In November 1996, Planet Ark founded National Recycling Week to bring a national focus to the environmental benefits of recycling. Now in its 24th year, this established and highly regarded annual campaign continues to educate and stimulate behavior change, by:

• Promoting curbside, industrial and community recycling initiatives
• Giving people the tools to minimize waste and manage material resources responsibly at home, work and school.

Whether it’s hosting a swap party for friends, setting up a new workplace recycling system or just upping your knowledge, we’ve got plenty of ways for you to get involved.  Be focused on developing engaging and positive environmental behavior changes to help everyone recycle and reduce waste.

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.

The Texas Coastal Watershed Program holds weekly volunteer days for their stormwater wetland program, 9am-12pm on Thursdays. Volunteers help propagate plants in the wetland plant nursery at Exploration Green in Clear Lake City, or at the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory in Lake Jackson.  The stormwater wetland program is developing demonstration projects to show  how wetlands can be designed into flood control basins to clean contaminants from surface runoff,  protect our bayous and bays, and provide a refuge for wildlife. A schedule and more information is available by contacting Mcedwards@tamu.edu.

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.

An opportunity to participate in stewardship work for registered volunteers–if you are not already a volunteer, please check out Armand Bayou Nature Centers’ website for more information.

Help restore the prairie by potting and planting native plants and forbs every Friday, rain or shine. You do not need to attend every Friday.

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.