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Honorees Paula and Rusty Walter with Co-Chairs Stephanie and Brad Tucker
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Katy Prairie Bash 2011
a wild success
The Katy Prairie Conservancy's second annual Katy Prairie Bash - something wild - was a smashing success with more than 350 guests in attendance on a balmy, breezy evening. Clad in their best prairie chic, party-goers gathered for the festivities May 18 on the lush grounds of Astrid and Gene Van Dyke's bayou-side home in River Oaks. Several food stations offered an array of culinary creations by Jim Benton of Houston, while guests enjoyed the mellow musical sounds of McLemore Avenue.
 | | Janet and Brad James with honorees Carole and Jim Looke |
The gala honorees were Paula and Rusty Walter and Carole and Jim Looke, who in 2004 gave KPC its first-ever conservation easement of 360 acres of ecologically rich wetlands and hardwoods bordering Cypress Creek. Carole and Rusty are siblings who grew up hunting and fishing in the Katy and Waller area. Their families have significantly improved wetland and grassland habitat for the prairie's wildlife, helping to make the Katy Prairie a flat out wonderful destination for wildlife and people who love the great outdoors.
Check out more gala photos at PaperCity and RSVP Social so you can see for yourself what a wonderful time everyone had. If you couldn't make this year's party, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for next year's date! If you still want to support KPC's efforts to protect this wild place, click here!
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Events on the Prairie
Summer Science Nights: A Howling Good Time! Wednesday evenings in June | Thursday evenings in July
Worried that your child is going to turn into a couch potato this summer? KPC's Summer Science Nights are a great way to enrich your child's understanding of science and nature in the best laboratory of all - the great outdoors! In the cool of the evening, your child can explore a shadowy world of adventure on the Katy Prairie. Each class includes a lesson, hands-on activitiy, and exciting hike on one of KPC's wildlife-rich preserves.  Moonstruck
June 15 and July 14
The moon may look like just another big rock in space, but it has an amazing history. We'll explore some of the forces that shaped the moon by simulating lava flows and meteor impacts. We'll also learn how to identify major features of the moon with the naked eye and discover how the moon affects animals. Topic suggested by Dorena Battaglino.
 Bug Talk
June 22 and July 21
Insects use chirps, squeaks, rattles, hums, flashes, and smells (both pleasant and not so terrific) to talk to each other. Join our "insect band" as we pop, scrape, and whistle our way into a better appreciation of incest communication using common household items. Topic suggested by Joee Johnson.
Prairie Dogs
June 29 and July 28
There is nothing more thrilling or eerie than hearing the howling of a wild dog! The Katy Prairie is home to several cousins of the family pet, including coyotes and two types of foxes. It was also once home to red wolves. Experience life by acting as wild dog by trying to sniff out prey, find your place in your "wolf pack," and even discover why a wet nose is better than a dry one! Topic suggested by Merrilee Crimmins.
Where: Indiangrass Preserve
Classes are designed for 5 - 10 year olds. The full session includes 3 classes so students can take a full session, individual classes, or mix and match between the two sessions. Classes are $5 per student per class. Download the registration form.
Unplugged Adventures: Dusk Critter Crawl
Saturday, June 18
Join KPC for our June Unplugged Adventures, a program designed to get you and your family unplugged from the ordinary and plugged into the prairie with a series of fun, exclusive events on KPC's preserves.
On Saturday, June 18, KPC will host a Dusk Critter Crawl at our Warren Ranch South Preserve from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM. The prairie comes to life at dusk as the critters of the prairie start stirring in the cool of the evening. You might spot nighthawks sweeping overhead, hear the chatter of prairie insets, and watch a spectacular sunset as the sun dips below the horizon. Join KPC and special nature experts on an exclusive twilight hike among the wild animals of the Katy Prairie on this rarely-visited preserve.
When: Saturday, June 18 from 7 PM - 8:30 PM
Where: Warren Ranch South
Registration limited and required. Please call 713.523.6135 or email info@katyprairie.org to register.
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. Be sure to dress in layers as sometimes the temperature of the prairie can change rapidly - from hot to cold and windy. Hats are great if you want to be shielded from the sun. Please bring your own water and insect repellent. |
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 ALERT!!! Wildlife Viewing Platform at Warren Lake - Road Closure and Detour
Use Jack Road South
If you're heading out to the Matt Cook Memorial Wildlife Viewing Platform at Warren Lake this summer, please be sure to download and print the revised directions. Harris County will be working on the bridge just north of Warren Lake this summer and the road will be closed. KPC advises reaching Warren Lake from Highway 290 by exiting Katy-Hockley Road and following the detour highlighted in red.
Download and print the revised directions to Warren Lake.
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 Birds of a Feather Tweet Together!
Follow KPC on Twitter and Facebook
KPC is taking a cue from the birds on the Katy Prairie; we've begun tweeting! Did you know that you can keep up with KPC on Twitter and Facebook? You'll get event updates, exclusive photos of what's happening on the Katy Prairie, and special on-the-ground observations from KPC's Community Education Manager, Jaime Gonzalez. Click on the links below to join the flock!
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| Helping Hands - Volunteer News
by Terri Ficker, Volunteer Coordinator
Our volunteers are Flat Out Wonderful
Our volunteers are the greatest! They have been stepping up in recent weeks to help us fulfill our goals in multiple areas from restoration work to outreach to everything in between. More and more of them are finding their niche, becoming comfortable with their tasks, and developing a level of independence that greatly expands KPC's ability to conserve land, restore prairie, and maintain our preserves.
Volunteer Events
PrairieWorks - A Fun Way to End the Week! Want to get your hands dirty? Every second Thursday and Friday of each month, KPC hosts PrairieWorks at our Indiangrass Preserve. Volunteers can come and work in the Coastal Prairie Native Seed Nursery watering, weeding, and potting seedlings. Thursday times are 8 AM to 3 PM; Friday times are 9 AM to 1 PM. Email info@katyprairie.org for more details.Spotlight
 KPC's newly refurbished purple martin house was recently installed at KPC's Indiangrass Preserve and it already has inhabitants! In March, KPC volunteer and long-time purple martin lover, Johnny Fife, noticed a dilapidated purple martin house languishing on the Nelson Farms Preserve. With KPC's permission, he took it home, cleaned it up, and installed it in a much more suitable location with a wide, treeless clearing away from any tall obstructions.
Johnny has written a short article about building and maintaining your own purple martin house here.
KPC would like to thank all the following volunteers who generously gave their time in May:
ECOnnections
Bob Honig
Nursery Medicine Warriors
Craig Cooper
Sheryl Marquez
Diane Russell
Cheryl Sedivec
Property Monitoring
Johnny Fife
Mentoring Visiting Houston Zoo Interns
Diane Russell
Mentoring YES Prep - East End
Mark Johnson
Diane Russell
Nursery Equipment Repairs & Maintenance Joe Langlitz NCL-Star Chapter Philanthropy Liaison KPC would like to extend very special thanks to Jennifer Newton, who served as Philanthropy Liaison to the KPC on behalf of the National Charity League's Star Chapter in Katy for the past year. Jennifer worked hard recruiting many of her chapter members and mother-daughter teams to volunteer with us in the Nursery and assist with many of our events including Flat Out Fun Day, Summer Science Nights, and Survivors: Katy Prairie. Thank you, Jennifer!
Katy Prairie Bash - something wild
Stephanie and Brad Tucker
Kris Branam
Lynne Kaufman
Charlotte Mitchell
Oops! Did you volunteer with us in May and don't see your name? If we missed listing your volunteer contribution, 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 Prairie depends on the support of people like you. Give to the Katy Prairie Conservancy today and help protect this special place for the benefit of its wildlife and for the enjoyment of present and future generations of 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.
 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, you already can donate to KPC so 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.
 The Reliant EcoShare is a new way that Texans can support the Katy Prairie Conservancy and offset their own carbon production at the same time. Reliant Energy and EarthShare of Texas have launched a program that allows Reliant customers to help reduce their carbon footprints through the purchase of carbon offsets. And for each customer-purchased offset, Reliant will make a contribution to EarthShare of Texas and its participating organizations. As an EarthShare of Texas participating organization, KPC will benefit from this program. For more information, follow this link to the EarthShare of Texas website or go directly to reliant.com/ecoshare.
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Photo Credits
Gala Photos by Tom DuBrock, black-bellied whistling ducks by Grag Lavaty
All other photos were taken by KPC staff unless otherwise noted. |
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| The Katy Prairie Conservancy
3015 Richmond Avenue, Suite 230
Houston, TX 77098-3114
713.523.6135
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