Environmental Calendar - Citizens' Environmental Coalition

Celebrate our home and bayous with HPB this Earth Month!

Join us on Saturday, April 18 from 9 AM to 12 PM to plant natives along Sims Bayou.

Family friendly event - all are welcome. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian at all times.

RSVP here: Simsbrook Planting

🌿 Nature Journaling Workshop 🌿

Looking for a deeper connection to nature? Discover the art of observation and creativity through nature journaling! Join a relaxing morning outdoors and learn how to capture the beauty of the natural world through words and sketches.

📅 Date: Saturday, April 18th
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Nau Family Pavilion, Eleanor Tinsley Park

💰 Cost:

🧺 Materials:
Material kits available for $15 (payable to the instructor). Bring a chair, water, sunscreen, and bug spray as needed.

For questions or to register, contact Irmi Willcockson at irmi.willcockson@txgcmn.org.

Come connect, create, and be inspired by nature! 🌸

Celebrate Earth Day at the headwaters of the San Marcos River with a day of music, art, hands-on discovery, and community connection!

This year’s festival theme, One Heart, Many Waters, reminds us that while water takes many forms, it ultimately connects us all.

What You’ll Experience
 

Honoring Culture & Connection Begin the day with a blessing at the San Marcos Springs led by the Indigenous Cultures Institute to commemorate Indigenous Peoples Day and to ask for healing for all people on Mother Earth.

Then, experience a special reading of Napako: Our Journey, a beautifully illustrated retelling of the Coahuiltecan creation story. A limited number of advanced copies will be available for purchase at the festival, with an opportunity to have your book signed by the author.

Eco-Art & Experiences Be part of a living work of art! Throughout the day, festivalgoers will help create a community art installation of fabric “prayer flags,” using repurposed materials to express what water means to them. Each piece will become part of a collective display to symbolize how water connects us all.

Featured Eco Sessions Looking to dive deeper? Join one of our Eco Sessions for conservation-focused learning and reflection: Exploring Aquifers through Art – Textile artist and Texas State professor Gwendolyn Hustvedt shares how art can inspire new ways of thinking about aquifers and ecology. Eco Philosophy Walk & Talk – A guided walk and discussion exploring our relationship with the natural world. Exploring the Deep – Experience Spring Lake through immersive virtual reality and interactive exhibits.

Vendors & Food More than 50 exhibitors, including artisan and food vendors, will join the festivities. Food and refreshments will be available from Springtown Roasters, AJ’s Ranch Road Grill, Yapa’s Empanadas, and Ollie’s Market.

Live Music Settle in and stay awhile! Live music begins at 10:45 a.m. and continues throughout the day on the Ozarka® Spring Water stage. Enjoy a curated DJ set from Chief and TheDoomsdayDevice, along with performances by local artists including the San Marcos Youth Mariachi, Tracy Weinberg, Sophia Johnson Trio, and singer-songwriters Vanessa Barbee and Veronica DeWitt.

Welcome & Opening Remarks
Speaker #1  - Dr. Garrett Sansom - Texas A&M, School of Public Health - Fifth Ward Soil Study 
Speaker #2 - Erica Hubbard - Soil remediation project at Hershe St. Community Garden
Speaker #3 - Rebecca Verm - Why is compost important to soil remediation
Speaker #4 - Dr. Brian Shmaefsky - A closer look at chemical compounds found at Fifth Ward schools

Panel Discussion + Audience Q&A with Presenters and Chrystal Beasley, Environmental Engineer from BeAspire Enviro Consulting

Poster - Milenna Brocchini, University of Houston

Revising The Universal Soil Loss Equation to Predict the Theoretical Extent Enhanced Pocket Prairies Can Mitigate Toxin in Rainfall Runoff

Register Here

The Plant Fair is a culminating service-learning project for BIOL 3130 Plant Biology Lab students. Throughout the semester, students have designed interactive demonstration tables that translate plant science concepts into accessible, community-facing activities. Topics include pollination ecology and biodiversity, gardening and mental health, soil health and sustainable agriculture, and urban plants and climate resilience.

The event will be open to UHD students, faculty, staff, and community members. Our goal is to connect scientific learning with civic engagement, environmental stewardship, and local action in Houston. CEC is honored to participate in the event to:

• Share information about CEC's mission and current initiatives
• Engage students in conversation about careers, volunteering, or partnerships
• Highlight how plant science connects to community wellbeing and sustainability

We see this as a meaningful opportunity for students to interact with professionals and community leaders shaping Houston’s environmental landscape. Your presence at the CEC booth would enrich the experience by offering real world perspectives and pathways for engagement beyond the classroom!

Air Alliance Houston has been part of the steering committee of this coalition since 2023, and we has been working with partners to really highlight the importance of having these conversations in maternal, infant, and reproductive health spaces along with environmental and climate spaces.

During the Symposium, Air Alliance Houston will:

• Spotlight innovative climate programs 

• Share emerging research 

• Highlight community-led solutions 

• Build cross-sector connections to strengthen collective resilience

As environmental disruptions increase, so does the urgency to protect maternal and infant health. The EnviroNatal Symposium creates space not just for awareness, but for strategy, partnership, and action

Learn all about native Texas wildlife in this class, taught by the Houston SPCA Wildlife Center. Discover their mission, the essential roles native animals play in healthy urban and suburban ecosystems, and what to do if you encounter wildlife that may be in distress.

In-person participants will also be introduced to some of the center’s ambassador animals, birds of prey that cannot be returned to the wild.

Branch out and connect with like-minded readers during our bi-monthly bookclub!

The book we will be reading will be “The Hidden Company That Trees Keep” by James B Nardi

A Trees For Houston staff member will lead the discussion with questions and prompts, but we encourage everyone to share their insights and ideas. 

As an environmental organization, we encourage the use of digital or used copies of the book. 

Join us on April 23th at Herman Park Conservancy to learn about selecting, planting, and caring for new trees!

Did you know now is the perfect time to be planting trees? Wether you've gotten a seedling from our outreach events or a 3g at one of our giveaways, or are looking to purchase a new tree, now is the time to put it in the ground or pot!In this class, participants will learn best practices for selecting, planting, and inital stages of care for new trees.

After 19 successful years, Gulf Coast Green has proven to be the leading green building conference in the Gulf Coast region.  In addition to a lineup of groundbreaking speakers in the field of sustainability, the Gulf Coast Green Conference continues to bring like-minded green building professionals together to experience next-generation sustainable and resilient building solutions.

GCG’26 is your invitation to a full day of immersive learning, inspiring keynotes, networking with peers & experts, expo, and the opportunity to earn AIA and ASLA continuing education credits.

CYCLE: Where Ends Become Beginnings

CYCLE is an invitation to explore the dynamic processes that shape our built and natural environments along the Gulf Coast through patterns of renewal, transformation, and continuity. From the material life cycles of construction to the seasonal rhythms of ecological systems, this conference seeks to foreground design approaches that embrace stewardship, circularity, resilience, and adaptation. CYCLE challenges practitioners to reconsider linear modes of development and instead implement practical strategies of stewardship, reuse, regeneration, and resilience—approaches that call for ownership, responsibility, and long-term commitment in responding to climate change, cultural memory, and the evolving needs of communities.  

How can design and planning transform waste into resources, extend the life of materials, and support ecosystems and communities that thrive in balance? How might circular thinking also honor cultural memory while addressing climate change and the evolving needs of our region? 

More Info and Get Tickets HERE

For more than 35 years, Grupo Ecologista Quelonios, A.C. in Champotón, Campeche has quietly carried out one of the most extraordinary conservation efforts along the Gulf coast of Mexico.

Led by local fishermen who chose guardianship over extraction, this community transformed its livelihood into a mission: protect endangered sea turtles and ensure their survival for generations to come. With little institutional funding and sustained largely by donations and volunteers, their impact is remarkable:

Over the years since Quelonios began their work, more than 2,000,799 sea turtles released. That number represents decades of disciplined, hands-on conservation work carried out day and night under demanding conditions.

Their work is not symbolic, it is physical, relentless, and deeply committed:
 

• Nightly patrols across miles of dark coastline searching for nesting mothers

• Careful relocation of fragile eggs to protected hatchery camps

• 45–60 days of daily incubation monitoring

• Safeguarding hatchlings during emergence

• Guided dawn and dusk releases to give each newborn the strongest chance at survival

This event is organized by volunteers and proceeds will fund sea turtle conservation and the Houston Zoo Conservation Program. Donations will go through SEE Turtles, a US-based conservation organization. 5% of the donations will go towards SEE Turtles administration costs and fees.

On Saturday, April 25, 2025, 9 am, the Houston Sierra Club will visit Attwater Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) to view wildlife, butterflies, wildflowers, and birds. We’ll celebrate “Earth Day” and hike trails and drive a scenic road on this 10,000-acre prairie. Group size is limited to 20 participants and your leader.

The link below has the Sierra Club participant sign-in agreement (liability waiver). Please read this before the outing. We’ll sign-in quickly at the Refuge and proceed with the outing. [Sign-Up Sheet 2-2020.pdf (sierraclub.org)](https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce/range-of-light-group/PDFs/Sign-Up%20Sheet%202-2020.pdf)

If anyone has COVID symptoms or is sick don’t come! We want everyone to be safe. Going on this outing, you’ll hike with individuals who are vaccinated or unvaccinated. It’s your choice to participate on this outing.

Bring a daypack, 3 qts water, snacks, lunch, cameras, spotting scopes, field guides, and insect repellent. We’ll have lunch at the Refuge. Long pants are recommended. It will be warm. No pets, firearms, or radios. We’ll put cell phones on vibrate and enjoy the solitude/quiet/natural sounds of the Refuge.

Anyone who wants to carpool or caravan meet at Starbucks, Meyerland Plaza, at 7:30 am. I have a gray Honda CRV hybrid and will be parked just west of Starbucks. My phone number is 281-570-7212. Don’t be late! We’ll meet at the Refuge in the headquarters parking lot at 9 am. Directions are:

1. Drive 70 m W from Houston on I-10 to Sealy, Texas.
2. Exit I-10 to SH 36 S and drive 2 m to FM 3013 and turn rt.
3. Go W 10 m on FM 3013 to the Refuge entrance, on the rt.
4. Drive to Refuge headquarters.

Join us to celebrate Houston’s bayous, enjoy nature’s bounty (in the form of abundant, free blackberries), improve Houston’s greenspaces, and raise a glass with like-minded folks. 

Join HPB Naturalists at Thomas Bell Foster Park to participate in the 2026 City Nature Challenge. This is a great opportunity to use iNaturalist in the field to document wildlife and plants. 
Please download the iNaturalist App before the event to be familiar with the platform. 

Have you always wanted to start a pocket prairie or make your lawn more eco-friendly, but didn’t know where to begin?

Join Trees For Houston on April 29th as Beth Clark, Landscape Architect, shares how to transform an area into a thriving, low-maintenance native landscape right here in the Houston area. This class will cover the basics of pocket prairies, including plant selection!

Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to enhance your existing yard, this class will give you the tools and confidence to get started.

This class will be offered both in person and virtually. In-person attendees will be able to select from a variety of native grass seeds! Please only sign up if you plan to attend, space is limited, and no-shows take spots away from others.

Join Houston Parks Board in planting out new wetland swales along Hunting Bayou!

This event is open to all ages and a family friendly event. Please make sure to register all attendees (even the littles)!

Our last Green Team of the season!! Join Houston Parks Board at our Coolgreen Nursery on May 8th at 8 am to help pot-up seedlings for the fall planting seasons!

Saturday, May 9, 2026, 9 am, the Houston Sierra Club will hike 3 miles in Big Creek Scenic Area (BCSA) in Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF). For 64 years BCSA has provided a scenic view of the Big Thicket. This will be a leisurely paced hike focused on what we can see in the forest.

Bring a daypack, 3 qts water, lunch, snacks, insect repellent, hat, camera, and field guides. Long pants and closed-toed shoes are required due to insects/briars/poison ivy. Group size for this outing is limited to 15 people and your leader. No pets/firearms/radios. Cell phones will be turned off/placed on vibrate to enjoy solitude/quiet/natural sounds. It will be hot!

A Sierra Club sign-in agreement/liability waiver must be signed by all participants. The link below has the participant sign-in agreement/liability waiver. Please read this before the outing so we sign-in quickly and begin the outing. [Sign-Up Sheet 2-2020.pdf (sierraclub.org)](https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce/range-of-light-group/PDFs/Sign-Up%20Sheet%202-2020.pdf).

• Compost Class provided by Zero Waste Houston / Houston School of Compost and sponsored by Harris County Office of County Administration. 
  • FREE for a limited time! 
  • Part 1: May 9th
  • Part 2: May 16th
  • register online: https://www.houstonschoolofcompost.com/

Service Description

Master Urban Composter Course: an interactive, two-part, certification course to prepare & coach you through the process of hot composting; equipping you with the knowledge you need to confidently create compost – from start to finish. Turn your food waste into treasure for your yard! The main teaching focus of this course is how to make hot compost piles.

What to Expect:
Designed to be interactive & for all experience levels, students will be taught in two formats:
• in-person, classroom discussions & training
• hands-on, outdoor composting laboratory exercises

The course will take place in 2 parts.
Part 1 - May 9, 2026; 9am - 1pm
Part 2 - May 16, 2026; 9am - 1pm

Discussion Topics Include:
• understanding what compost is & why it’s important • debunking some of the myths & concerns people have with composting at home
• choosing the right type of composting method & scale for your project
• what materials go into making compost & how to create your compost pile
• learning how to calculate the right ratio of materials to give your compost the right nutrient balance
• Bonus! chapters on soil health diagnostics to learn how to give your soil exactly what it needs! Outdoor Laboratory Exercises:
• Hot Compost Pile Lab – Create a deeper understanding of what to expect during your own compost project by working as a group to create a hot compost pile.

The compost pile will be created during the Part 1 lab session & left to progress in the elements until Part 2 the following week. See first-hand how the composting process has progressed & learn how to care for your pile.

• Soil Texture Analysis Test – customize the composting process by learning how to analyze the texture of your soil at home to determine what it needs. Course Completion: upon participating in & completing both parts of the course, students will receive a certificate certifying that they are officially a Master Urban Composter.

• Compost Class provided by Zero Waste Houston / Houston School of Compost and sponsored by Harris County Office of County Administration. 
  • FREE for a limited time! 
  • Part 1: May 9th
  • Part 2: May 16th
  • register online: https://www.houstonschoolofcompost.com/

Service Description

Master Urban Composter Course: an interactive, two-part, certification course to prepare & coach you through the process of hot composting; equipping you with the knowledge you need to confidently create compost – from start to finish. Turn your food waste into treasure for your yard! The main teaching focus of this course is how to make hot compost piles.

What to Expect:
Designed to be interactive & for all experience levels, students will be taught in two formats:
• in-person, classroom discussions & training
• hands-on, outdoor composting laboratory exercises

The course will take place in 2 parts.
Part 1 - May 9, 2026; 9am - 1pm
Part 2 - May 16, 2026; 9am - 1pm

Discussion Topics Include:
• understanding what compost is & why it’s important • debunking some of the myths & concerns people have with composting at home
• choosing the right type of composting method & scale for your project
• what materials go into making compost & how to create your compost pile
• learning how to calculate the right ratio of materials to give your compost the right nutrient balance
• Bonus! chapters on soil health diagnostics to learn how to give your soil exactly what it needs! Outdoor Laboratory Exercises:
• Hot Compost Pile Lab – Create a deeper understanding of what to expect during your own compost project by working as a group to create a hot compost pile.

The compost pile will be created during the Part 1 lab session & left to progress in the elements until Part 2 the following week. See first-hand how the composting process has progressed & learn how to care for your pile.

• Soil Texture Analysis Test – customize the composting process by learning how to analyze the texture of your soil at home to determine what it needs. Course Completion: upon participating in & completing both parts of the course, students will receive a certificate certifying that they are officially a Master Urban Composter.

The Witness Series is Artist Lead, Nature Centered and Community Driven. It is led by Kristi Rangel, Houston-based multi-disciplinary artist and education advocate. This year, the Witness Series is excited to celebrate its fifth year of being community together. This year’s Witness Series will explore the many profound experiences that Communities of Color have in the Land of Southeast Texas and along our waterways. The Witness Series is co-curated in partnership with artists from the Native American, African American, Latinx, Pacific Islander and Asian communities. Every Witness experience is designed to bring communities together through the power of nature and provide historically underserved communities with greater access to nature-based opportunities.  Attendees become co-authors, editors and observers as they take part in these participatory public art experiences centered around green spaces and environmental equity.

The 5th year of the Witness Series will be explored through the artistry and lens of Tomii Culmer. We will Bear Witness to the power of community building and artmarking in green spaces through her photos.

Kristi Rangel created the Witness Series, in 2021 in collaboration with Jaime González, a Houston-based conservationist because of their shared belief that environmental justice is a basic human right.

Saturday, June 13, 2026, 8:30 am, the Houston Sierra Club will visit and enjoy wetlands, wildflowers, ponds, and walking trails at Exploration Green. Exploration Green is 200 acres of parkland that used to be a golf course. The 200 acres have been turned into a green space for flood control, recreation (hike/bike trails), and wildlife observation.

The link below has the Sierra Club participant sign-in agreement/liability waiver. Read this before the outing. We’ll sign-in quickly at Exploration Green and proceed with the outing. [Sign-Up Sheet 2-2020.pdf (sierraclub.org)](https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/sce/range-of-light-group/PDFs/Sign-Up%20Sheet%202-2020.pdf)

If anyone has COVID symptoms or is sick don’t come! We want everyone to be safe. Going on this outing you’ll be with individuals who are vaccinated or unvaccinated. It’s your choice to participate on this outing.

Bring your daypack, 2 qts of water, umbrella (it will be hot), lunch money, hat, sunscreen, camera, and field guides. Wear clothes and shoes that are comfortable and cool. We will eat lunch at a nearby restaurant after we finish walking. This outing is limited to 20 people. No pets, firearms, or radios. We’ll put cell phones on vibrate and enjoy the solitude/quiet/natural sounds of Exploration Green.
 

For those who want to carpool/caravan we’ll meet at 7:30 am in the parking lot just west of Starbucks in Meyerland Plaza. I have a gray Honda CRV hybrid (WMP 3632) and will be parked just west of Starbucks. My phone number is 281-570-7212. Don’t’ be late!

Contact your leader, Brandt Mannchen, if you have questions, at the Houston Sierra Club Outings Meet-Up Site or at [brandt_mannchen@comcast.net](mailto:brandt_mannchen@comcast.net). Directions to Exploration Green are:

1. Go S on I-45 and exit at Bay Area Blvd.
2. Turn lt (east) onto Bay Area Blvd and go to El Camino Real.
3. Turn lt (north) onto El Camino Real and go 1 block to Ramada Dr.
4. Turn rt onto Ramada Dr, go 2 blocks, turn lt onto Diana Ln.
5. Go about 1 block and turn into the parking lot at 16306 Diana Ln.