Gulf Coast (Harris County) Master Naturalists invites the public to join in their volunteer
2009 Projects of the Month (POMs)

Volunteering for these projects provides an opportunity to learn about the plants, animals, and diverse natural environments (habitats) of the greater Houston area. No experience is necessary. Please join the POMs, meet our members, and learn about the nature around us. Carpooling available. The information given is subject to change. RSVP to Linda Knowles dknowlespe@aol.com, 281-558-3710.

Remaining 2009 GCMN Projects of the Month

Sat., Nov. 14 Prairie Restoration Day at Sheldon Lake Environmental Learning Center (281-456-2800), 15315 Beaumont Hwy at Park Rd. 138.  We will be planting containerized prairie plants that have been grown out there.  GCMN Project leader: John Egan je190072@msn.com Cell 713-253-0516  Sheldon Lake Contact Jim Duron wishkad@yahoo.com www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/sheldon_lake/

Tentative Date: Sat., Dec. 5 9 to noon at the Edith Moore Sanctuary, Houston Audubon Society – maintenance of a bird sanctuary. GCMN Project Leader: Needed  Audubon Contact: Flo Hannah.  Sanctuary location at www.houstonaudubon.org/index.cfm/MenuItemID/195.htm

· Class Project. Each training class adopts a class project. The Training Officers oversee this project.
.The Spring Class project will involve prairie plantings in Hermann Park.
.Katy Prairie Conservancy  http://www.katyprairie.org/volunteer.html 

· GCMN-Plant Propagation Program (GCMN-PPP). Project leader: Lan Shen. To encourage more use of native plants, we propagate and raise native plants to donate to school/community/public gardens and to our members. Workday: 2nd Thursday from 9:00 am to ~noon. Parties interested in receiving native plants or joining our workday, please contact LSCOMPOSTS@yahoo.com


·· Hogg Bird Sanctuary. Maintenance and invasive removal of the Hogg Bird Sanctuary at 1 Westcott St. 77007, in partnership with City of Houston Park and Recreation Department.

· Jesse Jones Park and Nature Center, Adopt-a-Trail, Humble; Canoe landing trail maintenance. Project leader: Rick Thompson

· Tapley Tributary Adopt-a-spot, downtown, near Sabine Bridge/Memorial Drive. Project Leader: Lucy Condon. Maintainence of this tributary of Buffalo Bayou, in conjunction with Buffalo Bayou Partnership.

· Turner Park Wetland Area. Project leader: Kelly Connor & Lucy Condon. Maintenance and restoration of the Wetland Area, in partnership with City of Houston Park and Recreation Department. Location: 2800 W. Little York, 77091.

An exciting new project!!!! Jaime Gonzales, Community Education Manager, of the Katy Prairie Conservancy is leading an exciting project to "to restore three small but highly visible areas in Hermann Park back to native prairie." The project is a cooperative effort of the Hermann Park Conservancy, Coastal Prairie Partnership, and local chapters of the Texas Master Naturalists.

Volunteers are needed in all aspects of the project from light work such as seed collection and tossing out seedballs to heavier work such as clearing brush and plant rescue and more.