Environmental Resource Guide

The Environmental Resource Guide is a searchable, web-based resource that includes information about all organizations in the Greater Houston Area conducting environmental work. This guide is a one-stop-shop for any resources or connections you may need, and is updated often to ensure you have access to the newest information.

Scroll through the guide, view a list of all organizations, or view all categories of organizations below. At the very bottom of the page is an archive containing older versions of the printed guide available for download.

If you have any questions, would like to make edits to a current listing, or would like to add or remove an organizations, please reach out to us.

Photo of City of Houston – Resilience and Sustainability Office City of Houston – Resilience and Sustainability Office
(832)393-8504

Purpose: The Resilience & Sustainability Office is responsible for implementing Resilient Houston and the Houston Climate Action Plan. Together, these documents provide a clear framework to foster the growth of a Houston that is both a healthy place to live and an equitable, inclusive, and affordable city that leads in climate mitigation and adaptation and offers a transformative economy that builds forward.

Photo of SPARK School Park Program SPARK School Park Program
(832) 393-0911

Purpose: The SPARK School Program works with schools and neighborhoods to develop community parks on public school grounds. In the past 30 years, SPARK has built over 200+ community parks throughout the Houston/Harris County area. Each park is unique, with its design based on ideas and needs of the school and surrounding neighborhoods.…

Photo of Rice Design Alliance Rice Design Alliance
(713) 348-5924

Purpose: Dedicated to the advancement of architecture, urban design, and the built environment in the Houston region through educational programs, the publication of Cite, and active programs to initiate physical improvements. By sponsoring lectures, seminars, symposia, exhibits, and tours, RDA seeks to involve the public.

Volunteer Opportunities: Docents needed for house tour, gala, and other events.…

Photo of Galveston Bay Foundation Galveston Bay Foundation
(281) 332-3381

Purpose: To preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of the Galveston Bay estuarine system and its tributaries for present users and for posterity. Galveston Bay Foundation’s balanced programs in advocacy, conservation, education, and research strive to ensure that Galveston Bay remains a beautiful and productive place for generations to come.

Photo of Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center
(281) 446-8588

Purpose: A 312-acre, Harris County Precinct 4 nature park dedicated to environmental and natural history, education, wildlife conservation, and passive recreation. It opened in 1982.

Programs: Wide variety of weekday tours and free weekend educational programs, ranging from the lifestyles and customs of local early settlers to the environmental benefits of nature. Teacher workshops and training programs are offered as well.…

Photo of Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum
(832) 456-1000

Purpose: To enhance, enable, and integrate sustainable use of land and water for the Houston area’s continued growth and economic vitality.

Maintaining the pace of growth and development in the greater Houston area requires that those with a vested interest adopt new ideas and employ new methods that will insure that growth can be sustained.…

Photo of Scenic Galveston Scenic Galveston
(979) 234-2096

Purpose: A volunteer membership service organization dedicated to creating land trusts of scenic habitat conservation preserves currently at 6,000 acres. Includes permanent protection and restoration of the 1,058-acre John M. O’Quinn I-45 Scenic Estuarial Corridor, the natural marsh gateway to Galveston; the contiguous 1,840 acres of native coastal prairie and wetland habitat on the Virginia Point Peninsula Preserve, and 3,000+ acres as stewards of conservation easement prairies/wetlands on north West Galveston Bay.…

Photo of Environmental Defense Fund Environmental Defense Fund
(512) 478-5161

Purpose: To preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. Environmental Defense Fund is dedicated to protecting the environmental rights of all people, including the right to clean air, clean water, healthy food and flourishing ecosystems. Guided by science and economics, we find practical and lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.…

Photo of Houston Zoo Wildlife Conservation Program Houston Zoo Wildlife Conservation Program
(713) 533-6500

Purpose: Our mission is to make the Houston Zoo a leader in conservation as it relates to the survival of threatened wildlife, wise use of natural resources, and the appreciation of our natural world by zoo visitors.

Publications: Members quarterly Wildlife Magazine.

Major Events: Conservation Gala, Call of the Wild Speakers Series, Earth Day, Feast with the Beasts, Zoobilee, Zoo Boo, Spotlight on Species Weekends.…

Photo of Vegan for Life Vegan for Life
(832) 202-3806

Purpose: Vegan for Life’s mission is to educate the public about the benefits of a plant-based diet, including the prevention of unnecessary killing and mistreatment of animals, protection of the environment, and good health. Vegan for Life aims to increase recognition of veganism as an effective approach that individuals can take to help save the planet and spread compassion.…

Photo of Greentown Labs Houston Greentown Labs Houston
(346) 571-5627

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.…

Photo of American Youthworks Conservation Corps & AmeriCorps American Youthworks Conservation Corps & AmeriCorps
(512) 744-1900

Purpose: American YouthWorks provides young people with opportunities to build careers, strengthen communities, and improve the environment through education, on-the-job training, and service to others.

Programs:

  • YouthBuild Austin is a youth services program that combines academics with career training, leadership development, and community service. For more information visit http://americanyouthworks.org/programs/youthbuild/
  • Texas Conservation Corps (TxCC) is a 21st Century Conservation Service Corps accredited program that empowers young people through AmeriCorps service, conservation, education, and jobs training.
Photo of Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. Woodlands G.R.E.E.N.
713-540-1964

Purpose: The The Woodlands G.R.E.E.N. is a tax-deductible 501 (c)(3) educational organization that promotes natural resource conservation, recycling, solid waste reduction, safe and sensible care of our air and water resources, and other responsible actions that protect the environment and its inhabitants.

Meetings: Board & Members Meeting, 5:30-7 p.m., second tuesday of each month, location specified on website.…

Photo of Outdoor Nature Club Outdoor Nature Club

Purpose: To cooperate in the enjoyment and study of nature; to further conservation of natural resources and foster interest in them, and to work toward the establishment and maintenance of natural sanctuaries and preserves.

Meetings: Second Thursday, 7:30 p.m.,

Sept.- May at Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet.

Groups:

Botany/Entomology has the materials and expertise to share the wonders of plants and insects.…

Photo of Citizens’ Transportation Coalition Citizens’ Transportation Coalition
(832) 768-5258

Purpose: Founded in 2004, the CTC is an all-volunteer grassroots transportation advocacy organization. The Citizens’ Transportation Coalition advocates for a broad-based public educational and planning process to identify neighborhood aspirations, influences projects to achieve the best transportation options, and engages our communities in designing a complete multimodal transportation system that serves us all.

Dexter Handy, Chair
drhandy@aol.com

Carol Caul, Advocacy Chair
Ed Browne, Science and Technology Chair

Photo of Houston History Archives (UH-HHA) Houston History Archives (UH-HHA)
(713) 743-9750

Purpose: Founded 2005 as part of the Houston History Project (now the Welcome Wilson Houston History Collaborative), UH Center for Public History, UH-HHA is a public repository for books, documents, oral histories, and images related to the Houston region’s growth and development from 19th century to present. Particular areas of collection interest include energy development, environmental history and activism, and documentation of Houston’s ethnic diversity and activism.…

Photo of Living Paradigm Community Dev. Corp Living Paradigm Community Dev. Corp
(832) 303-9208

Purpose: The mission of Living Paradigm is to empower people by creating home ownership of shelters erected from reclaimed materials. These dwellings will be environmentally responsible and healthy places for those that inhabit them and will contribute to the culture, vitality, and individuality of the community.

Living Paradigm addresses the social, economic and environmental basis of sustainable living by building low-cost homes (under $50k), with volunteer or apprenticeship labor, using materials that would otherwise go to the landfill.…

Photo of Environment Texas Research & Policy Center Environment Texas Research & Policy Center
(512) 479-0388

Purpose: Protection of Texas’ air, water and open spaces. Improving the quality of our environment and our lives by using independent research and tough-minded advocacy to win concrete results for our environment.

Program Priorities: Clean Energy, Energy Efficiency, Green Building, Open Space Preservation, Clean Air and Water, Global Warming.…

Photo of Houston Canoe Club Houston Canoe Club
(832) 909-3843

Purpose: Established in 1964, the Houston Canoe Club’s members are interested in all types of paddlesport from canoeing to kayaking, quietwater, whitewater, touring and racing. We do it all and have fun doing it. Canoe safety presentations are available for school groups.

Meeting Time: 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month at the Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonnet Street, Houston, TX 77074.…

Photo of White Oak Bayou Association White Oak Bayou Association

Purpose: To promote greater public awareness, appreciation, and enjoyment of White Oak Bayou, its tributaries and environs by advocating the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the natural wildlife habitats thereof, while promoting compatible educational and recreational opportunities within the area. White Oak Bayou Association was founded in May 1986.

Meetings: Monthly: 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.…