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Prairie Superstars to Headline Second Annual State of the Prairie Conference in Houston

(11/01/2010)

National and local experts on Houston’s hometown habitat – the coastal prairie – will give workshops and presentations sharing promising practices and successful secrets of prairie conservation, restoration, and education at this year’s State of the Prairie Conference, Nov. 4 and 5. This year’s conference at The Houston Zoo will introduce landowners, conservationists, educators, and prairie enthusiasts to a vast number of events and lectures on various topics involving Houston’s hometown habitat and include fun field trips to special prairie sites around Houston.

On Thursday, Nov. 4, The Houston Zoo hosts a series of prairie presentations, conversations and networking events at its Brown Education Center, 6200 Hermann Park Drive, 77030. Landowners, conservationists, educators, and prairie enthusiasts will choose from a variety of subjects to deepen their knowledge of this complex and increasingly rare ecosystem. Experts featured on Thursday include Daryl Smith, an award-winning professor and filmmaker from northern Iowa, and Randy Ardnt, a renowned prairie restoration expert with The Nature Conservancy – Missouri. Another highlight of the day will be the presentation of the first Prairie Builder Award to Dr. Aumann of the University of Houston for his distinguished career in protecting and nurturing the UH Coastal Center just south of Houston.

On Friday, conference participants will either tour the Attwater’s Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge near Sealy, home to an extremely rare grouse that lends its name to the refuge, or Sheldon Lake State Park and Armand Bayou Nature Center, prairie gems on the outskirts of Houston.

The celebration of all things prairie continues on Saturday, November 6th with Prairie Heritage Day at Brazos Bend State Park. Ideal for families, this day-long event will feature exhibits and hands-on prairie fun brought to you by the Texas Master Naturalists and other local prairie organizations. Prairie Heritage Day will run from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and is free with park admission ($5 per day, per person 13 and older).

The State of the Prairie Conference is pleased to offer continuing education credits for educators. Space is still available for the conference on Thursday and a waiting list is forming for the Friday field trips. Learn more and secure your place at www.coastalprairiepartnership.org. Registrations will also be taken at the door on Thursday.

This year’s conference is made possible through the generous support of both environmental organizations and like-minded individuals and with help from Texas Master Naturalist volunteers who have given their time and talents. The Coastal Prairie Partnership is a new grassroots coalition of individuals and organizations with a mission to protect, restore, and teach about our local prairie habitat.

( 回首頁 Houston eWIND )

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