Calendar

Jan
3
Thu
K-12 Student Art Contest in the Maritime Community
Jan 3 @ 8:00 am – Mar 31 @ 3:09 pm

Thank you for your interest in the “All aboard! There’s a place for you in the maritime community!” Art Contest sponsored by the North American Marine Environment Protection Association (NAMEPA), the United States Coast Guard (USCG) and the Inter-American Committee on Ports of the Organization of the American States (CIP-OAS).  We welcome submissions from students enrolled in grades K-12 living in the Americas (North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean).  Students living outside the Americas are welcome to apply, provided they have one or more parents on active duty with the U. S. Coast Guard.  Submissions will be accepted from January 2, 2019 – March 31, 2019 at 11:59 p.m. (En Español:  www.namepa.net/concurso-de-arte)

Students are asked to submit an original poster that creatively depicts ways to embrace diversity and inclusion in the maritime community and highlight the broad range of opportunities the industry has to offer. The theme reflects the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2019 World Maritime Day Theme. Students should submit an original artwork that based on the contest theme description below:

Seaborn transportation is one of the oldest industries—and the most exciting!  More than 90% of the world’s goods and energy travel by ship!  The diversity of opportunities in the maritime industry is as diverse as the ocean itself. Seafaring is an exciting career that allows you to travel the world and absorb different cultures. You can also become a successful member of the marine industry without ever getting your feet wet! An opportunity to be a maritime lawyer, accountant, engineer, medical professional, or scientist, could be in your future!

The marine industry is evolving. Now, more than ever, there are technical training and education programs available to people of all backgrounds to ensure a rewarding career in the maritime sector. Today, many people are finding more opportunities in leadership, administrative, and decision-making roles in addition to seafaring jobs.

Successful members of the marine industry can come from any educational, geographic, or cultural background. Can you think of a way to embrace diversity in the marine industry, either on a ship or in a shore-side role? Or, if you’ve ever thought about pursuing a career in the marine industry, can you artistically show us how? Students are asked to submit an original poster depicting creative and imaginative ideas about how to make shipping more inclusive, or how they can chart a future in the maritime industry.

Twelve finalists will receive a certificate and a calendar with the artwork from each finalist.  Two grand-prize winning artists will also receive a $100 cash prize and a U.S. Coast Guard prize package. There will be six finalists and one grand prize winner from each of the K-5 and 6-12 categories.

THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2019, WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED BY MAY 15, 2019. Full rules are posted below.

To enter, click the button below or go to:  https://maritimeartcontest.submittable.com/submit.

Mar
21
Thu
HPARD’s Native Plant Propagation Workdays @ HPARD Greenhouse
Mar 21 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Image result for Houston Parks & Recreation Department logo

Habitat Restoration

Our volunteer group meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to noon at the HPARD Greenhouse.

We propagate plants from locally collected native seed. A typical workday may include seeding pots, bumping up trays into 1-gallon containers, separating seedlings, and weeding pots. We will also have special seed collecting trips, invasive species removal workdays, and planting events in our restored prairies!

We are also beginning to conduct semi-annual vegetation transects and monthly bird surveys at our current and future restoration sites. If you’re good at identifying plants or birds or if you would like to learn more about them, come join us!

If you’re interested in volunteering for the NRMP, email kelli.ondracek@houstontx.gov.

KPC Greenhouse Volunteers @ Memorial Park Conservancy Greenhouse
Mar 21 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

The Memorial Park Conservancy has generously offered Katy Prairie Conservancy use of their greenhouse while the Native Seed Nursery at KPC’s field office in Waller is being renovated. Volunteers will help grow plants that will be used for various Katy Prairie Conservancy spring projects and for the Great Grow Out. The Memorial Park Conservancy Greenhouse is located in Memorial Park on the south side of Memorial Drive. All are welcome, no experience necessary.

Workdays are scheduled for the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 9:00 a.m. to noon.

Gardening for Birds, Butterflies and Other Pollinators course @ Rice University
Mar 21 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

As birds, butterflies and bees become increasingly imperiled, more homeowners are creating gardens to nurture and sustain pollinators. These dynamic gardens not only support wildlife but also provide an attractive and healthy environment for people.

Master gardener and naturalist Glenn Olsen explains which wildflowers, flowering shrubs, fruit trees and even vegetables offer food and shelter for pollinators. Learn to create an outdoor oasis for yourself and for pollinating creatures. The class includes a field trip to the Rice University Betty and Jacob Friedman Holistic Garden, the Urban Pocket Prairie and the Lynn Lowery Arboretum. To register and for more details, visit glasscockcatalog.rice.edu.

Mar
23
Sat
Community Workdays @ Edith L. Moore Natural Sanctuary_
Mar 23 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join Houston Audubon at the Edith Moore Nature Sanctuary for a morning of gardening and sanctuary maintenance. Houston Audubon’s team works 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., once a month on the 4th Saturday from September through May (3rd Saturday in November and December).  Activities include trail maintenance, filling bird feeders and baths, litter pick-up, native gardening, and invasive species removal. It’s a great way to enjoy the outdoors and meet like-minded friends.

Bring water, sunscreen, bug repellent & gloves/clippers if you have them. Wear closed-toe shoes & long pants. Bring sack lunch if desired. Children of any change are welcome with their parent/chaperone. (Minimum age without a parent/chaperone is 12 years.)

All volunteers must pre-register by the Wednesday before workday with Bethany Foshée (713-932-1639).

Mar
24
Sun
Urban Harvest’s Restoring Nature Through Permaculture series @ Shlenker School
Mar 24 @ 10:00 am – 3:00 pm

A series of 4 classes

Mar
27
Wed
Deadline: KHB Day Registration
Mar 27 – Mar 28 all-day

Image result for khb logo houstonIt’s time to start registering your teams and volunteers for this year’s KHB Day, which will be held on Apr. 6, 2019, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Team Registration: Each team leader will be provided with a roster of their registered team members prior to the event.

Volunteer form: All volunteers must complete an online volunteer application this year, which you will find at form.jotform.com.

The deadline to register teams/locations and volunteers is March 27th. KHB will not be providing paper registrations this year.

Mar
28
Thu
HPARD’s Greenhouse Workday @ Memorial Park Greenhouse
Mar 28 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Volunteers meet the second and fourth Thursday of every month to propagate plants from locally collected native seed. A typical workday may include seeding pots, bumping up trays into 1-gallon containers, separating seedlings, and weeding pots. They will also have special seed collecting trips, invasive species removal workdays, and planting events in restored prairies.

If you’re interested in volunteering for the Natural Resource Management Program, email kelli.ondracek@houstontx.gov or visit houstontx.gov/parks/naturalresources.html.

Gardening for Birds, Butterflies and Other Pollinators course @ Rice University
Mar 28 @ 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

As birds, butterflies and bees become increasingly imperiled, more homeowners are creating gardens to nurture and sustain pollinators. These dynamic gardens not only support wildlife but also provide an attractive and healthy environment for people.

Master gardener and naturalist Glenn Olsen explains which wildflowers, flowering shrubs, fruit trees and even vegetables offer food and shelter for pollinators. Learn to create an outdoor oasis for yourself and for pollinating creatures. The class includes a field trip to the Rice University Betty and Jacob Friedman Holistic Garden, the Urban Pocket Prairie and the Lynn Lowery Arboretum. To register and for more details, visit glasscockcatalog.rice.edu.

Mar
30
Sat
Mercer Botanic Gardens’ Strawberry Patch Kids @ Mercer Botanic Gardens
Mar 30 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Mercer Botanic Garden is announcing a Spring Planting Event!  Help the staff at Mercer Botanic Gardens plant a new strawberry patch this spring! Following the strawberry planting, visit our volunteer face painter for a cheerful design and check out strawberry-themed books from the Little Blue Library. Strawberry lemonade will be provided to participants. To reserve a strawberry plant for planting, call 713-274-4160. Planting is scheduled in two one-hour time blocks. When calling to reserve a plant for your child, indicate your time preference: 9 a.m. or 10 a.m. Limit one strawberry plant per child.

Hourly Schedule

  • 9:00 am – 10:00 am : First Session
  • 10:00 am – 11:00 am : Second Session