Calendar

May
31
Sun
Webinar: Discovering our Texas Native Lady Beetles
May 31 @ 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Christ the King Evangelical Lutheran Church invites you to a monthly environmental education web meeting series whose theme in 2020 is The Wonders of Nature.

Lady beetles, or ladybugs, have long been recognized as one of the best biological controls for many insect pests in both home gardens and agri-business. The diversity in this family of insects has been well-characterized yet they have largely been represented by only a few select species which have been introduced in the U.S. via different methods. So, who are our native lady beetles? What are their dietary preferences and habitat needs? This presentation is an introduction to some of the native lady beetles in the greater Houston area and an overview of their biology and habitat needs. Additionally, the presentation will explore threats to lady beetle populations, how iNaturalist can be used as a tool to discover who our native lady beetles, and some of the misconceptions about these fascinating insects. Join this conversation with Rebecca Lloyd, Texas Master Naturalist, as we wonder at Texas Lady beetles! Contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com with any questions about this talk.

Jun
2
Tue
Exploring Coral Spawning in Flower Garden Banks NMS
Jun 2 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Exploring Coral Spawning in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

June 2, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. ET

Take a virtual field trip into the depths of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary with expedition lead Dr. Sarah Davies of Boston University.

In 2019, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries partnered with Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration to expand our understanding of sanctuaries through deep-water exploration and research. Aboard the research vessel Manta, Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration staff, Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary researchers, and partner scientists ventured about 100 miles offshore of Galveston, Texas. There, they observed annual coral reproduction, known as spawning, on the deep reefs of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. Learn about the highlights as lead scientist Dr. Sarah Davies recounts the expedition.

Jun
3
Wed
Exploring for Coral Reef Biodiversity and Connectivity in Flower Garden Banks NMS
Jun 3 @ 10:00 am – 11:00 am

Exploring for Coral Reef Biodiversity and Connectivity in Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary

June 3, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. ET

Take a virtual field trip to the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico with expedition lead Dr. Joshua Voss, from Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute.

In 2019, NOAA’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries partnered with the Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration to expand our understanding of sanctuaries through deep-water exploration and research. Aboard the R/V Manta, Global Foundation for Ocean Exploration staff, Flower Garden Bank National Marine Sanctuary researchers, and partner explorers ventured into the Northwestern Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of Texas and Louisiana. There, they explored areas that have been proposed for sanctuary expansion and investigated the biodiversity and connectivity of mesophotic coral ecosystems. Join us to learn about the highlights from this expedition as lead scientist Dr. Joshua Voss recounts their exploration.

Register

Jun
5
Fri
Environmental Educators Virtual AM Meet Up
Jun 5 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am
Environmental Educators Virtual AM Meet Up

Join us on Fridays for short, “superpowers” sessions led by Houston educators. Walk away with new knowledge and new friends. Open to any educator to network, learn and share resources.

JUNE 5, “BEEKEEPING IN THE CITY,” HOSTED BY KEVIN KOHLI OF ALVEOLE.

Details and registration on this Google Form.

Format: 10 minute presentation on local topic, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and community-building time. The sessions are offered at two times on the same day (10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) to ensure smaller groups and more opportunity to connect with fellow environmental educators in Houston.

Enhancing Whole-Child Development through Natural Outdoor Classrooms
Jun 5 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Enhancing Whole-Child Development through Natural Outdoor Classrooms Friday, June 5 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Discover new “eyes” to see valuable and unique whole-child learning that occurs in natural outdoor classrooms. We will explore tools educators can use to identify, assess, and support the wide variety of skills children are developing as they interact with nature and natural materials. REGISTER HERE.
This program supports OLE! Texas. OLE! Texas is an initiative of the Texas Department of State Health Services in partnership with other state agencies, universities, and organizations across Texas.

  

If you need to cancel or have any questions, please email Katie Chennisi at Catherine.Chennisi@phs.hctx.net.
Environmental Educators Virtual PM Meet Up
Jun 5 @ 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Environmental Educators Virtual PM Meet Up

Join us on Fridays for short, “superpowers” sessions led by Houston educators. Walk away with new knowledge and new friends. Open to any educator to network, learn and share resources.

JUNE 5, “BEEKEEPING IN THE CITY,” HOSTED BY KEVIN KOHLI OF ALVEOLE.

Details and registration on this Google Form.

Format: 10 minute presentation on local topic, followed by 15 minutes of Q&A and community-building time. The sessions are offered at two times on the same day (10 a.m. and 3 p.m.) to ensure smaller groups and more opportunity to connect with fellow environmental educators in Houston.

Jun
18
Thu
Virtual Best Practices Training
Jun 18 @ 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Virtual Best Practices Training

Join Texas Children in Nature and Special Guest Emily Weerts in this Best Practices Seminar.

Sep
12
Sat
Houston Climate Action Plan Discussion with Lara Cottingham @ Online
Sep 12 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 pm
The Houston Central Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby will host Houston Chief Sustainability Officer Lara Cottingham at its monthly meeting in September.
Description: Lara Cottingham is the Chief of Staff of the Administration and Regulatory Affairs Department and the Chief Sustainability Officer for the City of Houston.  She led the effort to create Houston’s Climate Action Plan, which was released in April.  She will be discussing the details of the Plan, the next steps towards implementing the different initiatives introduced, and the support that Houston would like at the state and federal level.  We expect her to speak for 30-45 minutes.
Start time: 11:00 am, Saturday, September 12
Duration of event: We expect Ms. Cottingham to speak for 30-45 minutes, and our full chapter meeting will last for about 2 hours.  All attendees are welcome to stay for the entire meeting or tune in just for Ms. Cottinghman’s presentation.
Register on Eventbrite.
Sep
13
Sun
Water Quality and Water Conservation for Houses of Worship & Their Members @ Online
Sep 13 @ 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

The Interfaith Environmental Network of Houston invites you to join Sarah Gossett Robinson, Senior Community Liaison for Houston Water, to learn how you/your house of worship can assist in conserving water & preserving water quality. Houston Water, a service line of Houston Public Works, aims to treat and deliver safe and clean water resources through ongoing investment in sustainable technologies, infrastructure and community engagement. This presentation will outline the community engagement, outreach, and informal education strategies that complement engineered solutions to improve the City’s drinking and wastewater infrastructure, including opportunities for partnership for houses of worship and their members to further engage with these initiatives. The event will be recorded, so if you can’t make it, you can still get a copy of the training recording to review later.

Register at eventbrite.com.

For more information, please contact Lisa Brenskelle at gcs.lrc@gmail.com.

Sep
15
Tue
Teacher Workshop: Fall Gardens
Sep 15 @ 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm
Teacher Workshop: Fall Gardens
Virtual Teacher Workshop!

Teachers! Join Janice Brown from On the Grow for a free, virtual workshop. Learn how to set up a fall garden on your campus, or how to coach students through setting one up in their own backyards. Let’s get the kids outside this fall.

Earn 1.5 CPE hours; TEEAC credit available in partnership with the Texas Association for Environmental Education. Brought to you by HERE in Houston, a program of the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition.