general meeting: 

All Sierra Club events are open to members and visitors alike.   Please join us.

Outings note: The leaders of our trips are serving in a volunteer capacity and assume no responsibility above that of trip organizer. Please respect the wishes of your leader. If you have any medical requirements, it is your responsibility to inform the leader before the trip. While our trip leaders are not paid professionals, they are encouraged to participate in training to increase their skills. All outings officially begin at the trailhead. Leaders cannot assign carpools but may help coordinate ride sharing to conserve energy and to promote camaraderie. Some outings require advance reservations at the destination site as well as from the participant. If you must cancel, inform the leader promptly.

* The events marked with an asterisk are not sponsored by the Sierra Club Houston Group, but are presented here as a courtesy to our members and friends.  The Sierra Club Houston Regional Group makes no representations nor assumes any responsibility for these activities.

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special events:

October 10-12 (Fri-Sun) - Sierra Celebration - The 2008 Sierra Celebration, a weekend of outdoor activities with Sierra Club members from around the state, will be held this year at Caddo Lake State Park in Northeast Texas. More details will follow, but please put this event on your calendar. The Lone Star Chapter encourages participation in this event so Texas Sierrans can meet and socialize with their fellow Club members. The Chapter leaders will work with regional group outings leaders to set up hiking, canoeing, and other outdoor activities in Caddo Lake State Park and nearby areas during Sierra Celebration. Chapter Executive Committee member Tolbert Greenwood of Fort Worth is coordinating this year’s Sierra Celebration. The Chapter appreciative of Tolbert’s taking the initiative to get the planning for the 2008 Celebration underway. Tolbert may be contacted at tol@greentol.com. It’s been about a decade since Sierra Celebration was held at Caddo Lake State Park. We had a great time there then, and we’re all looking forward to another fun weekend there this fall. Please plan to join us, and bring your friends!

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classes:

TBD - Outings Leader Training - Dates: Arranged with participants; no cost - Have you enjoyed outings or trips put on by the Houston Sierra Club? Would you like to see more outings offered? If so, have you considered playing a role yourself? We are always looking to maintain and expand our leader pool. We'll soon organize another training session for those interested in being outings leaders or trip coordinators. Our leader training provides participants with the background requirements for leading a Sierra Club outing in the field. This class is a qualification to become an asst. leader or leader on our air/bus trips, or to sponsor local day or weekend outings. The trip coordinator class will cover all the steps involved in planning one of our air/bus trips. The trip coordinators are the ones who decide on a destination and are then responsible for the overall planning and organization. This includes choosing group leaders, making air/bus arrangements, publicizing the trip, etc. (One can assist with trip coordinating without having to lead a group in the field). Besides gaining rewarding personal experience, our group leaders and trip coordinators make an invaluable contribution to the Sierra Club. Their efforts create unique opportunities for others to experience and enjoy the natural world. And some trips serve as a source of revenue for the Houston Group, helping to support local conservation activities. In order to compensate somewhat for their time and energy, group leaders and trip coordinators can receive discounts on the air/bus trips that they lead. If you have interest in either of these classes, contact Frank Blake, frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896. Each class is approximately 2 hours long, and dates are coordinated with the interested participants.
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committee meetings:

August 28 (Thu) - Houston Group Executive Committee - 7:00 p.m. at the Citizens Environmental Coalition Building, 3015 Richmond at Eastside St.

September 4 (Thu) - Sustainability Subcommittee - At the General Monthly Meeting, 7:00 PM, at the Sustainability table. For more information, contact Cathy Albrecht at  281-585-0856 or calbrecht52@aol.com or Carl Hacker at Carl.S.Hacker@uth.tmc.edu

September 9 (Tue) - Inner City Outings (ICO) - Houston ICO meets the second Tuesday each month at 7 p.m. at George Batten's home.  3646 Aberdeen Way, Houston 77025 (713-665-1505)  Please email raineygib@aol.com or call 281-384-4104 for more information.

September 10 (Wed) - Conservation Committee - second Wednesday of each month,  7:00 PM at the Houston Sierra Club office, 3015 Richmond, 2nd floor. Contact Frank Blake at 713-528-2896 or e-mail frankblake@juno.com.

September 15 (Mon) - Outings Committee - third Monday of each month, 7 p.m. at George Batten's house.  Join us to help plan regional day events, weekend outings, and exciting trips to wilderness areas.  Please contact for directions and to confirm the meeting date. Contact Frank Blake at 713-528-2896 or e-mail frankblake@juno.com .

For more information on committee activities, click "get involved" on the nav bar.

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social gatherings:

September 4 (Thu) - Join Fellow Sierrans for Dinner Before the Meeting - In addition to our usual refreshments and social time at 7:00 PM prior to the meeting, why not join your fellow Sierrans for dinner at 5:30 PM at the nearby Collina's Italian Cafe at 3835 Richmond? The cafe is located in a strip shopping center about two blocks away from the meeting near the corner of Richmond and Weslayan. Come and meet some people who care about the same things you do.

September 18 (Thu) - Dinner, Conversation and "In the Forest of Fontainbleau" - 7:00 PM,  Museum of Fine Arts - Meet at the downstairs Cafe Express of the new wing of the Museum of Fine Arts at 7:00 PM to socialize over dinner or a snack and talk about some local forestry and parkland issues. Then we stroll through the exhibit "In the Forest of Fontainebleau: Painters and Photographers from Corot to Monet".  Between 1820 and 1870, French landscape painters documented the beauty of the forest that was formerly a royal hunting preserve. The artists later became some of the strongest advocates for preserving part of the forest when mass tourism threatened the forest’s integrity. In 1861, Emperor Napoleon III designated part of the forest as a nature preserve. Yellowstone, America’s first national park, was established in 1872. Admission to the MFA is free on Thursday nights. Please contact Evelyn Merz at 713-644-8228 or elmerz@hal-pc.org if you need further information.

Ongoing:  every Saturday - Sierra Walkers - Clear Lake Area - We meet every Saturday at 7:30 a.m. across the street from the Nassau Bay Post Office on Upper Bay Road, just south of NASA Rd. One. After a 3-mile walk, we have breakfast at a nearby deli. Some just come for breakfast. Join us! For information, call Richard or Betty Armstrong at 281-333-5693.

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outdoor events:

service projects

September 6 (Sat) - Marysee Prairie Work Day - First Saturdays. - The Marysee Prairie is one of the last remnants of tallgrass prairie in the Big Thicket region. Come assist the Big Thicket Association in this ongoing effort to revive and maintain the native grasses and wildflowers on this site near Batson, Texas. Work tasks vary by month, but usually involve removal of tallow seedlings, and controlling the regrowth of woody species. Tools and gloves provided. For more info, contact Susan Schinke atsruth@consolidated.net or 936-829- 5204, or Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896.

September 20 (Sat) - Trail Work: Stubblefield North - On Saturday, Sept 20, 2008, the Houston Sierra Club will conduct trail maintenance on the southern end of Little Lake Creek Loop. The grass is growing and I know that Brandt glows when he sees the plants grow in Sam Houston National Forest.  Bring lots of water, lunch, and wear cool cotton clothes. Long pants are recommended due to briars and other overly friendly vegetation. If you have a lopper or saw bring it. We have extras for those who do not have these tools.   We will meet at 8:00 am in the parking lot behind the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) at I-45 North and Greens Road. Look for the green Nissan Mini-van. To reach the parking lot, enter the feeder off I-45 North, via the Greens Road exit, and then pass through the traffic signal at Greens Rd. Turn right into the first strip center you come to (look for Brown Sugar’s Barbecue) and drive to the end of the strip center. The parking lot behind IHOP is on the right.  Contact Jane Prentiss at 713-201-5755 or lshttrailboss@yahoo.com for additional details. Please supply your name and contact info should we need to make changes.

September TBD - Memorial Park Service Project  - September date to be determined - In a remote corner of Memorial Park, an area of tallow trees has become established over the past few years. We hope to assist the Memorial Park Conservancy by scheduling some work days to help remove this invasive species. Work activities will involve pulling seedlings and sawing larger trees. We will coordinate workdays with weather conditions and park staff schedules. If you have an interest in participating, please contact Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896.

September 27 (Sat) - Semi-Annual Beach Cleanup - 9am-12noon - The Houston Sierra Club collects on a mile of beach at Crystal Beach on Bolivar Peninsula. Volunteers record information such as source and type of debris collected on data cards supplied by the Ocean Conservancy. This data has been instrumental in the passage of international treaties and laws aimed at reducing the amount of offshore dumping. All supplies will be provided, just show up. Directions: take I-45 to the seawall and turn left; turn left on Ferry Road; take the ferry to Bolivar Peninsula, continue to Alma Street and turn right. We will be at the end of the road. We will have a sign posted at Alma Street. For further information, contact Rita Wagner at ritajeandavis@yahoo.com or phone 281-486-4462. If there is interest in carpooling from central Houston, contact Frank Blake, frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896 (e-mail preferred). For carpooling, please contact Frank at least 48 hours in advance.

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Day Trips

August 24 (Sun) - Coastal Wildlife Refuge - We will visit one of the coastal wildlife refuges (Brazoria NWR & San Luis Pass?). Check the Houston Sierra Outings calendar for updates in August. We’ll meet at 8am and the outing will last until approximately 4pm. For meeting point and other details, contact Frank Blake, frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896.

September 6 (Sat) - Hike: Stubblefield North - We will hike the Stubblefield section south of 1375. We did work on this section and it is nice and clear. Hopefully the weather will have a touch of coolness.  Meet in the parking lot behind the International House of Pancakes (IHOP) at I-45 North and Greens Road. Get there as follows: From I-45 North exit at Greens Road, then stay on the feeder through the Greens Road traffic signal. Turn right into the first strip center (look for Brown Sugar’s Barbecue), and drive to the end of the strip center. The parking lot is behind IHOP on the right.  Contact Jane Prentiss at 713-201-5755 or lshttrailboss@yahoo.com for additional details. Please supply your name and contact info should we need to make changes.

September 21 (Sun) - Explore your City Bike Ride - starting at 9:00 AM Join us as we continue our exploration of the inner city. We will start from the Rose Garden in Herman Park, explore a portion of Midtown, then go east of 288. We will visit the old neighborhoods near TSU and UH, then go on the Brays Bayou bike trail along McGregor and explore the elegant homes.  Contact John Berlinghoff at johnb@hal-pc.org.

September 27 (Sat) - September Forest Walk Visits Two Unknown Streams - On September 27, 2008, the Houston Sierra Club will visit two creek locations we have not seen in Sam Houston National Forest. We do not know what we will find so this will be a true adventure! We will first visit the upper portion of Winters Bayou, in the Big Woods area in Compartment 84. We will latter visit Little Caney Creek in Compartment 99, near Nebletts Creek, and see what this stream looks like.  Bring your daypack, water (at least two quarts but more is better), lunch, hiking shoes, cameras, bug repellant, sunscreen, field guides, and clothes to fit the weather. Long pants are highly recommended! We will meet at 7:30 a.m., Rice University, Entrance 13A. Look for a blue Plymouth Neon. This Forest Walk is limited to 15 people. Call Brandt Mannchen at 713-664-5962 or email him at brandtshnfbt@juno.com so he can get your name, phone number, and email. Your name will be placed on the waiting list. The information collected will be used to contact you in case the Forest Walk is canceled.

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Weekend Trips are also listed on our Outings page

TBD - Texas Hill Country - Two days to be arranged in July-August - Do you want to backpack in central Texas in the hottest part of the year? If so, contact George Batten at 713-665-1505 or BayouBanner@gmail.com, email preferred. Trip details depend on interest and participants. Not for dogs or children. Recommended donation $15.

September 19-21 (Fri-Sun) - Car Camping Guadalupe River State Park - Join us for a weekend of camping and hiking in the fresh autumn air of the Texas Hill Country. Available activities include a tour of the adjacent Honey Creek State Natural Area, tubing, paddling, fishing, and mountain biking. Nearby Natural Bridge Caverns tours are an optional Sunday side trip before returning to Houston. This trip is child and pet friendly. Cost is $10 per adult. Day entrance fees are extra. Contact Dale Stevens W:281-719-7459 (dale_stevens9@yahoo.com) for more information. Please RSVP by 8/24/07.

October 17-19 (Fri-Sun) - Martin Dies, Jr. State Park - Enjoy an East Texas Fall weekend. This should be a good trip for beginners as well as experienced campers. Bring your bike, kayak, fishing pole, or just your light hiking shoes as this park on B. A. Steinhagen Lake has a lot to offer including easy hiking trails and flat park roads. Hopefully we will enjoy some autumn color as well. A donation of $10 to the club is requested and park fees are extra. Contact Rick Rice at rick.rice@sbcglobal.net or 713-680-0585.

Longer Trips are listed exclusively on our Outings page

Last updated:  08/27/2008.   Content © 1999-2008 by the Sierra Club.