OUTDOOR NATURE CLUB AND NATIVE PLANT SOCIETY OF TEXAS FIELD TRIP TO BURROUGHS PARK
Date: Sun, Sep 30
Time: meet at 8:15 am
Location: meet at Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Dr
Fee: none
Contact: Paul Roling at (281) 353-7413 or pvroling@att.net

Complete Description:
Visit the 320-acre Burroughs Park in northwest Harris County. There are many aquatic, wetland, and woodland flowers. Wear footwear for wet or dry conditions and bring drinking water, bug spray, and a packed lunch. Field trips normally end after lunch.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER – SUNSET CRUISE PONTOON BOAT ECO TOUR
Date: Sat, Sep 29
Time: 5:30 – 7 pm
Location: meet at Bay Area Park boat launch
Fee: $15 for members, $20 for non-members; Pre-registration required
Contact: Register at (281) 474-2551; information at www.abnc.org

Complete Description:
For ages 5 – adult. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Join us for a relaxing and educational trip on the bayou in the cool of the evening. Sunset on the water is a peaceful experience as you observe the wildlife of Armand Bayou. Depart from Bay Area Park aboard the “Bayou Ranger”, a 28 foot pontoon boat. Pre-registration and Pre-payment required.

JESSE H. JONES PARK AND NATURE CENTER – HAYRIDE TOURS
Date: Sat, Sep 29
Time: please call for times
Location: Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center, 20634 Kenswick Drive, Humble, TX
Fee: none; but reservations required
Contact: Register at (281) 446-8588; information at www.hcp4.net/jones

Complete Description:
Take a leisurely hayride tour and discover many of Jones Park’s more interesting features, and learn about the area’s natural history and wildlife. Ages 8+. Reservations required beginning Wed, Sep 19.

JESSE H. JONES PARK AND NATURE CENTER – PONTOON BOAT TOURS
Date: Sat, Sep 29
Time: please call for times
Location: Jesse H. Jones Park and Nature Center, Spring Creek beach, 20634 Kenswick Dr, Humble Fee: none; but Reservations required beginning Wed, Sep 19
Contact: Register at (281) 446-8588; information at www.hcp4.net/jones

Complete Description:
Take a leisurely tour along Spring Creek and learn about the area’s natural history and wildlife. For ages 8+. Reservations required.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER – BREAKFAST ON THE BAYOU PONTOON BOAT ECO TOUR
Date: Sat, Sep 29
Time: 8 – 9:30 am
Location: meet at Bay Area Park boat launch
Fee: $20 for members, $25 for non-members; Pre-registration required
Contact: Register at (281) 474-2551; information at www.abnc.org

Complete Description:
For ages 5 – adult. Children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Start your weekend by enjoying a leisurely morning breakfast while drifting down the bayou on our “Bayou Ranger” pontoon boat. Observe wildlife searching for their breakfast on the bayou. This trip through the heart of the nature center presents an uncommon opportunity to watch and learn about bayou life. Enjoy pastries, juice and coffee while underway. The “Bayou Ranger” will pick you up at the Bay Area Park boat launch. Pre-registration and Pre-payment required.

GULF COAST BIRD OBSERVATORY – HAWK WATCH WORKSHOP 2007 AND TEXAS ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEETING
Date: Fri, Sep 28 – Sun, Sep 30
Time: please call or check website for times and schedule
Location: Outdoor Hawk Watch Sessions – Smith Point Hawk Watch Tower, TOS Meeting – White Memorial Park, Lodging and Indoor Sessions – Spoonbill Lodge at Smith Point (409-355-2347); please call for more details
Fee: $125 (includes all indoor presentations and field sessions, attendance at the TOS banquet and keynote speaker session, and the following meals: breakfast and a picnic lunch Saturday, dinner at the TOS meeting Saturday night, and breakfast on Sunday)
Contact: Register at (979) 480-0999 and send a check to GCBO; information at www.gcbo.org

Complete Description:
Bill Clark, author of the Peterson Series Field Guide to the Hawks and Photographic Guide to Raptors of North America, will present a Raptor Identification Workshop at the Smith Point Hawk Watch site Sept 28 – 30. The workshop will consist of an indoor session Friday evening, an indoor early morning session Saturday with the rest of the day spent honing our new-found skills at the Smith Point Hawk Watch Tower and vicinity, attendance at Bill’s keynote speaker presentation at the Texas Ornithological Society’s (TOS) biennial meeting at nearby White Memorial Park (includes dinner), and more hawk watching Sunday morning.

HOUSTON SIERRA CLUB – CAR CAMPING AND HIKING TRIP AT GUADALUPE RIVER STATE PARK
Date: Fri, Sep 28 – Sun, Sep 30
Time: please call for meeting time and schedule for 3-day event
Location: Guadalupe River State Park (and Honey Creek State Natural Area)
Fee: $10 per adult to the Houston Sierra Club; day entrance fees to the state parks visited and any camping site fees are extra; pre-registration required
Contact: RSVP by Mon, Sep 24 to Dale Stevens at (936) 582-2942 or dale_stevens9@yahoo.com

Complete Description:
Join the Houston Sierra Club for two days of camping and hiking in the fresh autumn air of the Texas Hill Country. Available activities include a tour of the adjacent Honey Creek State Natural Area, tubing, paddling, fishing, and mountain biking. This trip is child friendly and pet friendly.
Reservations required; please contact Dale Stevens at the contact information above.

RAPTOR IDENTIFICATION WORKSHOP
Date: Fri, Sep 28 – Sun, Sep 30
Time: Friday evening workshop begins; please call for details
Location: Spoonbill Lodge at Smith Point (409-355-2347) and Smith Point Hawk Watch
Fee: $125 (includes all presentations, field trips, and meals for the weekend); please send a check in advance to Gulf Coast Bird Observatory to hold your space
Contact: Register with GCBO at (979) 480-0999; information at www.gcbo.org

Complete Description:
Bill Clark, author of the Peterson Series Field Guide to the Hawks and the Photographic Guide to Raptors of North America, will present a Raptor Identification Workshop at the Smith Point Hawk Watch site September 28 – 30. The workshop will consist of an indoor session Friday evening, Sept 28, and indoor early morning session Saturday with the rest of the day spend honing our new-found skills at the Smith Point Hawk Watch Tower and vicinity, attendance at Bill’s keynote speaker presentation at the Texas Ornithological Society’s biennial meeting at nearby White Memorial Park (includes dinner), and more hawk watching Sunday morning. The TOS meeting and raptor workshop can be easily combined. The Saturday field trip would be the hawk tower and vicinity at Smith Point.

By Ella Tyler

Author Richard Louv, a futurist and journalist who writes about family, nature, and community, coined the term “Nature Deficit Disorder” to explain a variety of ills that affect today’s youth – obesity, attention disorders, and depression. (more…)

The Citizens’ Environmental Coalition is a member of Earth Share of Texas, which represents more than 70 environmental and conservation non-profits in workplace giving programs throughout Texas.Earth Share will be tabling at events for City of Houston, Halliburton, IRS, and the UT Health Science Center during the next month. (more…)

We asked you, our readers, to tell us about the exciting work going on in the greater Houston environmental community and nominate programs that exemplify synergy – where the whole is greater than its parts – for CEC’s tenth annual synergy awards. (more…)

We have two terrific speakers lined up for the Leadership Luncheon on Tuesday, October 23. (more…)

CEC, City of Houston, ICLEI – South Central Regional Capacity Center, and University of Houston–Downtown are co-sponsoring an event for the “National Conversation on Climate Action”. (more…)

Join Harris County Precinct 4 Commissioner Jerry Eversole, Jones Park staff, volunteers, and long-time friends of the park on Saturday, Sept. 29 for a day of festivities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Jesse H. Jones park’s opening. (more…)

The Gulf Coast Green Committee is now accepting proposals for presentations to be given at the Gulf Coast Green 2008 Symposium, April 3-4. (more…)

Urban Harvest is holding a special fall fruit tree sale. The sale will be a preorder and prepaid only sale. (more…)

The Houston Renewable Energy Group is presenting a tour of solar homes and buildings on Saturday, October 6 from noon to 5 pm. (more…)