boosting the immune system and lowering blood pressure. As Christians, we understand that God is present in God’s creation, and after our guided forest bath, we’ll spend some time considering the Earth Examen as we reflect both on our time spent forest bathing and on our relationship with all creation. This activity is for a small group and space is limited. Please register at www.eventbrite.com. Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions.