Fall 2008 Events
December 26, 2008
Open Trails
KPC's Open Trails program encourages visitors to experience a new KPC preserve each month. Visitors can hike a self-guided trail and discover the sights and sounds of the Katy Prairie for themselves. Each guest is provided a full-color interpretive booklet which will add to their understanding of the property, its wildlife, and its history.
Date: December 7, 2008 from 1 PM to 5 PM and each Friday morning in December from 9 AM to 12 PM
Location: KPC's Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration: Not required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for more details.
Winter 2009 Events
January 2009
January 1, 2009
Christmas Bird Count
Join other volunteers on New Year's Day to catalogue the rich diversity and abundance of wintering birds found on the Katy Prairie. The Katy Prairie count is part of the Christmas Bird Count, which is a nation-wide citizen-science program run by the National Audubon Society since 1900.
Date: Thursday, January 1, 2009 from 6:30 AM to afternoon
Location: Call 713.523. 6135 for more information. Participants will meet at Paul Rushing Park and will then move on to count birds on several preserves and properties in small teams.
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
January 4, 2009 & each Friday in January
Open Trails
KPC's Open Trails program encourages visitors to experience the sights and sounds of KPC preserves throughout the year. Visitors can hike a self-guided trail and discover the sights and sounds of the Katy Prairie for themselves. Each guest is provided a full-color interpretive booklet which will add to their understanding of the property, its wildlife, and its history. This season we invite you to enjoy the whopping waterfowl, golden grasses, and peacefulness of the winter prairie.
Date: Weekend-Sunday, January 4, 2009 from 1 PM to 5 PM / Weekday -Each Friday in January from 10 AM to
2 PM
Location: Weekend - TBA / Weekday - KPC Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration: Not required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for more details.
January 10, 2009
PrairiECOnnections
There are two sides to every great story; the information being presented and the style in which the story is spun. PrairiECOnnections classes are designed to equip our volunteers with the knowledge and interpretive (story-telling) abilities needed to help KPC tell the story of the Flat Out Wonderful Katy Prairie.
Coots & Cattails: Interpreting prairie wetlands
Have you ever seen a prairie shrimp or a plant that can eat animals? Prairie wetlands are the edge between the watery world and terra firma. This makes them a great home for the bright, the beautiful, and the bizarre including, you guessed it, freshwater shrimp. Come and 'dive' into this fascinating topic and then join us for our afternoon Prairie Discovery Tour of the waterfowl-rich Warren Lake.
Date: January 10, 2009 from 1 PM to 3 PM
Location: KPC's Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Cost: Free to all current and future KPC volunteers
Registration limited and required: Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for details.
January 10, 2009
Prairie Discovery Tour
145-acre Warren Lake has long been known as a red-hot birdwatching site because of its flocks of ducks and geese. It is also a known as beautifully scenic place to enjoy a leisurely winter stroll. Expert guides will be on hand to lead you on an adventurous walk around Warren Lake, revealing the lake's fascinating wildlife and geology along the way.
Date: Saturday, January 10, 2009 from 4 PM to 6 PM
Location: Warren Ranch - Headquarters
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration limited and required: Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for details.
January 31, 2009
Wild West Tour: Breakfast with birds
KPC's new Wild West Tours are a great way to get an up-close look at some fo the best places and wildlife that the Katy Prairie has to offer. These adventures are led by well-known local naturalist Glenn Olsen. Breakfast with the Birds tour participants will spend a morning identifying ducks, geese, and other water birds from the comfort of a duck blind.
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009 from 6 AM to 11 AM
Location: Meet at KPC Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration limited and required: Registration required. Call 713.523.6135 or e-mail info@katyprairie.org for details. $65 per participant. Light breakfast included.
February 2009
February 1, 2009 & each Friday in February
Open Trails
KPC's Open Trails program encourages visitors to experience the sights and sounds of KPC preserves throughout the year. Visitors can hike a self-guided trail and discover the sights and sounds of the Katy Prairie for themselves. Each guest is provided a full-color interpretive booklet which will add to their understanding of the property, its wildlife, and its history. This season we'd like to invite you to come out and enjoy the rich callls of waterfowl, rich golden-brown hues, and peaceful qualities of the winter prairie has to offer.
Date: Weekend-Sunday, February 1, 2009 from 1 PM to 5 PM / Weekday-Each Friday in February from 10 AM to
2 PM
Location: Weekend - TBA / Weekday - KPC Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration: No registration required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for more details.
February 28, 2009
New Volunteer Orientation
Are you looking for an opportunity to do your part for the environment? KPC will host a new volunteer orientation session on Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. New volunteers will learn about the mission of the Katy Prairie Conservancy (KPC); the animals, plants, and agricultural heritage that we are seeking to protect; and the ways in which we work with the community to accomplish these goals. Afterwards, participants can make an immediate impact by joining staff members and others volunteers for our Stewardship Saturday. We'll be as we working in our growing Coastal Prairie Native Seed Nursery.
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 10 AM to 12 PM
Location: KPC Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration: Registration required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for more details.
February 28, 2009
Stewardship Saturday
Our Nursery is on the move! We have big plans for our small Coastal Prairie Native Seed Nursery and we need your help. Our first Stewardship Saturday of the New Year will focus on adding irrigation, weeding, and enlarging the Nursery for late-spring plantings.
Date: Saturday, February 28, 2009 from 12 PM to 3 PM
Location: KPC Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration: No registration required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for more details.
March 2009
March 1, 2008 & each Friday in March
Open Trails
KPC's Open Trails program encourages visitors to experience the sights and sounds of KPC preserves throughout the year. Visitors can hike a self-guided trail and discover the sights and sounds of the Katy Prairie for themselves. Each guest is provided a full-color interpretive booklet which will add to their understanding of the property, its wildlife, and its history. This season we'd like to invite you to come out and enjoy the rich callls of waterfowl, rich golden-brown hues, and peaceful qualities of the winter prairie has to offer.
Date: Weekend-Sunday, March 1, 2009 from 1 PM to 5 PM / Weekday-Each Friday in March from 10 AM to
2 PM
Location: Weekend - TBA / Weekday - KPC Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration: Not required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for more details.
March 14, 2009
Prairie Discovery Tour
KPC's Mary Manor Preserve is home to a pulsing, vibrant wetland. This sun-splashed preserve is alive with the booming croaks of bullfrogs, the awe-inspiring sight of beaver lodges, and the flash of colorful water birds. Join expert tour guides on a satisfying Saturday safari where you can use binoculars and nets to reveal the secrets of this wetland wonder . So, come get hooked on wetlands with KPC.
Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009 from 10 AM to 12 PM
Location: Mary Manor Preserve
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Registration: Registration required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for details.
March 28, 2009
There are two sides to every great story; the information being presented and the style in which the story is spun. PrairiECOnnections classes are designed to equip our volunteers with the knowledge and interpretive (story-telling) abilities needed to help KPC tell the story of the Flat Out Wonderful Katy Prairie.
Potholes, pimplemounds, and everything inbetween: Interpreting Texas Coastal Prairie
Did you know that over most of the greater Houston area was once a mighty grassland patrolled by buffalo and wolves? It's true. The Coastal Prairie of Texas and Louisiana once stretched far and wide over the coastal plain. Today, this endangered ecosystem is greatly reduced is size and imperiled by exotic species, construction, and fragmentation.
Yet, wherever coastal prairie still exists, it is a critical habitat for uncountable birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects and is a palette for the brilliant hues of over 200 kinds of wildflowers. Join us as we explore the history, biology, and future of our hometown habitat.
Date: March 28, 2009 from 10 AM to 1 PM
Location: KPC's Field Office
What to Bring: All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes
and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended. Participants should bring their own
water and insect repellent.
Cost: Free to all current and future KPC volunteers
Registration: Required. Call Jaime Gonzalez at 713.523.6135 for more details.
