We're back! January & February 2013

Young birder at ELM :)

Hello Docents! Welcome Back! 
I am happily resurrecting my ADG Monthly Coordinator's Blog now that the cabin restoration is complete, and life is getting back to normal here at ELMNS. :) Thank you all for volunteering in January and February! Even with our limited programs due to the cabin restoration, we were able to reach out to 1,068 people through our education programs these past two months! Thank you all!





Trail Crew Projects

Goodbye Swift Tower!

The trail crew has been hard at work this month! They are building a new boardwalk path to the big pond fishing pier, removing invasive species, watering newly planted trees, repairing the church gate awning, expanding the Wilchester parking lot...and much much more! They also were able to remove the inhospitable swift tower last month, and now we're re-opening the cabin chimney for swifts! Keep an eye out for the swifts this spring! Thanks to our dedicated & hard-working Trail Crew  - Don, Neil, Harlan, Rony, Jack K, Jack B, Bill & Ken!

Cabin Update

Cabin Grand Re-Opening with Terry Hershey!

The Cabin Restoration is now complete! Please show off all the improvements to visitors - particularly the new cypress logs, new cedar roof, and visitor kiosk! Stay tuned for details on our first annual cabin-care work day!





Titmouse Club

Making Roly-Poly Terrariums

We taught over 280 Titmice and parents during our Jan & Feb Titmouse Programs! 

• "Skunks" - Jan 22 & 23
• Jan Stevenson, Sue DeFrank, Denise Hansen & Agnes Stanley
• "Alligators" - Jan 29 & 30
• Margaret Atmar, Cathy Nitsch, Dee Sorrick & Brenda Jackson
• "Snakes" - Feb 5 & 6
• Margaret Atmar, Jan Stevenson, Denise Hansen, Dee Sorrick & Dorthyle Headrick
• "Bird Valentines" - Feb 12 & 13
• Jan Stevenson, Sue DeFrank, Denise Hansen & Lauren Weiss
• "Insects & Inverts" - Feb 19 & 20
• Cathy Nitsch, Agnes Stanley, Denise Hansen & Sara Ranger
• "Roly-Polies" - Feb 26 & 27
• Peg McNealy, Cathy Nitsch, Denise Hansen, Betsy Mulligan, Ann Lloyd and Jeanelle Waldrop

Thanks for a great two months of preschool programs, ladies!

Tours, Outreach & Family Programs at ELM

Our Inaugural "Saturdays in Nature" Program!

We have had quite a few scout troops, schools and senior groups visit ELMNS since the cabin's grand re-opening. We also inaugurated our new "Saturdays in Nature" program for families on Feb 9th! A BIG Thank You to our tour, owl prowl, outreach and family program leaders & helpers: Martha Wright, Betty Rexrode, Rebecque Demark, Katelyn Kovski, Brenda Jackson, Denise Hansen, Barbara Duvall-Wesolek, Ivy Newberry, Betty Henderson, Patty Griffin, Sheryl Marquez, Jennifer Lezak, Miriam Vyles, Bernice Hotman, Peg McNealy, Annelise Luycks, Neil Broussard, Michaele Griffith, Keagan Foss, Ashley Garza and Don Gray - for training us all with his 'walk in the woods' natural history expertise! 

After-School Nature Explorers Club

Making Clay Bugs!

The ‘Nature Explorers’ are back in session for our 2013 spring semester! They are a great group of energetic naturalists. :) A BIG Thank You to Betty Rexrode & Lauren Weiss for their expert help teaching the after school kiddos. 



Welcome to our New Docents!
Welcome aboard to our Spring 2013 Class of Docents! We are excited to have you join our team! 

• Penny Bevill
• Katherine Bravo
• Kathy Broyles
• Keagan Foss
• Janet Foy
• Michaele Griffith
• Denise Hansen
• Kate Henninger
• Annelise Luyckx
• Vanessa Piña
• Flora Thevoux
• Lauren Weiss

ADG Upcoming Events
- Spring Docent Training "Moths of Texas" & ‘Walk in the Woods'! - Sat, March 16th

- Picnic Visit to Edith's Grave - Fri, March 22nd

Thank you all for volunteering in Jan & Feb!
Hope to see you in March!
PS: And don't forget to read your egadget news!

Bethany Foshée, Coordinator
Houston Audubon Docent Guild
houstonaudubon.org
2-27-13

March 2012 Programs

March 2012 Programs

Winters Bayou Sanctuary Explorers

Docent Field Trip to Winters Bayou Sanctuary

A Big Thank You to Flo Hannah, our Urban Sanctuaries Manager, for leading us on our spring field trip to Houston Audubon's beautiful Winters Bayou Sanctuary in Montgomery County. We enjoyed the pristine, quiet surroundings and seeing the Flowering Dogwood, Sweetbay Magnolias, fern-banked streams and mossy bogs.

Titmouse Club
We taught over 197 Titmice and parents during our March Titmouse Programs! 

• "Dragonflies" - March 6 & 7



Meeting a Mudbug! :)

• Liz Diemont, Brenda Jackson, Jan Stevenson and Nel den Hertog
• "Bird Watching" - March 13 & 14
• Miriam Vyles, Cathy Nitsch, Peg McNealy and Nel den Hertog
• "Animal Babies" - March 20 & 21
• Dee Sorrick, Agnes Stanley, Jan Stevenson and Rayne Castle
• "Mudbugs" - March 27 & 28
• Linda Royce, Dee Sorrick,  Rayne Castle, Ling Lin, Betsy Mulligan, Jeanelle Waldrop and Ann Lloyd

Thanks for a great month of preschool programs, ladies!

Tours & Scouts

Brenda with her surprise tour guests!

Our Tour Guide of the Month Award goes to....Brenda Jackson! Brenda bravely and happily led a surprise tour group of Spanish-speaking Pre-schoolers on March 6th. Juanita stepped in to assist her as well. :)
Margaret Atmar, Martha Wright, Liz Diemont, Miriam Vyles and Peg McNealy hosted the Yellow School preschoolers on March 8th.
The "Happy Ones" home-school group came to visit on March 13th. They were hosted by Betty Henderson, Margaret Atmar, Joan Scheuer and Dorthyle Headrick.
Next up, on the 17th, Betty Rexrode and Paige Krekeler co-led a pond-loving group of Girl Scouts.

Mrs Joanie and her Ladybug fans. :)

The Shlenker School came to learn how to be "Nature Detectives" on the 22nd. They were expertly led by Linda Royce, Miriam Vyles, Peg McNealy, Rebecque Demark and new docent, Ellen Coombs.
On Sunday, the 25th, Dorthyle Headrick and Katelyn Kovski, with new docents Ashley and Alexis Garza, hosted a group of boy scouts, here to learn about aquatic ecosystems.
And for our biggest group of the month, all 104 Rummel Creek 2nd Graders came to visit on March 26th. They were led by Dorthyle Headrick, Betty Henderson, Miriam Vyles, Martha Wright, Marjie Pierce, Phyllis Thompson, Kristie Kemp and Sheryl Marquez.
Thank you to our dedicated tour leaders!

Birthdays

• On Saturday, March 3rd, Rebecque Demark and Brenda Jackson hosted a 'bird's nest' party for a nature-loving 6yr old girl, whose main request was that her guests 'learn how birds are good for us' at her party.
• The following afternoon, Katelyn Kovski and Brenda Jackson led a 'bird's nest' party for a little girl turning six.
• On the 24th, Sarah Ranger and Becky Jones hosted a fun-filled, 'star wars and nature' themed party for a little boy turning five.
• That same afternoon, Katelyn Kovski and new teen volunteer Christian Mauterstock, led a 'pasta fossils' party for an 8yr old boy and his pals.

Thanks to all of our fabulous Birthday Docents!

Scout Workshops

Titmice fishing at the little pond :)

We hosted two scout workshops in March. Betty Rexrode and I led an "Outdoor Adventurer" camping workshop on March 19th. The girls built survival shelters, learned orienteering skills and made their own trail mix-yum! That Friday, Becky Jones and I led an "Eco-Explorer" workshop for a great group of Brownies. They planted wildflowers, learned the four parts of a habitat, and explored their ecosystem using our 'hula-hoop quadrats' activity.

After-School Nature Explorers Club
For our March After-School Club, the ‘Nature Explorers’ learned how they can 'Garden for Wildlife' in their own backyards. The children enjoyed planting coneflower and bluestem grasses, along with hiking and fishing at the pond. Thanks to Betty Rexrode for co-leading with me!

Outreach Programs

• On March 2nd, Margaret Atmar and Nel den Hertog bravely hosted our "Native Animals" booth for the entire Wilchester Elementary student body of 600 students! 
• Next up, Jennifer Lezak, Miriam Vyles, Peg McNealy and I led a "Wet & Wild: Water Detectives" science workshop at the EYH Middle School Girls Science Careers Conference.
•  I was delighted to speak to the Kids Environmental Club at Frostwood Elementary on the 8th. The students came early to school to learn how to be expert "nature detectives" in their own backyards and neighborhoods.
• And thanks to Betty Henderson for leading another great solo-outreach program at Travis Elementary on Insects!

New Pocket Prairie Garden!

Come see our new Pocket Prairie next time you're at ELMNS! Flo Hannah and I, with her Saturday Volunteers, installed the bed to teach visitors about saving our native prairie plants here on the Gulf Coast! We'll also be using the bed for hands-on children's gardening activities!


ADG Upcoming Events

• ADG 3rd Friday ‘Brown-Bag’ Luncheon - April 20th 
• Save the Date! May 6th Spring Party 
• Special Guest Lecture! - Louis Aulbach: "History of Rummel Creek & Spring Branch" RSVP for the lecture here!

Thank you all for volunteering in March!
Hope to see you again soon!
PS: And don't forget to read your egadget news!

Bethany Foshée, Coordinator
Houston Audubon Docent Guild
houstonaudubon.org
4-5-12

February 2012 Programs

 

Hello Docents! Thank you for volunteering in February! We were able to reach out to 803 people through our education programs during this month. Thank you all!






Welcome to our New Docents!

We hosted our 2012 Spring Volunteer Orientation on Saturday, February 25th. And we are pleased to welcome our newest class of docents here at ELM! Next time you're here, please extend a warm welcome to them! :)

• Ellen Coombs
• Barbara Duvall Wesolek
• Ashley Garza and Alexis Garza (10yr daughter)                    
• Mary Cole and Steve Krueger (16yr son)
• Trudy Moore
• Mondira Tangri
• Robyn Brennan

And a Big Thank You to Juanita Perkins, Linda Royce, Marjie Pierce and Joan Scheuer for helping to host our Spring Volunteer Orientation!

Titmouse Club
We taught over 315 Titmice and parents during our February Titmouse Programs. 

• "Talk to the Animals" - Feb 7 & 8
• Dee Sorrick, Cathy Nitsch, Liz Diemont and Nel den Hertog
• "Bird Valentines" Feb 14 & 15
• Margaret Atmar, Margaret Rapp, Liz Diemont and Jan Stevenson
• "Insects" Feb 21 & 22
• Dee Sorrick, Agnes Stanley and Miriam Vyles
• "Ladybugs" Feb 28 & 29
• Linda Royce, Nel den Hertog, Betsy Mulligan, Jeanelle Waldrop and Ann Lloyd

Scarlet Buckeye in bloom

Thanks for a great month of preschool programs, ladies!


Owl Prowls
We hosted our final public Owl Prowl of the season on February 3rd. Miriam Vyles, Neil Broussard, Ellie Whitaker and myself led the groups on the search for our resident Screech Owls. It was an exciting night, and we were very lucky to see a mated pair of Screech Owls in the parking lot, along with plenty of bats, and a high-climbing pair of raccoons south of the big bridge! A great ending to the season! Thanks to Mary Anne for leading her inspiring program, and thanks to Pam Dunker for filming the program as part of our soon-to-be-released ELM Film!


Tours & Scouts

Dorthyle & Margaret A. with the Post Oak School 1st & 2nd Graders

On Weds, Feb 8th, Betty Rexrode and Lynn Trelles-Gaines led a superb "Nature's Recyclers" tour for the Rainard School.

Bob Wynhoff led both of our Cub Scout Tours on Feb 12th and 19th.

Margaret Atmar and Dorthyle Headrick hosted the Post Oak School for a "Native Habitats" tour on Feb 23rd.

Thank you to our marvelous tour leaders!

Birthdays

• On Saturday, February 4th, Martha Wright and Vivian Cromwell hosted a 'spoon snake' party for a frenetic group of boys after a morning thunderstorm.
• On the 11th, Betty Rexrode and David Quinlan led a 'pasta fossils' party for a little boy turning six.
• And last but not least, Katelyn Kovski and David Quinlan hosted a 'nature detectives' theme party for an eight year-old girl.

Thanks to all of our great Birthday Docents!

Open House 
Gail Glover and new docent, Barbara Duvall hosted our Feb 11th Open House. They enjoyed a sunny morning and introduced about 15 visitors to the nature sanctuary. 

Bald Cypress leafing out at Big Pond

After-School Nature Explorers Club
For our February After-School Club, the ‘Nature Explorers’ learned about Magical Metamorphosis.’ The children enjoyed catching tadpoles and making 'caterpillars & chrysalises' to take home. Thanks to Betty Rexrode for co-leading with me!

Outreach Programs

Kids for Saving Earth Club

• Jo Glaves and Martha Eskew took our worms on the road on Feb 12th, for our "What's in the Dirt" program at the Houston Congregation for Reform Judaism.
• Next up, Jennifer Lezak and I were delighted to speak to the "Kids for Saving Earth" Club at Briargrove Elementary on Feb 17th. The children were inspiring in their zeal for learning about our native wildlife and how they can help them! 
• And thanks to Betty Henderson for leading to solo-outreach programs at Travis Elementary on Butterflies and Turtles!

ADG Upcoming Events

• ADG 3rd Friday ‘Brown-Bag’ Luncheon - March 16th 
• Going-Away Party for Margaret Rapp 
• Damuth Sanctuary Field Trip - March 29th - Meet at ELM - 8:30am 
• Sign Up Here!
• Save the Date! May 6th Spring Party 
• Special Guest Lecture! - Louis Aulbach: "History of Rummel Creek & Spring Branch"

Thank you all for volunteering in February!
Hope to see you again soon!
PS: And don't forget to read your egadget news....this month's edition is all about Bats!

Bethany Foshée, Coordinator
Audubon Docent Guild
3-2-12