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Events on the Prairie
Open TrailsFridays in July from 9 AM - 12 PM KPC strives to get you out on the prairie as much as possible. That's why we've created Open Trails, a program that lets you walk KPC preserves at your own pace. We even provide a full-color guide. Every Friday, you can visit KPC's Field Preserve to see what we've been up to. Come check out our Native Seed Nursery, learn about plants in our interpretive garden, or walk the trail to the reservoir at the back of the preserve. Spot flitting sparrows and other wildlife and check out some of the wildflowers springing up everywhere!
Date: Fridays from 9 AM - 12 PM at the KPC Field PreserveRegistration not required. Please email info@katyprairie.org for more details. Free!
 Prairie Discovery Tour
Saturday, July 10 from 6 - 8 PM
KPC wants everyone to get outdoors but we want to make sure that you still beat the heat! Our
evening Prairie Discovery Tour will highlight the prairie just when it
begins to buzz with energy as the wildlife comes out of hiding from the
sun. Listen for the sounds of twilight as the frogs, insects, and
night birds venture out from their daytime spots and we'll show you the
sights that will entice you to return to this Flat Out Wonderful place.
This tour is also your last chance to fulfill the prairie component of the Houston Wilderness Mission: Possible challenge on the Katy Prairie.
Date: Saturday, July 10, 2010 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM Location: Field Preserve Registration: Required. Space limited. Call 713.523.6135 or email info@katyprairie.org for more details. Free.
Open Trails
Sunday, July 11 from 5:30 - 8:30 PMCome tour Barn Owl Woods where you might see summer on
the prairie in full bloom - the prairie is awash with wildflowers of
all shades and all of the wildlife they attract. Open Trails allows you
an opportunity to get outdoors and explore a KPC preserve at your own
pace. We'll provide a full-color guide that will point out some
noteworthy things to keep an eye out for.
Date: Sunday July 11, 2010 from 5:30 to 8:30 PM Location: Barn Owl Woods Registration: Not required. Call 713.523.6135 or email info@katyprairie.org for more details.
 Summer Science NightsWednesday nights in JulyAre you worried that your child may turn into a couch potato this summer? Our Summer Science Nights are a great 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. Click here for a full-color flyer and registration form. Classes:
July 14 | Summer Serpents: Exploring snake diversity and feeding habitats.
July 21 | Just Stay Cool!: Discovering how animals, people, and plants stay cool during the summer. July 28 | Prehistoric Prairie: Exploring the giant extinct mammals and prehistoric people of the Katy Prairie.
Date: July 14, 21, and 28 / All classes are from 6:30 - 8:30 PM Registration/Cost: Registration required. Class space is limited. Call 713.523.6135 or e-mail info@katyprairie.org for details. $5 per participant per class. Space is limited. Audience: Classes are designed for children ages 5 through 10. August PreviewSights and Sounds: A Photographic Tour of the Katy Prairie and Sundae SocialSaturday, August 7 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM
Special in-town event!Want
to visit the prairie but feel it's a bit steamy in August? KPC will host
a photographic tour of the prairie from the comfort of our home office
in Houston. Date: Saturday, August 7 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Location: KPC Home Office (3015 Richmond Ave., Houston, TX 77098) Registration required. Space limited. This event is open to the public. Call 713.523.6135 or email info@katyprairie.org for more details. Free.
What to wear for trips to the prairie? All participants should wear appropriate outdoor clothing, including closed-toe shoes and long pants. A long-sleeve shirt is also recommended and you might even want a jacket as it can be windy and cooler on the prairie than in more urbanized areas. Be sure to dress in layers as sometimes the prairie heats up and you will want to be able to shed that jacket. Hats are great if you want to be shielded from the sun. Please bring your own water and insect repellent.
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Texas Hunting and Outdoors Expo
KPC is participating in the Texas Hunting and Outdoors Expo on July 17 and 18 at the Merrell Center. We want to get as many people involved with KPC at possible, so we're always looking for ways to get the word out. Some of our most oldest and most loyal supporters are hunters, so KPC will have a booth to discuss the strong link between conservation and hunting, recreation opportunities with KPC, and just how flat out wonderful the Katy Prairie is. 
The Texas Hunting & Outdoors Expo will have over 100 booths of outdoors products and services just in time to prepare for the upcoming hunting season as well as family vacations.
The Texas Hunting & Outdoors Expo will be held Saturday, July 17, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Sunday, July 18, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets prices are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for military with i.d., $4 for Youth (age 13-17), and free for children 12 and under. Half-price admission for the whole family with a Scout in uniform and for leaders in uniform.
The Merrell Center is in the City of Katy at 6301 South Stadium Lane, Katy, Texas 77494. Print this coupon for $2 off admission.
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Helping Hands - Volunteer News
by Terri Ficker, Volunteer Coordinator
Our volunteers are Flat Out Wonderful
It's not just a slogan - our volunteers really are wonderful. Thanks to everyone for their enthusiastic support since I took on the role of Volunteer Coordinator in April. The congratulatory messages, assistance, and general support have all contributed to my own enthusiasm for building a mutually beneficial relationship between KPC and its extraordinary volunteers. Many changes are under way to improve communication, training, recognition, and benefits for volunteers. One of the changes is that everyone who volunteers with KPC on a regular basis is now considered a "Ranger." Being a Ranger has its perks. Katy Prairie Rangers receive their own e-mail updates on upcoming volunteer opportunities as well as notices of special classes and field trips arranged just for them, including events like the Ranger Ramble highlighted in the June newsletter.
Volunteer Events
More Rambling Rangers: As noted in the June Observer, our first volunteer-only field trip, the Ranger Ramble, was a great success, but only 16 volunteers were able to attend. Our roster of volunteers continues to grow, so we're planning on holding many more events beginning in the fall when the weather cools down. Kathie Shultz summed up the essence of these events nicely when she wrote, "What a delightful outing! This first volunteer event was a perfect launch for what I hope will be many more. I took home many pleasant memories of the open skies and fascinating flora, but - perhaps most of all - I enjoyed the opportunity to chat with other volunteers. The evening was nothing but fun, and I realized that we just don't allow ourselves enough of that." 
Bump Up Potting Party: Rambling field trips shouldn't be the only time volunteers have fun, so when we needed help repotting plants at the nursery, we made a party out of it. There was a whole lotta bumpin' goin' on when eight volunteers repotted approximately 700 plants on a warm Saturday morning. We expected the event to end with the nice lunch we provided, but they were having so much fun, they went back to work afterwards!
PrairieWorks - A Fun Way to End the Week! Want to get your hands dirty? Every Friday from 8:30 am to 11:30am, KPC hosts PrairieWorks at our Field Preserve. Volunteers can come and work in the Coastal Prairie Native Seed Nursery - watering, weeding, and potting seedlings. After or before your volunteer efforts, you can take a stroll on the Field Preserve as part of our weekly Open Trails program. Email info@katyprairie.org for more details.
Spotlight
Thanks to our Volunteers!
KPC would like to thank all the following volunteers who generously gave their time in June:
PrairieWorks
Brad Alexander
Laura Brumbaugh
Renee Brumbaugh
Lynne Franklin
Cara Franklin Joe Langlitz
Linda Langlitz
Donna Pisani
Janet Sze
Christina Sze
Bump Up Potting Party
Frank Abbott
Lourez Bullock
Jim Butcher
Marion Fenimore
Bob Fenimore
Toni Huff
Grace Liggitt
Ron Rogers
Wally Ward
June Prairie Discovery Tour
Chris Dyess
Jim Dyess
Diane Kerr
Linda Langlitz
Wally Ward
Open Trails Sunday
Jim & Chris Dyess
Summer Science Nights
Rebecca Barker
Chris Dyess
Jim Dyess
Great Grow Out Team Frank Abbott & Pershing Middle School
Lourez Bullock
Jim Butcher Stuart Davidson Margaret Frick National Charity League-Star Chapter Leanna Harper & Cub Scout Pack 1130
Grace Liggitt Peggy d'Hemecourt
Ron Rogers Terri Schwabb Doug Simons Wendy Talkington
Wally Ward
Special Thanks to National Charity League-Star Chapter Philanthropy Liaison, Jennifer Newton, in Katy for coordinating with us to direct her chapter's members to our volunteer opportunities.
Oops! Did you volunteer with us this month and don't see your name? If we missed listing your volunteer contribution for the month of June, please email info@katyprairie.org and we'll be sure you make it into the next newsletter.
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Support KPC
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 help 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, and preserve enhancement activities.
Do you like to shop? Do you buy your groceries at Kroger or Randalls? If you do, you can link your Kroger and Randalls cards 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. To donate through Kroger, please click on the link Buy Groceries Now to download the form you need. Bring the form to Kroger's Customer Service booth and link your card to KPC! To link your Randalls card to KPC, simply visit the customer service desk at your nearest Randalls store and ask
the clerk to link your card to our code: 6658. This is a one-time
request so that Randalls can donate to KPC each time you use your Randalls Remarkable Card.
 Earth Share of Texas represents the Katy Prairie Conservancy in
workplace payroll contribution plans throughout Texas. You can help support the Katy Prairie Conservancy with a workplace giving pledge through EarthShare Texas. Earth Share Texas represents KPC and 69 other nonprofits across Texas . If you are an employee of the cities of Austin, Houston, Dallas, El Paso, San Marcos, the State of Texas, the Federal Government, REI, Dell Incorporated, Wal-Mart, Hewlett Packard, and many others where you can donate, please check out KPC's page for our numbers to fill out on your donation forms. Thank you! If you would like your company to consider establishing an EarthShare workplace giving program, please call Mary Anne Piacentini at 713.523.6135 for more information on how you can help.
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Photo Credits
Girl at Field Office - Carolyn Fannon
Girls with chicks - Michael Morton
Nursery - Terry Ficker
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| The Katy Prairie Conservancy
3015 Richmond Avenue, Suite 230
Houston, TX 77098-3114
713.523.6135
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