Bayou Preservation

Empower Your Home, Empower Your Community: BPA Introduces FREE Climate Smart Workshops! This summer, join Bayou Preservation Association's Resiliency at Home Workshops and learn how learn to implement nature-based solutions that benefit both your neighborhood and Houston's vital bayou systems. ➡️ Learn valuable skills through engaging, hands-on sessions.  ➡️ Discover nature-based solutions for your home and neighborhood.  ➡️ Take home kits and supplies at no cost (limited availability) to put your new skills into action! When & Where: 📅 Every 3rd Saturday, June - August | 10am-12pm  📍Kashmere Multi-Service Center, 4802 Lockwood Dr, Houston, TX 77026 🌻First Workshop: Pollinator Gardens - June 15th Transform your yard into a pollinator haven! Learn how to create your own pollinator garden and build a bee house to take home with you! More Workshops Coming Soon! 🍂 Yard Waste: July 20th 🌧️ Rain Harvesting: Aug 17th Register & Learn More: https://lnkd.in/g8XuS4gn Invest in a Greener Houston! 💚 Bayou Preservation Association is a non-profit dedicated to protecting our waterways. These free workshops are made possible by generous sponsors and donors.  ➡️ Become a Sponsor: Help us empower Houston communities to build climate resilience. ➡️ Make a Donation: Your contribution ensures these workshops remain free and accessible to all! To learn more, visit our giving page here: https://lnkd.in/gGpxFBAk Thank you to the following sponsors for their support: CenterPoint Energy, ExxonMobil, Hawes Hills & Associates, Walter P. Moore Let's work together for a greener, more resilient Houston! #BayouPreservation #ResiliencyAtHome #ClimateSmart #BeatTheHeat #HoustonEvents #ClimateAction #FamilyFun

On Friday, August 2nd, Bayou Preservation Association presented our Watershed Explorer Kits at NRG Park during the Bright Futures Fair 🌟. The event provided a platform for nonprofits, businesses, and organizations to share important information for youth in conjunction with the annual Street Olympics 🏃♂️. This was an excellent opportunity for youth programs all over Houston to get involved. We are grateful to Harris County Precinct One Commissioner Rodney Ellis for facilitating an environment where we could engage the younger generation in conversations about the significance of healthy waterways in our city 🌊 🌿. Our Watershed Explorer Kit is designed to correspond with TEKS grades three through five, aiming to educate young people about different types of watersheds and their benefits, sources of pollution, and water monitoring💧. In addition to educational materials, the kit includes activities and supplies such as gloves, testing strips, sample tubes, and more, which can be used at home or in a park under adult supervision. During the event, kids could use water test strips to conduct water tests in the bowl at our display table 🧪. They were thrilled to see the colors change underwater and compare their results with a water quality chart to assess the characteristics of the water. We successfully distributed fifty kits to kids eager to take one home! Thank you once again, Harris County Precinct One, for inviting us to be a part of the 2024 Bright Futures Fair 🌟.

🌟 Meet Our Summer Intern, Jason Okoroafo! 🌟 Thanks to the ExxonMobil Community Summer Jobs Program, Bayou Preservation was excited to host Jason Okoroafo, a rising junior in Industrial Engineering from Texas State University. As our first intern from this incredible program, Jason brought energy and dedication to our team over the past few months. This summer, Jason immersed himself in the BPA world by assisting with outreach and coordination for our Resiliency at Home workshop series and the Reclaimed BaYOU: Pots for Plots program. He also created engaging outreach and communication materials for our social media and email campaigns. To top it off, Jason received Texas Stream Team water quality training and actively participated in water quality monitoring. We wish Jason a successful upcoming year and look forward to his future accomplishments in the conservation world. Thank you, Jason, for joining the BPA team this summer and contributing to our efforts in solving water quality issues in our waterways. We appreciate all that you’ve accomplished with us! A big thank you to the ExxonMobil Foundation & ExxonMobil Giving for making this internship possible! #Summer #Internship #Houston #ExxonMobilGiving

🌲✨ Celebrate National Park Day! ✨🌲 This August 4th, 2024, we're commemorating the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act by inviting you to explore the breathtaking beauty of our national parks—for FREE! 🌎🎉 Whether you're a seasoned hiker or just looking for a peaceful escape, all national park service sites that typically charge an entrance fee will be free to visit. It’s the perfect opportunity to reconnect with nature and experience the wonder of our country’s natural treasures. 🏞️🌿 Pack your bags, grab your friends and family, and make some unforgettable memories in the great outdoors. Let's celebrate and protect these incredible landscapes for generations to come! 🏕️ Click here for more info: https://lnkd.in/eYp4VsS #NationalParkDay #FindYourPark #GreatAmericanOutdoors #FreeEntrance #ExploreNature #PreserveOurParks 📸: Garner State Park in Concan, Texas

#IntoTheWildFridays: Dive into the Wild with Project WILD! 🌍🌿 🌾👟 Embark on a Prairie Adventure Hike at Galveston Island State Park! 🌟 Explore the natural beauty of the prairie with their guided hike. This is a fantastic opportunity to discover the plants and animals that call this habitat home. The hike is less than a mile, making it perfect for all ages! 🗓 Date: Sunday, August 4, 2024  🕒 Time: 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM  📍 Location: Galveston Island State Park | 14901 FM 3005 Galveston, TX 77554 🎟 Entry Fee:  $5 for adults  Free for kids 12 and under 🌿 What to bring:  Sunscreen  Bug spray  Water  Camera  Weather-appropriate clothes  Hiking shoes Join Galveston Island State Park for a morning of adventure, learning, and connection with nature. They look forward to seeing you there! Click here for more info: https://lnkd.in/evXMk3-x #PrairieAdventureHike #GalvestonIslandStatePark #IntoTheWildFridays #NatureExploration #FamilyFun #OutdoorAdventure 📸 by: Shelly Cordts

Last weekend, on July 27th, Bayou Preservation Association was able to continue our Reclaim the Drain initiative at our Resiliency at Home workshop series, thanks to a generous grant from Restore Americas' Estuaries and CITGO’s Caring for Our Coast Program. Attendees were invited to register and received a Reclaim the Drain Toolkit, complete with cleaning supplies to help maintain storm drains. This program will engage community members in active stewardship of their communities and waterways by keeping their storm drains clean and clear of debris. These stewards help protect our neighborhoods and waterways by improving drainage, removing and preventing blockages, and safeguarding wildlife and water quality. They prevent litter and pollutants from entering our waterways and Galveston Bay through our local storm drains.    Our coast is our home, and thanks to partners like CITGO and @RAEstuaries, we can keep working together to keep it clean, safe, and healthy for generations to come! #CaringForOurCoast

#IntoTheWildFridays: Dive into the Wild with Project WILD! 🌍🌿 📸🌿 Photography Expedition at Galveston Island State Park! 🌿📸 Capture the beauty of nature on a guided Photography Expedition. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or a beginner, this event is perfect for all skill levels. Don't miss this chance to snap stunning shots and enjoy the great outdoors!  🗓 Date: July 27th, 2024  🕒 Time: 7:00 AM to 8:30 AM    📍Location: 14901 FM 3005  🎟 Entry Fee:  -$5 for adults  -Free for kids 12 and under  What to bring:  Camera  Sunscreen  Bug spray  Water  Weather-appropriate clothes  Comfortable shoes Come for an unforgettable day of photography, nature, and fun. We can't wait to see your amazing photos! #PhotographyExpedition #NaturePhotography #IntoTheWildFridays #ExploreNature #FamilyFun #OutdoorAdventure 

Join our partners for Plastic Free July Cleanups! On Saturday, July 27th, as part of Plastic Free July. GBEP partners are hosting cleanups throughout the Houston-Galveston region to help keep our environment plastic-free. Find a cleanup near you and be part of the change! Don’t forget to fill out the One Less Plastic pledge to help decrease single-use plastic usage this July and use the hashtag #PledgeOneLessPlastic to show your support. Locations and Times: Environmental Institute of Houston - UHCL Campus   2700 Bay Area Blvd, Houston, TX 77058  9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Galveston Bay Foundation - Brock Adventure Park   5910 8 Mile Rd, Texas City, TX 77591  8:30 AM to 11:00 AM SPLASh/Galveston Parks Board - East Beach   1923 Boddeker Rd, Galveston, TX 77550  9:00 AM to 12:00 PM Texas A&M Forest Service - W.G. Jones State Forest   1328 FM 1488 Rd, Conroe, TX 77384  8:30 AM to 11:00 AM Let’s come together to make a difference! For more details, visit PlasticFreeJuly.org. #PledgeOneLessPlastic #BayouPreservation #GBEP #Cleanbayous #COH #GBF #SPLASh #EIH #TexasA&MForestService

#IntoTheWildFridays: Dive into the Wild with Project WILD! 🌍🌿 🌿🌟 Join us for a Nature Stroll at Sheldon Lake State Park! 🌟🌿  Discover the rich history and vibrant wildlife of this beautiful park with our expert guides. Whether you're a nature enthusiast or just looking for a relaxing day outdoors, this event is perfect for you! 🗓 Date: Saturday, July 20, 2024   🕒 Time: 10:30 AM – 11:15 AM Location: 14140 Garrett Rd Houston, TX 77044 🌳 What to expect: Guided nature walk  Learn about local flora and fauna  Explore the park's history  Fun and educational for all ages 👟 Don't forget to wear comfortable shoes and bring water! Come experience the beauty of Sheldon Lake State Park and connect with nature. We can't wait to see you there! For additional information and to sign up, head over to: https://lnkd.in/euQnRJTP #NatureStroll #SheldonLakeStatePark #NatureLovers #ExploreOutdoors  

📢Take the One Less Plastic Pledge! 📝 Join Bayou Preservation this July in our mission to reduce plastic pollution and make a lasting impact on our environment. By committing to using less plastic, you can be a part of the change we need for a cleaner, greener future. Help Us Track Plastic Usage: The survey helps us determine which plastic items are easiest for the public to forgo. It also helps us with data for creating new programs and better focus on plastic use reduction tactics. Reduce Waste: Help decrease the amount of plastic waste in our waterways, beaches, forests, and oceans. Protect Wildlife: Prevent harm to animals who often mistake plastic for food and shelter. Inspire Others: Your commitment can inspire friends, family, and the community to take action. How to Participate: Take the Pledge: Fill out the One Less Plastic Pledge Jotform Survey and commit to using less plastic this July. Make Small Changes: Swap out single-use plastics for reusable alternatives. Share Your Journey: Use the hashtag #PledgeOneLessPlastic to share your progress and inspire others. Fill Out the One Less Plastic Pledge Here: https://lnkd.in/eYZUYEbd   Get Involved! If you would like to do more this July, check out the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and partners conducting litter cleanups all over the region this July.