RICE DESIGN ALLIANCE – KLEE AND BAUHAUS LECTURE
Date: Wed, Nov 29
Time: 7 pm
Location: Menil Collection
Fee: Free
Contact: (713) 348-4876

Complete Description:
Speaker: Marcel Franciscono, Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER – PIONEER OPEN HOUSE
Date: Wed, Nov 29
Time: 1 – 4 pm
Location: Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Drive, Redbud Hill Homestead
Fee: Free
Contact: (281) 446-8588

Complete Description:
Enjoy a look around the Redbud Hill Homestead and the Akokisa Indian Village.

HOUSTON AUDUBON SOCIETY ADVANCED BIRDING CLASS – SHOREBIRDS WITH GEORGE REGMUND
Date: Mon, Mar 19 Class + Sat, Mar 24 Field Trip
Time: Class – 7 – 9 pm, Field Trip – 8 am – 4 pm
Location: Class – Galveston County Extension Office in Dickinson, Field Trip – Bolivar Flats Sanctuary
Fee: $75 per person (members and non-members); Pre-registration required
Contact: Sam Barnett of HAS at (713) 932-1639

Complete Description:
This seminar with field trip, in partnership with Skimmer Nature Tours, is designed for the birder with a basic knowledge of birding and identification techniques.
The group of birds referred to as the shorebirds is made up of avocets and stilts, oystercatchers, plovers and sandpipers. They inhabit beaches, ocean edges and waterways throughout the world. Many of them migrate huge distances between their nesting and their wintering habitats. Often these birds are difficult to identify in the field due to their plain colors and similar plumage. Target birds for the field trip at Bolivar Flats include: Wilson’s Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Snowy Plover, Black-bellied Plover, Sandpipers, Stilts, and Avocets.
Class size is limited to 12 people, so register and pay now if you are interested!

HOUSTON ZOO MEMBER MORNING – LONE STAR ANIMALS
Date: Sat, Jan 6
Time: 9:15 am Program Begins
Location: Houston Zoo; check website for specific meeting location
Fee: Free (Zoo members only); but Pre-registration is required
Contact: www.houstonzoo.org/membership

Complete Description:
Start your day with one of the Zoo’s most popular members-only events as you hear from one of our Zoo’s experts and gain professional insight about select animal residents. In this program, we will visit our Texas native animals in the Children’s Zoo as well as the Cougar, Ocelot, and Texas Snakes. Programs begin promptly at 9:15 am and are free to members. Register at www.houstonzoo.org/membership at least 24 hours in advance. Reservations are required as space is limited.

JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER – AN OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS
Date: Sat, Dec 2
Time: 4 – 7 pm
Location: Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Drive
Fee: Free; but Reservations required
Contact: (281) 446-8588

Complete Description:
Experience the Christmas traditions of earlier times as the Redbud Hill Homestead comes alive with customs of the 19th century holiday season. Enjoy heritage music, a holiday craft, lighting of the tree, wassail, and cookies. For all ages. Reservations required and open to Harris County residents beginning Monday, November 13. Non-Harris County residents, make reservations beginning Monday, November 20.

BOTANY/ENTOMOLOGY GROUP – DECEMBER MONTHLY MEETING – TEXAS WILDFLOWERS
Date: Tue, Dec 12
Time: 7:30 pm Program
Location: Bayland Community Center
Fee: Free
Contact: Russell Jeffords at (713) 504-9215

Complete Description:
A presentation on Texas wildflowers will be given by Outdoor Nature Club member Kellene Jarratt. The group will be asked to identify flowers from photos.

HOUSTON ZOO WILD WHEELS CLASS (AGES 30 MONTHS AND UNDER + A PARENT)
Date: Tue, Nov 28
Time: 9:15 am
Location: Houston Zoo – gift shop entrance
Fee: $10 per class for 1 adult + 1 child in stroller; pre-registration required
Contact: (713) 533-6550 or www.houstonzoo.org

Complete Description:
Bring your child and stroller to the Zoo on Tuesday mornings for an hour of fun and learning together. We will meet inside the front entrance by the gift shop and stroll together through a particular part of the Zoo. Our track will lead us to the Brown Education Center for a touchable animal encounter to conclude the lesson. Pre-registration and Pre-payment required.

TV SHOW – ERNIE MANOUSE INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE SOROS
Date: Mon, Nov 27
Time: 10 pm
Location: Watch Houston Media Source, Time Warner 17, TV Max 17, or Cebridge 98
Contact: (713) 664-0020

JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER – JESSE JONES PARK VOLUNTEERS NOVEMBER MONTHLY MEETING
Date: Mon, Nov 27
Time: 7 pm
Location: Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Drive, Humble, TX
Fee: Free
Contact: (281) 446-8588

Complete Description:
The Jesse Jones Park Volunteers invite everyone to their monthly program and meeting.

JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER – SUNDAY MORNING BICYCLING
Date: Sun, Nov 26
Time: 8 am – 12 pm
Location: Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Drive
Fee: Free
Contact: (281) 446-8588

Complete Description:
The trails are open for bicycling.

JESSE H. JONES PARK & NATURE CENTER – PIONEER OPEN HOUSE
Date: Sat, Nov 25
Time: 1 – 4 pm
Location: Jesse H. Jones Park & Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Drive, Redbud Hill Homestead
Fee: Free
Contact: (281) 446-8588

Complete Description:
Enjoy a look around the Redbud Hill Homestead and the Akokisa Indian Village.

BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP – JAPHET CREEK VOLUNTEER WORKDAY
Date: Sat, Nov 25
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Location: Japhet Creek; please call for details
Fee: Free
Contact: Brian Herod at (713) 480-6303

MERCER ARBORETUM & BOTANIC GARDENS – MERCER BAMBOO MEETING
Date: Sat, Nov 25
Time: 9 am – 12 pm
Location: Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road, Humble, TX
Fee: Free
Contact: (281) 443-8731

Complete Description:
Monthly meetings feature a morning presentation and an afternoon of hands-on training in Mercer’s bamboo garden. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER – GUIDED CANOE TOUR OF ARMAND BAYOU
Date: Sat, Nov 25
Time: 8 – 11 am
Location: Armand Bayou Nature Center, 8500 Bay Area Boulevard (canoes leave from Bay Area Park)
Fee: $20 for member, $25 for non-member
Contact: (281) 474-2551

Complete Description:
Come along on a morning of education and adventure paddling canoes on a guided tour down the backwaters of Armand Bayou. Meet at Bay Area Park for a leisurely morning of wildlife watching, wetland education, relaxation and fun. Observe numerous birds, reptiles, deer and other residents who are starting their day at the water’s edge. Travel approximately 2-3 miles roundtrip. Beginning and experienced canoeists are welcome. Our knowledgeable guides will give a brief orientation. Life jackets are provided. Pre-registration and Pre-payment required.

By Ella Tyler

The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality filed proposed amendments to the State Implementation Plan for the Dallas/ Fort Worth and the Houston/Galveston/Brazoria ozone non-attainment areas yesterday. (more…)

CLEAN (Citizens League for Environmental Action Now) is hosting a free environmental reporting workshop on Monday, Dec 4, from 11 am to 2 pm. (more…)

Adele Houghton of the Center for Maximum Potential Building Systems and Greg Roberts of WHR Architects will speak on the greening of health care at the US Green Building Council meeting on Tuesday, Dec 5. (more…)