TAI CHI AT HOUSTON ARBORETUM
Date: Tue, Sep 30
Time: 5:45 – 6:45 pm
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $15
Contact: www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

MERCER ARBORETUM – GARDEN FAIRE
Date: Sun, Sep 28
Time: 10 am – 4 pm
Location: Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road
Fee: none; bring money to buy plants and other items for sale
Contact: (281) 443-8731 or www.hcp4.net/mercer

Complete Description:
More information to be announced later. Please join Mercer for this annual fun event.

CHILDREN AT RISK – NUESTRA FAMILIA, NUESTRA SALUD – CHILDREN’S HEALTH FAIR
Date: Sun, Sep 28
Time: all-day; please call for time
Location: Reliant Hall
Fee: none
Contact: Melissa Garza Garrison at (713) 869-7740 or mgarza@childrenatrisk.org; information at www.childrenatrisk.org

Complete Description:
Event is scheduled to include: parent and youth education focusing on overall health and well-being (e.g. nutrition, physical fitness, stress management); information and resources for prevention and intervention of specific health conditions (e.g. diabetes, obesity, heart disease); representatives from clinics and healthcare centers across Greater Houston; free immunizations; dental and vision screenings; BMI and blood pressure checks; and helpful tips on nutrition, such as cooking demonstrations and healthy recipes.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER – SUNSET CRUISE PONTOON BOAT RIDE
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 6 pm – 7:30 pm
Location: meet at Bay Area Park boat launch, 7500 Bay Area Blvd.
Fee: $15 for members, $20 for non-members; pre-registration & pre-payment required
Contact: register at (281) 474-2551; information at www.abnc.org

Complete Description:
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.

HOUSTON ARBORETUM NATURE 101 CLASS – FOREST ECOLOGY
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 1 – 3 pm
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $25 per person; $10 for active Arboretum volunteers; register by Sept 24
Contact: register at www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

Complete Description:
Learn about the wildlife and plants of a forest and how they interact as an ecological system.

HOUSTON ARBORETUM NATURE 101 CLASS – GRASSLAND ECOLOGY
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 10 am – 12 pm
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $25 per person; $10 for active Arboretum volunteers; register by September 24
Contact: register at www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

Complete Description:
Come learn about the plants and animals that exist in this disappearing ecosystem.

HOUSTON ARBORETUM TADPOLE TROOPERS CLASS – INSECTS AREN’T SO ICKY (AGES 3 TO 5 WITH AN ADULT)
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 9 – 10:15 am or 10:45 am – 12 pm
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $12 for members, $24 for non-members; pre-registration & pre-payment required
Contact: register at www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

Complete Description:
Learn about aquatic and semi-aquatic insects such as dragonflies, whirligigs, backswimmers, and water striders.

XTREME HUMMINGBIRD XTRAVAGANZA
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 8 am – 12 noon
Location: Gulf Coast Bird Observatory, 103 West Highway 332, Lake Jackson, TX 77566
Fee: $2 donation requested
Contact: www.gcbo.org or (979) 480-0999

Complete Description:
Hummingbird banding, adopt-a-hummingbird, nature store, buy hummingbird- and butterfly- plants, explore nature trails, listen to guest speakers, and meet rehabilitated wildlife. Event takes place all 4 Saturdays in September 2008 this year.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER – BREAKFAST ON THE BAYOU PONTOON BOAT RIDE
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 8 – 9:30 am
Location: meet at Bay Area Park boat launch, 7500 Bay Area Blvd.
Fee: $20 for members, $25 for non-members; pre-registration & pre-payment required
Contact: register at (281) 474-2551; information at www.abnc.org

Complete Description:
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.

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER – CANOEING ARMAND BAYOU
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 8 – 11 am
Location: meet at Bay Area Park boat launch, 7500 Bay Area Blvd.
Fee: $20 for members, $25 for non-members; pre-registration & pre-payment required
Contact: register at (281) 474-2551; information at www.abnc.org

Complete Description:
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.

MERCER ARBORETUM – GARDEN FAIRE
Date: Sat, Sep 27
Time: 8 am – 4 pm
Location: Mercer Arboretum, 22306 Aldine Westfield Road
Fee: none; bring money to buy plants and other items for sale
Contact: (281) 443-8731 or www.hcp4.net/mercer

Complete Description:
More information to be announced later. Please join Mercer for this annual fun event.

YOGA AT HOUSTON ARBORETUM
Date: Thu, Sep 25
Time: 5:45 – 6:45 pm
Location: 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $15
Contact: www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

Complete Description:
Slow down and relax in the peaceful beauty of the Arboretum during a one-hour yoga session in the Arboretum’s classroom with a view of the forest.

HOUSTON ARBORETUM CLASS – IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING MUSHROOMS – THE MYSTERIOUS KINGDOM WITH LUCIEN BOUFFARD
Date: Wed, Sep 24 + Thu, Sep 25 from 7 – 9 pm + Sat, Sep 27 field trip (3-part class)
Time: 7 – 9 pm for the class; daytime for the field trip
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $40 for members, $55 for non-members
Contact: register at www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

Complete Description:
Mushrooms are an often misunderstood kingdom of organisms that absorb their food through the decomposition of organic matter. This introductory class will acquaint you with the various groups of mushrooms and their characteristics, including identification, anatomy, and life-cycle. The economic value of mushrooms and their use as food and medicine throughout history will be discussed. A Saturday field trip to collect, group, and classify mushrooms with a group of well-known mushroom hunters is included.

FAMILY/KID YOGA AT HOUSTON ARBORETUM
Date: Wed, Sep 24
Time: 3:15 – 4 pm
Location: 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $10 for kids, $5 for adults
Contact: www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

Complete Description:
Classes for children & their families. Take part in this fun and imaginative class imitating plants and animals you will find right here in the Houston Arboretum. Bring yoga mats.

TAI CHI AT HOUSTON ARBORETUM
Date: Tue, Sep 23
Time: 5:45 – 6:45 pm
Location: Houston Arboretum, 4501 Woodway Drive
Fee: $15
Contact: www.houstonarboretum.org or (713) 681-8433

BUFFALO BAYOU PARTNERSHIP – KAYAK TOURS
Date: Sun, Sep 21
Time: 9 – 11 am or 11:30 am – 1 pm
Location: For the 9 am tour, meet at 5000 Memorial Drive just west of Shepherd Drive. On street parking is available. For the 11:30 am tour, parking is available at City Parking Lot H (next to Fonde Recreation Center at Sabine Street and Memorial Drive).
Shuttles will be provided to take paddlers back to the parking area.
Fee: $50 (includes kayak rental and tour); pre-registration & pre-payment required
Contact: register at (713) 752-0314, ext. 3; information at www.buffalobayou.org

Complete Description:
Paddlers will venture into the lushness of the bayou, exploring the urban oasis of Houston. Join us for one of our unique afternoon-guided paddling trips. The outfitter will be providing easy to use, solo sit-on-top recreational kayaks, “mini kayak lessons”, and paddling and safety gear.
9 – 11 am: Paddle from Shepherd to Allen’s Landing and ending at Sabine-to-Bagby Promenade
11:30 am – 1 pm: Paddle from Sabine-to-Bagby to Allen’s Landing and ending at Shepherd Drive

ARMAND BAYOU NATURE CENTER – OWL PROWL
Date: Sat, Sep 20
Time: 7 pm – 9 pm
Location: meet at Armand Bayou Nature Center, 8500 Bay Area Blvd.
Fee: $5 for members, $8 for non-members; pre-registration & pre-payment required
Contact: register at (281) 474-2551; information at www.abnc.org

Complete Description:
Join us on a beautiful walk through the woods as we look for owls and listen to the fascinating sounds of the night. Bring a flashlight. Must be at least 6 years old. Reservations are required for this event.