Calendar

Apr
21
Sat
Migration Celebration @ San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
Apr 21 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Photo of American KestrelMigration Celebration is held annually in April in southern Brazoria County, Texas, sponsored by the Friends of the Brazoria Wildlife Refuges in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Kickoff Dinner will be held on Apr. 13, 2018, and the 24th Annual Migration Celebration will be held on Apr. 21 and 22.

Migration Celebration activities are centered on the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge but formally starts with a fundraising dinner and featured speaker at Freeport RiverPlace located in the Freeport Municipal Park.

Migration Celebration’s events and presentations are designed for the introductory level but still keeps some focus on birds with our Birds of Prey programs and the San Bernard Oak Trail tours.

With the exception of fundraising activities, all other Migration Celebration events, tours, presentations, and other activities are free to the public. This is made possible by the generous donations of time and money by our sponsors, partner organizations, and volunteers.

Volunteers needed. To volunteer contact:
Ed Barrios, Volunteer Coordinator
979-297-1815 (h) 979-415-4998 (c)
barrios@refugefriends.org.

For more information, migrationcelebration.org.

Natural History Demonstration @ Armand Bayou Nature Center
Apr 21 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Learn about the animals of Armand Bayou and the habitats they live in. Demonstrations vary from week to week: mammals, birds and reptiles.

Family Nature Club @ Mercer Botanic Gardens
Apr 21 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Spring is a great time to look for wild animals, both up in the trees and down in the ground, even in the dirt!  Come adventure with the Houston Zoo at Mercer Arboretum and connect with your family and Houston wildlife.  One of Mercer Arboretum’s wonderful staff will also join us on the afternoon hike through the forest! This program will start at 2:00 pm and run 1-2 hours. The maximum capacity is 25 individuals (adults & children).

Family Nature Club is an opportunity for families to get outside together and explore nature! Each program takes place at various parks and nature centers around Houston, and is a great chance to find a new hangout for your herd. Meet like minded families, and know that you’re providing your little ones meaningful opportunities for exploration and play.

Benefits of connecting your family to nature include:

  • Happier, more self-confident, and creative children
  • Stronger family ties
  • Increased sense of wonder and awe for nature close to home
  • Opportunity to follow children’s lead and let them direct the outing

For more information, visit houstonzoo.org.

Apr
22
Sun
Migration Celebration @ San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge
Apr 22 @ 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Photo of American KestrelMigration Celebration is held annually in April in southern Brazoria County, Texas, sponsored by the Friends of the Brazoria Wildlife Refuges in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Texas Mid-Coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Kickoff Dinner will be held on Apr. 13, 2018, and the 24th Annual Migration Celebration will be held on Apr. 21 and 22.

Migration Celebration activities are centered on the San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge but formally starts with a fundraising dinner and featured speaker at Freeport RiverPlace located in the Freeport Municipal Park.

Migration Celebration’s events and presentations are designed for the introductory level but still keeps some focus on birds with our Birds of Prey programs and the San Bernard Oak Trail tours.

With the exception of fundraising activities, all other Migration Celebration events, tours, presentations, and other activities are free to the public. This is made possible by the generous donations of time and money by our sponsors, partner organizations, and volunteers.

Volunteers needed. To volunteer contact:
Ed Barrios, Volunteer Coordinator
979-297-1815 (h) 979-415-4998 (c)
barrios@refugefriends.org.

For more information, migrationcelebration.org.

Natural History Demonstration @ Armand Bayou Nature Center
Apr 22 @ 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Learn about the animals of Armand Bayou and the habitats they live in. Demonstrations vary from week to week: mammals, birds and reptiles.

Apr
23
Mon
Home School Program @ Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Apr 23 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Our home school classes are offered on Mondays from 1:00-3:00 p.m. for students ages 5-12. A different three-week science unit is taught each month, with classes consisting of instructional time, hands-on activities, and outdoor activities. Extension ideas will be provided to parents so they can follow up with lessons and activities at home.
Visit our Home School Blog at www.HouArbHomeSchool.wordpress.com to see what Home Schoolers have been up to!

Schedule: Three Mondays a month from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. (classes for ages 5, 6 – 7, 8 – 9, and 10 – 12)
Fees per student: $60 member** / $90 nonmember per three-week unit

**Must be a Family Tree Member or above for member rate.

Please note: Additional Parents and siblings may not attend class. Those who wish to go out on a nature hike may do so on a special basis by discussing with instructors. *Attendee(s) must be mature enough to participate in the program(s) without parental or guardian supervision. 

Registration note: Parents, when registering for multiple months, please register your child in the same age group for the entire semester.  Thank you!


As part of your registration, you will also receive email updates from our Home School Blog with information and pictures showing you what the students did in class, take home activities to continue learning at home, and updates about the Home School Program in general.


January 8, 22, 29: Body Systems I

The human body is amazing! Come learn how our body systems compare to other animal’s bodies – like a frog! We will dissect a frog in class to examine the different body parts. Register Online

February 5, 19, 26: Body Systems II

This month we continue learning more about body systems. Do mammals breathe the same way as fish? Does a sheep’s heart look like ours? Join us as we explore more about bodies! Register Online

March 5, 19, 26: Urban Farming

Chickens in your backyard? Fresh vegetables from your own garden? Urban farms are sprouting up all over the city! Learn how you can be eco-friendly, save money, and reconnect with nature by creating an urban farm of your own. Register Online

April 9, 16, 23: Geology Rocks!

Rocks, soil, and water are all a part of our physical environment here on earth. This month we will explore how rocks and soil are formed, use stream tables to study geomorphology, and even make our own crystals! Register Online

May 7, 14, 21: Curious Concoctions

Chemistry isn’t just for scientists in labs! Chemistry can be found even in your home and the natural world just outside the door. Find out where you can see chemistry in action as we conduct experiments using the scientific method. Register Online

Apr
24
Tue
Bringing Back Main Street Roundtables and Workshops @ City of Liberty Council Chambers
Apr 24 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

The Bringing Back Main Street initiative offers local communities a place to share best practices and engage in a regional dialogue about revitalizing and supporting vibrant downtown spaces. Each quarter, community leaders gather for a roundtable on topics ranging from small business support to sidewalk infrastructure. These ongoing roundtables add to the knowledge shared during a 2015 workshop series.

Revitalization Roundtables

H-GAC hosts quarterly roundtables to help local governments, chambers of commerce, and economic development interests promote the economic and revitalization of downtown areas.

For more information, visit h-gac.com or contact Clint McManus at clint.mcmanus@h-gac.com or 832-681-2513.

2045 RTP Public Meeting – Galveston County @ Helen Hall Public Library
Apr 24 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

2045 RTP LogoFast forward to 2045. What will your multimodal transportation system look like? Become a part of the transportation planning process. Get involved today to plan for tomorrow’s transportation future. 2045 RTP (Regional Transportation Plan) public meetings are held in various locations throughout Houston and neighboring regions. For a comprehensive list, visit 2045rtp.com.

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, H-GAC will provide for reasonable accommodations. Requests from persons needing special accommodations should be received by staff 24 hours prior to each function. Please call 713-993-2471 for assistance. Sign language interpreters will be available along with Spanish translators.

For more information, visit 2045rtp.com, call 1-855-363-2516, or email publiccomments@h-gac.com.

Apr
26
Thu
Science Sprouts (ages 4-5) @ Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Apr 26 @ 10:00 am – 11:15 am

Nature experiences for preschoolers!

Science Sprouts is an exciting series for curious kids who love nature and science. Classes will include a short lesson on the topic of the day, followed by a nature walk on the trails of the Arboretum. Each class will have a fun mixture of games, live animals, biofacts, crafts, story time, or music. Parents are welcome to participate with their child or simply drop them off.


Dates and Topics

  • February 1 – Cool Critters
  • February 8 – Rock N Roll
  • February 22 – Parts of a Plant
  • March 1 – Beautiful Birds
  • March 8 – Egg’stravaganza
  • March 15 – SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
  • March 22 – Mammal Babies & More
  • March 29 – SSSS Snakes
  • April 5 – Leapin’ Lizards
  • April 12 – NO CLASS
  • April 19 – Far Out Frogs
  • April 26 – Totally Turtles
  • May 3 – Interesting Insects
  • May 10 – Pond Pals

Cost: $225 members*/$350 non-members for the semester

*Must be a Family Tree Member or above for member rate.

Note: You must enroll for the entire semester in order to participate

Register Now!

For more information, visit houstonarboretum.org.

610 Entrance now open. Woodway Entrance closed until late Spring 2018. Map and directions available.

Interactive Planning Tools Seminar Series @ H-GAC Training Room, Second Floor
Apr 26 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

H-GAC is hosting a series of seminars and hands-on workshops to learn to use H-GAC’s interactive web applications for community and transportation planning. Participants will have access to computers to participate in an interactive session to master the use of these online applications.

A webinar option is also available; however, hands-on activities will be presented to in-person attendees only.

  • Seminar 1: Demographic Explorer and Snapshot - Thursday, March 22
  • Seminar 2: Regional Employment Snapshot & Commute Patterns - Thursday, April 26
  • Seminar 3: Activity-Connectivity Explorer - Thursday, May 24

Seminar 1 focuses on the Demographic Explorer and Snapshot which provides quick and easy access to US Census American Community Survey data

Learn how to customize the data displayed to fit your needs:

  • Draw and select an area of interest
  • Query the data for more information
  • Perform market analysis
  • Summarize and download data
  • Directly use the demographic snapshot tool and maps for presentations

For more information, visit h-gac.com.