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:

none scheduled

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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:

May 13 (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.

May 14 (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.

May 19 (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 .

May 22 (Thu) - Houston Group Executive Committee - 7:00 p.m. at the Citizens Environmental Coalition Building, 3015 Richmond at Eastside St.

June 5 (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

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

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social gatherings:

June 5 (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 café 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.

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

May 17 (Sat) - S. Little Lake Creek Wilderness Trail Maintenance - We will conduct several miles of trail maintenance on this part of the Lone Star Hiking Trail. Bring a lopper, machete, swing-blade, saw, or similar tool to trim branches and low growing vegetation. If you do not have tools, we have extra ones. Bring a daypack, two quarts of water, lunch, hat, and hiking shoes. Long pants are recommended. No experience is necessary. Meet at 8:00 a.m. 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 Rd. 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.

June 7 (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.

June 21 (Sat) - Trail Maintenance Hike Visits Caney Creek - On Saturday, June 21, 2008, the Houston Sierra Club will conduct trail maintenance on the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) in Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF) near Caney Creek. It will be hot! The grass will be tall and we will need volunteers who can lop vegetation from across the LSHT. SHNF gets lots of sun, rain, and has a long growing season. Men will sweat, but the women will glisten!  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.

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Day Trips

May 24 (Sat) - Berry Picking and Picnic Lunch - Join us for a morning of berry picking at family-owned orchards in the Houston area. We will pick blackberries and/or blueberries depending on ripening dates. Some of the farms we may visit include BlackberriesofHouston.com, Matt's Family Orchard, (both located in Northwest Harris County), or Moorhead's Blueberries located in Montgomery Co. We will confirm details for the outing during the week prior to the outing. If there is interest we will have a rendezvous point at Rice University for those wishing to carpool from central Houston. We plan to schedule an additional berry picking outing sometime in June. Participants should bring a picnic lunch, water, hat and sunscreen. Also bring sufficient cash for payment of fruit, as some farms do not accept checks or credit cards. If interested, please contact Arlene Diehl at 281-252-4639, arlenediehl@peoplepc.com, or Frank Blake at frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896.

May 31 (Sat) - Canoe/Kayak the Cypress Wonderland - Experience the maze of lakes and shaded, winding bayous deep within the heart of the largest cypress forest on the Texas coast. This is one of the most scenic paddling destinations in this part of our state, and it is located only 30 miles east of Houston. Depending on the water and weather conditions, we will focus on one or more of the area's many features: wildlife, river processes, Texas history, and the impact of human interventions such as the Wallisville Project. Participants must provide their own canoe or kayak, life jackets (required), and paddles. The trip leader can help you with advice regarding gear rentals from Houston area outfitters. Paddling time: about 5 hours, plus breaks for sightseeing and lunch. Difficulty: moderate to strenuous. Recommended donation to the Houston Sierra Club: $10. Contact Tom Douglas at (713) 869-6026 or baymail@sbcglobal.net.

June 7 (Sat) - Magnolia’s Featured on June Trail Hike - On Saturday, June 7, 2008, the Houston Sierra Club will hike the wonderful Magnolia Section of the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT). The Magnolia Section is my favorite section of the LSHT. There are parts of this section where you actually walk on a floor of magnolia leaves. We will hike to the East Fork of the San Jacinto River and view the downed wooden bridge that was built by the U.S. Forest Service and Sierra Club volunteers. Just before we get to the East Fork there is a sandy creek. If it is warm we might want to get wet. As we prepare to go home, we can stop and eat Mexican Food in Cleveland.  The hike will be about 6 miles. I encourage you to wear loose light cotton clothing and bring lots of water to drink. Most of the trail is shaded. We 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.

June 7 (Sat) - Canoe Armand Bayou - 9:00 AM - Just outside of the city limits of Houston is a piece of water wilderness. Located on Bay Area Boulevard near Clear Lake, is a quiet oasis filled with wildlife. Join us Saturday morning for a leisurely trip through this flatwater paradise. We will try to match up canoeists with folks wanting to attend. Life jackets required. Donation of $5/person asked. Contact John Berlinghoff at 713-644-8228 or johnb@halpc.org.

June 14 (Sat) - Forest Walk Visits Little Lake Creek Wilderness for Lone Star Hiking Trail’s 40th Anniversary - On Saturday, June 14, 2008, the Houston Sierra Club will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the opening of the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) with a beautiful hike of 4 miles through Little Lake Creek Wilderness Area (LLCWA) in Sam Houston National Forest (SHNF).  LLCWA is the only Wilderness Area found in SHNF. We will hike the LSHT and explore Little Lake Creek and the uplands that make this beautiful area a gem for tree lovers. Everything from palmettos to Loblolly Pines can be seen.  We will meet at 7:30 am, Entrance 13A, Rice University parking lot, off Greenbriar. Bring a daypack, lunch, two quarts of water, hat, hiking shoes, long pants, and clothes suited for the weather. For those who want to meet us at the trailhead we will meet at the parking lot on the east side of FM 149 (where the LSHT crosses FM 149) about 3.5 miles south of the intersection of FM 149 with FM 1375.  The trip is limited to 15 people. Call Brandt Mannchen at 713-664-5962 or brandtshnfbt@juno.com so that your name, phone number, and email can be taken. The information will be used in case the trip is canceled due to inclement weather.

June 14 (Sat) - KUHF/KUHT Facility Tour - 12 noon to 2pm - Here's an opportunity to go behind the scenes and tour the facilities at the Melcher Center for Public Broadcasting, located on the UH Campus. At KUHT Channel 8 the tour will include the main television studio, scenery construction and storage facility, dressing rooms, and production control. Included are equipment explanations and demonstrations. At KUHF Radio, we will visit the Master Control Room, sound stage, radio production studio, KUHF newsroom, and music library. The radio station tour includes discussions on acoustics and sound manipulation, as well as equipment and software demonstrations. Tour limited to 15 people, and runs approximately two hours. To reserve a spot, contact Sanae Kelly at sanae454@yahoo.com or 832-854-7661.

June 22 (Sun) - Bike Ride Along Bray’s Greenway - at 9:00 - Join us as we explore one of the newest bikeways in Houston along lower Brays Bayou deep in the East End. The trail system is still in progress but there is already lots to see. The ride will start at 9:00 at MAMBO’s Restaurant which is also our lunch stop. It is located at 6890 Harrisburg in Harrisburg Plaza near S Wayside. We will pass by the historic Gus Wortham Golf Course, ride along Brays Bayou, visit Mason park and pass through picturesque neighborhoods. The ride will be an easy 15 miles and reservations are NOT required, but don’t forget your helmet and water. John Berlinghoff at 713/644-8228 johnb@hal-pc.org

June 28 (Sat) - Black Skimmer Colony & Brazoria NWR - On this outing we will visit the black skimmer colony located at the Dow Chemical facility in Freeport, and then the nearby Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge. The Dow black skimmer colony is the largest on the Texas coast. Each year between April and August more than 1200 skimmers utilize this nesting ground. Access to this colony by the general public is limited to just one day per year. The black skimmer is a distinctive bird, with a large black tipped red beak, and the lower bill larger than the upper. They breed in colonies on beaches and islands, often with terns and gulls. The nest is a simple scrape in the sand or shellbank, and the eggs are colored to blend in with the sand, seashells and beach debris. Nearby, Brazoria NWR is an area of coastal marsh and grassland that provides important habitat for a variety of shorebirds and other species. In summer, birds that nest on the refuge include herons, egrets, white ibis, roseate spoonbill, mottled duck, white-tailed kite, clapper rail, horned lark, black skimmer, and scissor-tailed flycatcher. We'll meet at 8am and the outing will last until mid afternoon. For meeting point and other details, contact Frank Blake, frankblake@juno.com or 713-528-2896.

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Weekend Trips are also listed on our Outings page

none scheduled

Longer Trips are listed exclusively on our Outings page

Last updated:  05/11/2008.   Content © 1999-2008 by the Sierra Club.