Environmental Resource Guide
Purpose: HARC (the Houston Advanced Research Center) is a nonprofit research hub providing independent scientific analysis. HARC focuses on building a sustainable future that helps people thrive and nature flourish. Programs: HARC’s research focuses on air, water, energy, and resilience. Current research programs include Air Quality Science, Clean Energy Research, Hydrology and Watersheds, Energy Efficient Buildings, and the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems (EFD) Program.…
Purpose:Â HREG is a local chapter of the Texas Solar Energy Society, with a mission to further the development of renewable energy and related arts, sciences, and technologies, with concern for the ecological, social, and economic fabric of our community and state. Members support local events, host the Houston Renewable Energy tour, and in general work to educate the community on the benefits of renewable energy.…
Purpose:Â To promote increased understanding and appreciation of the Christmas Bay Estuarine System and the Texas Gulf Coast; to promote conservation of the natural resources of the Christmas Bay Estuarine System and the Texas Gulf Coast; to contribute to the usefulness of the Bay and its tributaries for recreational and commercial purposes; and to sponsor such activities and events as may contribute to the general welfare of the Christmas Bay Estuarine System and its tributaries.…
Purpose: The Friends of Mandell Park, a nonprofit Texas Corporation, was formed in August 2004 to improve, protect and assist in the maintenance of the City of Houston’s Mandell Park.
Publications: Newsletter, Informational Brochure
Programs: Organic Gardening in Meredith Gardens, Outdoor Movies, Exhibition Prairie.…
Purpose:Â To establish a foundation organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes, in which no part of the net earnings inures to the benefit of any member of the Foundation. We promote and aid other creative activities which will serve the cultural welfare of the community, and offer performance facilities to amateur musical performers, choral groups, orchestral groups and music students.…
Purpose:Â To educate and advocate for recycling in the Lake Houston area (and other issues as appropriate). Non-profit 501c3, all volunteer organization. Major Projects: Participation in Kleenwood, Nature Fest, YMCA events, Kingwood Farmers Market, and other recycling events in the area. We work with the City of Houston, Humble ISD and other governmental units to facilitate and educate about recycling.…
Purpose: To preserve, restore, and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.
Major Events: “4 the Park†Fun Run, Golf Tournament, Green Gala.
Volunteer Opportunities: Corporate, school group and individuals; ongoing Bridge Club, trail maintenance, conservation and administrative.
Speakers Bureau: Yes.…
Purpose: The Houston Community ToolBank is a nonprofit tool lending program that stewards an inventory of tools for lending to charitable organizations to increase the impact of their mission-related efforts in the community. With year-round access to an inventory of tools for use in volunteer projects and facility and grounds maintenance, the ToolBank provide resources to enhance the charitable sector’s capacity to serve, facilitating hands-on volunteerism in the greater Houston area.…
Purpose:Â The Big Thicket Association’s mission is to preserve, protect, and promote the Big Thicket region, its natural resources and cultural history, for enjoyment and well-being of present and future generations through advocacy, education, and research.
Major Programs: Neches River Adventures - a three tiered program that conducts (Tier 1) outdoor classes, (Tier 2) public and (Tier 3) private eco-history tours aboard the Ivory Bill and on the Neches River.…
Purpose:Â To enhance the quality of urban life by providing safe, well-maintained parks and offering affordable programs for the community.
Major Events:
Jan – Arbor Day; Youth Tennis classes begin
Feb – Salt Grass Trail Ride; Adult sports leagues begin
Mar – Tour de Houston, Metal & Muscle Expo; Lake Houston Wilderness
Apr – Houston Children’s Festival, Japan ÂFestival, Houston International Festival
May – Challenge Day, Summer Pool Opening
June – Summer Food Program begins, Golf Tourn; Hershey Track & Field Meet
Jul – Freedom Over Texas; Houston Pops July 4th Celebration
Oct – Asian-American Festival; Wildflower seed planting
Nov – Via Colori
Dec – Heritage Society Candlelight Tour, Holiday Tree Lighting
Year round – Lake Houston Park Nature Center events
School year – After School Enrichment Program
Volunteer Opportunities: Oneika McCarthy
(832) 395-7030 oneika.peters@houstontx.gov
Publications: Activities Catalog – Winter/Spring Issue Dec 1, Summer Issue
Apr 1, and Fall Issue Aug 1.…
Purpose: Through collaborative fundraising and partnership building, EarthShare of Texas empowers mission-driven members to pursue positive environmental and health impacts across the Lone Star State for the benefit of all.
We support more than 40 of the most respected conservation and environmental organizations in Texas. Â From air quality to wildlife rehabilitation to the development of green building technology, our members work to protect our environment.…
Purpose:Â This Ornithological Society is a group of friends of all ages in Galveston County, Texas, who share a love for learning about birds.
Programs: They have meetings and classes and birding trips like the Water Bird Workshop or Shorebird Seminar. Members have day and overnight field trips to observe birds in their natural setting.…
Purpose: The TWRC Wildlife Center provides an emergency room for injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife, as well as a help-line;  both the emergency room and the help-line operate 7 days a week. A veterinarian is on staff to assist with training and emergencies and experienced volunteers and staff facilitate initial triage, rehabilitation, release, and education.…
Purpose: Houston’s leading health and clean air advocacy non-profit specializing in both the treetops and grassroots of environmental advocacy and organizing. Air Alliance Houston’s mission remains to reduce air pollution in the Houston region and to protect public health and environmental integrity through research, education, and advocacy.
Programs: Research, Education, and Advocacy, including Ozone Theater (air pollution education program with three curricula for grades K-2, 3-5, and 6-8). Annual Earth Day Art Contest for grades 3-12, earthdayartcontest.org.…
SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines) educates grades 5-12 on marine debris & trash pollution in the Houston-Galveston coastal ecosystems. We facilitate TEKS-supported, interactive lessons virtually or in-person and offer off campus trash clean ups and data collection activities! Contact splashtx@abcbirds.org for more information!
Purpose: To accelerate the clean energy transition by incubating climatetech startups focusing on electricity, agtech + water, buildings, transportation, manufacturing, and resilience + adaptation. As the largest climatetech startup incubator in North America, Greentown Labs brings together startups, corporations, investors, policymakers, and many others with a focus on scaling climate solutions. Driven to provide startups with the resources, knowledge, connections, and equipment they need to thrive, Greentown Labs offers climatetech startups lab space, shared office space, a machine shop, an electronics lab, software and business resources, and a large network of corporate customers, investors, and more.…
Purpose: To promote the preservation and appreciation of Houston’s architectural and cultural historic resources through advocacy, education, and committed action; thereby creating economic value and developing a stronger sense of community. Regular Meetings: Walking tours, second Sunday of each month. Programs: Preservation advocacy, Historic Neighborhoods Council, Realtor programs, heritage education program, heritage tourism promotion, Museum of Houston digital archive and online museum.…
Purpose: The Friends of Woodland Park, Inc. (FWP) is dedicated to preserving the park’s natural habitat along with its unique historical significance to the City of Houston, and to providing for the enjoyment and education of all who visit.
Publications: Subscribe to email newsletter.
Programs: Trails at Twilight Gala,
Bird watching monthly.…
Purpose: The Shell Center for Sustainability’s mission is to foster an interdisciplinary program of research, outreach, and education to address actions that can be taken to ensure the sustainable development of communities’ living standards, interpreted broadly, to encompass all factors affecting the overall quality of life. In our Vision, the Shell Center for Sustainability is the regional expert in Gulf Coast sustainable development by fostering academic research, outreach and education initiatives in interdisciplinary partnerships and through collaborations that extend outreach from the Florida Keys to the Yucatan Peninsula with strong focus in the Houston and Galveston Region.…
Purpose:Â To protect birds and their habitats around the Gulf of Mexico.
Programs: Land protection, Site Partner Network, Research, Educational Outreach, Tropical Forest Forever Fund. Field Trips are available for your school group. Call office for booking information. Coastal Wildbird Trunk – educational resources for primary and secondary age students
Major Events: Birdies for the Birds, Xtreme Hummingbird Xtravaganza, Smith Point Hawk Watch, Monthly Bird Banding, Quintana Spring Fling.…
The CEC has a searchable, web-based version of the Environmental Resource Guide. You may also download older versions of the printed guide below.
Archived Resource Guides