Join us for a morning of exploration and enlightenment at The Hill on October 26, 2019. Please see the flyer in the event discussion. The rail is approximately 2.5 miles; shorter routes are available. All ages and fitness levels are welcome.

This event is being held in conjunction with the 1st Annual SCC Cloverland and Paradise Valley Breast Cancer Awareness Event.

Mark your calendars. NHS Hill Hikes will now be held on the 4th Saturday of every month.

The scenic view of Houston from the Hill is a must-see ! Hill Hikes… Refreshing, Inspiring, Enlightening, FUN !

The Environmental Educators Exchange meets quarterly on the first Wednesday of the month. Our goal is to provide a neat space to rejuvenate, network and learn about trends in environmental education. All are welcome (including children). Bring a snack to share and invite a friend.

Tentative Agenda:
3:30 – 5:00 canoe in the lake
5:00 – 5:45 networking & resource sharing
5:45 – 6:30 night hike & bonfire?!?

A few rules: For canoeing, we can accommodate children weighing 30 pounds or more. Also, there must be one adult paddler per canoe and one adult per child 10 years and younger. Example: 2 adults with 2 children 10 and younger, 1 adult with 1 child 11+. Maximum 4 persons to a canoe. i.e. One parent cannot ride alone with two children. Canoes and PFDs will be furnished. You may bring your own canoe/kayak.

CELF Citizen Science: Inquiry to Action is a semester-long program that engages educators and students in project-based STEAM learning outside of the classroom. Tailored to each school and community location, we offer professional learning workshops for teachers paired with on-site support to implement a project-based learning module that  connects students to real-world challenges in their own neighborhoods. The program culminates in a Spring 2020 Student Symposium, bringing together all participating schools to present their findings and pollution-prevention plans to community members and real-world policy makers. The program combines the development of 21st century skills with the motivation and creativity generated by solving a problem in one’s own community.

Participants in the program will:

• Implement a project-based STEAM learning unit.

• Participate in professional learning workshops paired with on-site educator support.

• Collect data with AirBeam monitoring technology combined with HabitatMap crowd-sourced data sharing platform.

• Focus on air-quality while learning pedagogical principles that apply to a range of citizen science learning opportunities.

• Engage with local concerns through student-led inquiry.

This opportunity is grant-funded. Join one of the workshops, connect with our educators for on-site support, and come together with other classes implementing this program at our 2020 Spring Student Symposium.

If you attend one of these two professional development opportunities you can attain 2-hours of Continuing Professional Education credit, receive an air quality monitor, connect with local environmental partners, and enjoy a free lunch with fellow educators. You will also gain access to the 2020 Student Symposium, the culminating event for the program.

The monthly bird count will begin at 7 a.m., starting off from the front parking lot of Armand Bayou Nature Center, dispersing from there. Please try and be here by 7 a.m. as gates will lock promptly at 7:05. If you plan on attending, feel free to shoot Andrew Hamlett an email or just show up.

Interested in Urban Forestry? Come join Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, HAUFC and ISA-TX for a great day of education. Topics include: Emerald Ash Borer – Coming to a City Near You, Using Tree Growth Regulators to Reduce Pruning Costs, and Greening the Houston Region – Partnerships and Projects that Support the Urban Forest.

Leader: Cin-Ty Lee

Houston Audubon is conducting a monthly survey at Hogg Bird Sanctuary. Surveys are normally scheduled for the third Saturday of the month. Everyone is welcome. Beginners, experts, or even if you’re just curious.

Everyone will meet at the parking lot at the dead end on the south end of Westcott Street at 7:30 a.m. If the gate is locked, you may park in the upper parking lot and then walk down to the lower parking lot to meet.

Leaders: Theo Ostler and Kelsey Low

Meet in front of the building at the Houston Arboretum.

The Third Saturday bird survey is a monthly event for experienced birders. It’s an opportunity for birders to help the Houston Arboretum keep a better record of the birds inhabiting the nature sanctuary throughout the year. Interested participants should bring binoculars, water, and their bird guides (if necessary).

Please RSVP to Theo Ostler so that he can let you know of any additional information prior to the survey.

Meeting Time: 8:00 a.m. in front of the restrooms

Leaders: Mary Anne Weber, Skip Almoney

Precinct 4’s Kickerillo-Mischer Preserve is an 80-acre property featuring Marshall Lake, which spans approximately 40 acres, plus a staff building, paved roads and parking lots, restroom facilities, and 1.7 miles of trails. Houston Audubon’s survey takes place on the third Tuesday of each month starting in December. Email Mary Anne Weber to be put on the notification list.

Meet count leader Jason Bonilla in the parking lot of Woodland Park. Please note that the park does not have a maintained trail system. As such, there is a lot of poison ivy that is somewhat unavoidable when walking the park and looking for birds. Additionally, there are terrain changes and unstable areas. Participants should wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. They usually meet on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Meet in front of the bathrooms near the parking lot off Eldridge.

Are you looking for a fantastic place to see an amazing array of birds? Join Houston Audubon on the fourth Wednesday of each month at Archbishop Fiorenza Park (Phase 2) between Eldridge and Highway 6 for the chance to see a multitude of species, get a good healthy walk in and enjoy the company of other outdoor loving folks. This park has miles of paved trails, wooded thickets, open grassy areas, large detention ponds with bird islands and much more. It is north of the Westpark Tollway and just north of the original Archbishop Fiorenza Park on Eldridge.

Email Mary Anne Weber at if you’d like to participate.