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Director's Report
Are you up to the Challenge?I recently got a call asking if KPC's Field Office Preserve would be open on July 3rd. The caller wanted to bring his family out to KPC's interpretive garden to complete a mission as part of this summer's Houston Wilderness Nature Challenge. KPC's interpretive garden is just one of the many sites that Houston Wilderness has challenged families to visit and explore.  It was very clear that the caller was excited about completing the Nature Challenge - he and his family had already visited eight sites, he and his wife enjoyed encouraging their children to study the clues and come up with the answers to the individual missions, and all of them were interested in learning about new nature areas. I suggested that his family should also participate in KPC's Open Trails tour that same day. He was way ahead of me and said, "Oh, we already planned to do so; it is on our list. We want to discover the secrets of the Katy Prairie."  The Houston Wilderness Nature Challenge also challenged KPC, as we don't have a facility or preserve that is open to the public all the time. But we decided to take the challenge and open the interpretive garden to the public whenever staff was available. So call first to make sure we are there but please come visit the Flat Out Wonderful Katy Prairie soon, not only to complete the Katy Prairie Conservancy mission but also to explore the summer sounds and sights of the prairie.  |
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Upcoming Events
 Open TrailsSunday, July 5 and Each Friday in JulyThis is your chance to enjoy a glimpse of the prairie in the summertime! This season is the perfect time to enjoy some of the summer birds, vibrant wildflowers, and peaceful breezes the prairie offers. Our Field Office Preserve is open every Friday for visitors and we hope you come out for a Sunday stroll on the Nelson Farms Preserve to help you recover from the festivities of July 4th holiday. Dates: Fridays in July, 9 AM - 12 PM Sunday July 5, 5 - 8 PM Location: Fridays: KPC Field Office Sunday: Nelson Farms PreserveRegistration not required. Email info@katyprairie.org for more details. Prairie Discovery Tours Saturday, July 11This July, a twilight stroll through Barn Owl Woods will get you outdoors and let you beat some of the summer heat. Barn Owl Woods, a small upland forest patch on KPC's Nelson Farms Preserve, offers a bit of shade and an intimate look a a lesser-visited part of KPC's preserve system. Participants will walk on a sun-dappled path beneath this stand of soaring pines; the tour will be led expert guides versed in the natural history of the Katy Prairie. They'll will point out some of the easily overlooked gems nestled in the branches - from the flitting sparrows to the summer blooms that have managed to escape the heat in this calming oasis. Date: Saturday, July 11, 6:30 - 8:30 PM Location: Barn Owl WoodsRegistration limited and required. Email info@katyprairie.org for more details.
 Summer Science Nights
Wednesdays in July
Are you worried that your child may turn into a couch potato this summer? We've had wonderful success with our new Summer Science Nights class series. They are a great new way to enrich your
child's understanding of science in the best laboratory of all - the great outdoors. Each session includes hands-on, minds-on activities and
an action-packed hike on one of our wildlife-rich preserves. Space is limited and the classes are filling up, so reserve your spot today! Date: Wednesdays, 6 - 8:30 PM Classes:Unfortunately, our first three July classes are already full! There is still room in our evening bird class: July 28 - Sunset Flyers: See if you can spot one of these mighty hunters and scan the sky for birds gliding overhead as they seek out safe places to spend the night. Location: Nelson Farms Preserve Registration required. Email info@katyprairie.org for more information. $3 per participant per class. Classes are geared toward 5 - 12 year olds. Parents may attend free of charge. How to dress for trips to the Katy PrairieAll participants
in activities on KPC preserves 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. |
 Observations
We've been on a roller coaster ride with rainfall this year. We had a dry winter and dry early spring leading up to 15 inches of rain in April. Things were looking good. All KPC's wetland projects filled up (some for the first time in the past year) and people were worried about flooding. Well, here we are, the first week in July, and, since the April deluge, we've had just 3.8 inches of rainfall here at the KPC Field Office, with only 0.35 of that falling during June when the normal rainfall is right at 5 inches. KPC's wetland units are drying up, pastures are beginning to look brown, and most of Southeast Texas is in a burn ban. Even though it is hot and dry, there are still things to see here on the prairie. Where there is water there is life, so look for those isolated locations that are still holding water. Some of the Katy Prairie's few remaining rice producers have their fields flooded, consequently attracting local wildlife.  Also attracting local wildlife is KPC's small interpretive garden that is part of the mission of the Houston Wilderness Nature Challenge. The garden is watered regularly and consequently serves as a small haven for the butterflies and birds in the immediate vicinity. It has been interesting watching the garden grow and change throughout the spring and summer. We have been surprised with some of the plant species that turned up in the garden. At the moment the largest and one of the prettiest is the Pitcher Sage which is over 6 feet tall. You don't have to be participating in the Nature Challenge to come see the garden. Every Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, KPC hosts an Open Trails event at the Field Office. If you are prepared for the hot dry weather, there are always things to see on the Katy Prairie. |
Helping Hands - Volunteer News
Our volunteers are Flat Out Wonderful
 Volunteer Opportunities
Summer Science Nights
Wednesday evenings in June & July
We're still looking for volunteers to help lead groups and run educational activities for our brand new Summer Science Nights. Classes take place on Wednesday nights from 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM in July.
Those interested in being Summer Science Nights volunteers should email info@katyprairie.org for more details.
Spotlight
Volunteer Acknowledgements
KPC would like to thank the following volunteers who generously gave their time in June:
PrairieWorks
Brad Alexander, Tracy Alexander, Catherine Braaten, Cindy Braaten, Cara Franklin, Lynne Franklin, Grace Liggett, Macy Liggett, Stacy Liggett, Abby Newton, Jennifer Newton, Cheryl Sedivec, Lisa Scott, Nancy Sparrow
Summer Science Nights
Bill Brookshire, Carol Brookshire, Peg d'Hemcourt, Lesli Edge, Grace Liggett, Cheryl Sedivec,
If we missed listing your volunteer contribution for the month of June, please email info@katyprairie.org.
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Support for KPC
ERM supports KPC. Envronmental Resources Management (ERM) awarded KPC a grant of $7,500 to support improvements to KPC's Coastal Prairie Native Seed Nursery. In addition 15 ERM employees, their spouses, and children helped us lay the foundation for a new shade structure during one of KPC's PrairieWorks events. The new shade structure will enable KPC to develop a major seed grow-out area where young seedlings are protected from the harsh summer sun. The seedlings and mature plants will be used by KPC and other conservation groups to restore coastal prairie throughout the region. Thank you ERM! Special thanks to Bruce Woodhouse and Lori Magyar for introducing KPC to the ERM Foundation; to Bruce for spearheading the effort to lead an ERM Volunteer event on the Katy Prairie; and to the many hardworking ERM employees for shoveling sand and gravel, packing it in tight, and creating a smooth base for the shade structure.
Regular support is critical to our success. Preserving the Flat Out Wonderful Katy Prairiedepends on the support of people like you.
Give to the Katy Prairie today and support our efforts to protect this
special place for all Texans. Please click the JustGive button to donate now or you can visit our website at www.katyprairie.org
to find out how you can support our land conservation efforts,
educational programming, permanent protection of the Warren Ranch, or
property enhancement activities.
Do you like to shop? Do you buy your groceries at Kroger? If you do, you can link your Kroger card to the Katy Prairie Conservancy. Every time you shop, a portion of the amount you spend will go to help provide educational programming on the Katy Prairie. Please click on the link Buy Groceries Now to download the form you need and bring it to Kroger the next time you go shopping. Go to Customer Service to link your card to KPC!
 Earth Share of Texas represents the Katy Prairie Conservancy in
workplace payroll contribution plans throughout Texas. For more information
about how you can support Katy Prairie Conservancy and other leading
environmental groups at your workplace, call 1-800-GREENTX, or visit www.earthshare-texas.org.
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Photo Credits
Barn Owl Woods: Michael Morton
Dickcissel: Greg Lavaty
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| The Katy Prairie Conservancy
3015 Richmond Avenue, Suite 230
Houston, TX 77098-3114
713.523.6135
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