Environmental Resource Guide
Purpose:Â The Trust for Public Land conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
Programs: Conservation Vision (“Greenprintsâ€); Conservation Finance (public funding); Conservation Transactions (easement and fee acquisitions); Texas Water Protection and Parks Intiative; ParkScore; Parks for People. TPL is active in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston/Galveston and Austin/San Antonio regions.…
Purpose: To raise awareness of the connections between pollution, place and the public’s health. CEER envisions a region that is equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically strong; where residents have the opportunity to live, work, learn, play, and pray free from environmental hazards. CEER advocates for public and private investment in protecting communities by cleaning up hazards that contaminate air, water, and land.…
Purpose:Â Provide environmental education, quality recreational facilities, and a variety of nature-related activities.
Programs: “Nurture Nature Series†a family program on the first Saturday at 10 a.m., each month is a different topic; Preschool thru high school education programs; Scout badge workshops; outreach; Spring Break, Winter Break and Summer camps; birthday parties; self-guided tours; teacher workshops; birding and wilderness trails.…
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 Scenic Houston works to eliminate visual blight because all Houstonians are entitled to a green, uncluttered, visually appealing city. Scenic Houston promotes sign control, billboard reduction, freeway landscaping, scenic byway development, and enhanced design standards for public projects. Our success improves the quality of life for all Houstonians.
Major Events: Scenic Visionary Awards Dinner, October.…
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: To protect and restore the integrity of our bayous, rivers, streams, and the bays through advocacy, education, and action. Bayou City Waterkeeper (formerly Galveston Baykeeper) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to ensure that every waterway is swimmable, fishable, and drinkable from Lake Livingston through the Bayous of Houston down to Galveston Bay.…
Purpose: The Houston Parks Board creates, improves, protects and advocates for parks for everyone. HPB is driven by the vision of thriving parks and communities for everyone forever.
Programs: Parkland and greenspace acquisition; park capital improvement projects; collaboration with other green groups; Neighborhood Partnership Program; 50/50 Park Partners Challenge; Volunteer Program.…
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.…
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.…
Purpose:Â To provide education and outreach to local governments and citizens on the impacts of land use on watershed health and water quality.
Major Events: Workshops, Seminars, Conferences, Courses, and Classes.
Volunteer Opportunities: Restoration Projects, Conservation Projects, Landscape Installation Projects, and Wetland Workdays.
Publications:Â Â
- Can Houston Feed Itself?
…
Purpose:Â The Houston Peace and Justice Center provides networks and resources for organizations and individuals to advance peace and social justice.
Programs: Links and resources to various social justice movements happening in the area.
Volunteer Opportunities: Fill out an application online to become a volunteer.…
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: To research and recommend policy that will lower electric bills, increase clean and renewable sources of energy, and combats greenhouse gas emissions responsible for global climate change by working to encourage city and state incentives for energy efficiency and to create incentives and mandates for more renewable energy.
Programs: Policy programs in are climate change, promoting clean government, fighting dirty energy, advancing energy efficiency in Texas, advancing renewable energy in Texas and student organizing.…
Wildlife Habitat Federation(WHF) works to create resilient prairie ecosystems in the mid upper coast of Texas. Our focal area includes the Greater Houston Area to Austin to San Antonio, but we have a footprint in 47 Texas counties. WHF is a 501 (c) 3 organization, and our mission is to provide on-the-ground restoration, management and generational sustainability of prairie habitat for the conservation of soil, water, air and wildlife.…
Purpose:Â To promote the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the architecture profession; to advance the science and art of planning and building; to coordinate the building industry and the profession of architecture; to ensure the advancement of the living standard of people and to make the profession one of ever-increasing service to society.…
Purpose: To advance recycling through partnerships, education, and advocacy for the benefit of Texas.
Major Events: Annual Texas Recycling Summit– September 9-11, 2019 at the El Tropicano Hotel on the Riverwalk in San Antonio.
Texas Compost Summit– will take place October 2019. Date and location TBD.
Publications: Â STAR is helping Texans to learn more about the recycling industry through free informational webinars and quarterly e-newsletters.…
Purpose:Â Blackwood Educational Land Institute is an ecosystem and living classroom that inspires and teaches students of all ages to explore the natural web of life and to develop a healthy, respectful relationship with nature.
Major Events: Counselor Training Week, Blackwood Nature Camp Weeks, Edible Garden Tour, Sustainability Bike Ride
Children’s Activities: Blackwood Educational Land Institute reconnects children to nature through hands-on experiences that teach them about food and where it comes from, the value of community and collaboration, and the pleasure of being outdoors.…
Purpose:Â 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.…
Purpose: The Last Organic Outpost generates healthy communities and establishes a local food economy in Houston’s under-served neighborhoods through urban farming and farm-based art & education. They empower communities through sustainable agriculture that teaches residents to produce safe, healthy and accessible food for all. They envision growing ‘Food Everywhere’ and seeding an Urban Agricultural District that cultivates our region’s food and supports local farmers to thrive despite economic, environmental, health and social challenges.…
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