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 Katy Prairie Bash 2011
something wild
Wednesday, May 18 at 7 PM along the banks of Buffalo Bayou Acre by acre, the Katy Prairie Conservancy is working to reach its long-term goal of preserving a sustainable part of the Katy Prairie on Houston's west side. By conserving large contiguous areas, the Conservancy ensures that the prairie will continue to be home to a multitude of wild things forever, including more than 300 species of birds; 110 species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians; 400 species of grasses and wildflowers; and thousands of insects and aquatic invertebrates. The prairie's absorbent open lands reduce flooding and improve water quality downstream while providing recreational opportunities such as hiking, bird watching, fishing, hunting, and nature photography for residents and visitors. Katy Prairie's 2nd annual bash - something wild will honor Rusty and Paula Walter and Carole and Jim Looke for their commitment to keeping the Katy Prairie wild. In December 2004, Rusty Walter and Carole Looke gave the Conservancy its first-ever conservation easement totaling 360 acres of ecologically rich wetlands and hardwoods bordering Cypress Creek and including an oxbow lake. This initial easement is part of a larger ranch the Walter and Looke families have owned since 1994. Both families spend countless hours on the property hunting and fishing and enjoying the outdoors. They have also significantly improved the ranch's wildlife habitat.
It is through the commitment of conservation-minded property owners like the Walter and Looke families that the Katy Prairie will endure as one of our region's most prized natural assets. Become a supporter by attending this year's Katy Prairie Bash. Table sponsorships are still available ranging in price from $25,000 to $2,500. All table sponsorships include 10 tickets to the event and publicity benefits. VIP tickets are available at $500; individual tickets at $250; and tickets for patrons under 40 are $150. Please e-mail info@katyprairie.org or call Paige Warner at 713.523.6135 if you would like a receive a sponsorship form or need more information. |
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Events on the Prairie
ECOnnections
Saturday, May 14
Join us for a double-hitter presentation of ECOnnections, KPC's exclusive nature classes designed for adults who want to learn more about the prairie.
Pennies and Pioneers
9 AM - 11 AM
KPC's Community Education Manager, Jaime Gonzalez, will teach a lesson on the history of the Katy Prairie, including ancient mammals that roamed the prairie as well as the Native American tribes that early pioneers encountered. The class will also cover the conservation methods and tools that KPC uses to protect the Katy Prairie forever.
 Skimmers, Dancers, and Darners - Oh My!
11 AM - 1 PM
Bob Honig will present a program on the life history of dragonflies and damselflies, which comprise the insect order Odonata. Bob will talk about how dragonflies and damselflies live, grow, and reproduce. After attending this presentation, you'll know the answer to such questions as: How do immature dragonflies breathe underwater? And what is the killer lip?
When: Saturday, May 14 from 9 AM - 1 PM
Where: Indiangrass Preserve
Registration limited and required. Please call 713.523.6135 or email info@katyprairie.org to register. Participants may attend one or both classes. Classes are free for all KPC volunteers and $5 per person for the public.
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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Enter to Win a free Summer Science Nights Session!
 Summer Science Nights Wednesdays in June, Thursdays in July
It's that time of year again! KPC is hosting its 3rd annual Summer Science Nights on Wednesday evenings and June and Thursday evenings in July. This summer science camp is 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.
This year we're offering a special opportunity for your child to attend Summer Science Nights for free! Is there a special topic you'd like to learn about? Reply to this email by May 12 with a topic and title you'd like to study this year, and if your topic is picked, your child will be rewarded with a full free session of Summer Science Nights! Previous topics have included Summer Serpents, focusing on snakes on the prairie in the summer months, and Just Stay Cool, which discussed how plants and animals beat the prairie heat.
Summer Science Nights, Wednesday evenings in June (June 15, 22, and 29) and Thursday evenings in July (July 14, 21, and 28); classes are designed for 5 - 10 year-olds and class size is absolutely limited. More information (including class topics) coming soon. |
Unplugged Adventures: April 16
Up to the highest height
On a breezy, gorgeous Saturday, KPC hosted over fifty people for a day of kite-making and kite flying at our Indiangrass Preserve. At Let's Go Fly A Kite, the second in KPC's new Unplugged Adventures program, was a smashing success. A real kite expert helped kids learn how to make kites and how to get the kites flying up, up, up and away! Unplugged Adventures is a new way to get people on the prairie for a variety of special events, including star-gazing, kite-flying, critter crawls, and more. We want to show people all the wonderful ways they can have fun on the Katy Prairie because we're convinced that once people come out and see the prairie, they'll want to come back.
Keep your eyes peeled for June's Unplugged Adventures details when we host a dusk critter crawl on Warren Ranch South. We'd also love to hear from you about how you enjoy the prairie or to learn of other Unplugged Adventures you would like to see KPC host. |
| 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 just take care of the land.
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 would like to extend a special thank you to Johnny Fife, a KPC supporter and nature enthusiast, who spotted a dilapidated purple martin house from the Nelson Farms Wildlife Viewing Platform, took it home, and refurbished it himself with all his own materials. The newly restored birdhouse has now been installed at the Native Seed Nursery, a much more suitable location for these mosquito-eating birds and one that we are sure our Nursery volunteers will greatly appreciate!
KPC would like to thank all the following volunteers who generously gave their time in March and April:
Nursery WarriorsFrank Abbott, Rachel Donges, Bob Feicht, Johnny Fife, Julie Friedman, Catalina Langlitz, Sheryl Marquez, Kate Martin, Rebecca Martin, Kelly McNab, Karen Miller, Ron Rogers, Diane Russell, Cheryl Sedivec 
Help with the Coastal Prairie Exhibit at MFAH
Laura Bacon, Peggy Bailey, Claire Caudill, Allyson Cook, Verlinde Doubleday, Jim Dyess, Katy Emde, Gail Faris, Cynthia and Ben Guill, Rafael Gonzalez Sr., Flo Hannah, Lucy Goodrich, Doris Heard, Gail Hendryx, Ann Kelsey, Wendy Kelsey, Holly Hudley Lewis, Theo Ostler, Jane Reireson, Lan Shen, Karen Terrell, Francita Ulmer, Joe Wong
Seed Planting at Indiangrass Preserve
Jim Willis
KPC Activity at Jesse Jones Park Naturefest
Jim Dyess, Steve Ramsey
Flat Out Fun Day Committee
Alan Richardson, Gary Griggs, Erin Griggs
Seed Stomp & Grass Planting at Indiangrass Preserve
Kelly Chiu and her children, Bob Feicht, Ben Lowery, Billy Lowery, Brayden Lowery, Kevin LaBreche, Nate LaBreche, Joe Liggio, Edgar Lopez-Sanchez, Sheryl Marquez, Pat Meyers, Karen Miller, Steve Ramsey, Cheryl Sedivec
Bucknell Alumni Group
Karen Albert, Alex Albert, Rick Cleveland, Christian Genty, Andrea Hayden, Barrett Sides
Daisy Troop 17417
Melanie Butler and children, Linda McElroy and children, Eleanor Stoddart and children
ERM
Henry Goyette, Jacob Hook
Student Conservation Association
Suzie Culhane, Matt Wiseman
Katy Folk Life Festival
Kate Bechtold, Josie Harry, Toni Huff, David Poteet, Iris Poteet, Alan Richardson, Lisa Scott
Tallow Control on Warren Ranch South
Karen Miller, Jane Rierson, Ron Rogers, Diane Russell
Unplugged Adventure: Kite Flying
Sheryl Marquez, Ron Rogers, Don Mayhall
Wildlife Survey on Schliff Preserve
Rick Davison, Stella Davison, Stuart Davison, Joe Langlitz
Tour Guides
Chris Dyess, Joe Liggio, Sheryl Marquez
Survey for Species of Concern
Chris Dyess, Joe Liggio, Sheryl Marquez
Bridgeland Naturefest
Cheryl Sedivec, Key Club Students
Katy Prairie Bash - something wild
Stephanie and Brad Tucker
Oops! Did you volunteer with us in March and April 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
Bobcat - Greg Lavaty; dragonfly - Bob Honig
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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