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:

July 8 (Wed) - Conservation Committee - second Wednesday of each month, 7:00 PM, at the CEC Conference Room, 3015 Richmond, 2nd Floor. Call first to confirm date and topics. Contact Frank Blake, 713-528-2896, frankblake@juno.com.

July 14 (Tue) - Inner City Outings (ICO) - Houston ICO meets the second Tuesday each month at 7:00 p.m. at a place to be determined.  Please contact Angie Langolf at 713-467-6875 or on.the.go@sbcglobal.net for more information.

July 15 (Wed) - Air Quality - third Wednesday of each month, 7:30 p.m., at 5431 Carew.

July 20 (Mon) - Outings Committee - usually the third Monday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at the Whole Foods store on Bellaire near Weslayan.    Help us plan regional day outings, weekend trips, and air/bus trips to exciting outdoor destinations across the country.  Please call to confirm meeting date.   Frank Blake, 713-528-2896, frankblake@juno.com

July 23 (Thu) - Houston Group Executive Committee - fourth Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m., Houston Clayton Library, 5300 Caroline.  Contact Jim Williams at ezz@pdq.net.

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

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social gatherings:

July 9 (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.

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

July 4 (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.

July 18 (Sat) - Trail Maintenance Hike Visits Caney Creek - On Saturday, July 18, 2009, the Houston Sierra Club will conduct trail maintenance on 3 miles of the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) in Sam Houston National Forest on the Caney Creek Loop from Osborn Road to Forest Road 204.  Bring lots of water, lunch, and wear cool cotton clothes. Long pants are recommended. If you have a lopper, machete, or saw, bring it with you. 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 email her at lshttrailboss@yahoo.com for additional details. Please supply your name and contact info should we need to make changes.

August 15 (Sat) - August Trail Maintenance Finishes Caney Creek Loop - On Saturday, August 15, 2009, the Houston Sierra Club will finish trail maintenance on the Caney Creek Loop, from Forest Road 204 to FM 1375, on the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT), in Sam Houston National Forest. We will conduct about 2.0 miles of trail maintenance.   Bring a lopper, machete, swing-blade, saw, or similar tool to trim branches and low growing vegetation. If you do not have a tool we have extra ones. Bring a daypack, two quarts of water, hat, lunch, and hiking shoes. Long pants are highly recommended!!!   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 a green Nissan mini-van.  To get to the parking lot, enter the feeder off I-45 North via the Greens Road exit and then pass through the traffic signal at Greens Road. 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.  Call Jane Prentiss at 713-201-5755 or email her at lshttrailboss@yahoo.com for additional details. Please supply your name and contact information should we need to make changes.

August 22 (Sat) - August Clean-up, Brunch, and Tour of Shore Acres - On Saturday, August 22, 2009, the Houston Sierra Club will participate in a Galveston Bay clean-up with Galveston Baykeeper at Shore Acres. We will then enjoy a brunch overlooking the bay and take a tour of the Shore Acres area. People who participate will be able to see the beauty and hear the environmental concerns that residents have when they live on Galveston Bay.  Charlotte Wells, President of Galveston Baykeeper, will open up her fabulous house to us for brunch and will show us around Shore Acres. Bring some fruit or other brunch offerings. In addition, this will also be a service outing since we will pick-up trash for about an hour and one-half in Shore Acres, which was hard hit by Hurricane Ike.  This outing will be a great way to spend a summer day. The Houston Sierra Club particularly invites our Clear Lake and Galveston Area members to come and enjoy our bay. We want to meet each of you.  For those who live in Houston and want to carpool and caravan to Shore Acres, we will meet at 7:30 a.m., Rice University, Entrance 13A (off of Greenbriar). Look for a blue Plymouth Neon with lots of bumper stickers.  For those who do not want to meet at Rice University, call Charlotte at 281-455-9595 or email her at charlotte@galvestonbaykeeper.org for directions to her house in Shore Acres. For more information call Brandt Mannchen at 713-664-5962 or email him at brandtshnfbt@juno.com.

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Day Trips

July 11 (Sat) - July Hike Visits Lake Conroe and Stubblefield Area - On Saturday, July 11, 2009, the Houston Sierra Club will hike along Lake Conroe to the Stubblefield Recreation Area on the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) in Sam Houston National Forest. The hike will be approximately 7 miles. The shoreline of Lake Conroe is very scenic and we will enjoy its beauty as we hike. Hiking time should be about 4-5 hours. Bring your daypack, water, snacks or a lunch, hiking shoes, cameras, and field guides, and clothes to fit the weather.  We will 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 get to the parking lot, enter the feeder off I-45 North via the Greens Road exit and then pass through the traffic signal at Greens Road. 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.  Call Jane Prentiss at 713-201-5755 or email her at lshttrailboss@yahoo.com so that your name and phone number can be taken. The information will be used in case the hike is canceled due to inclement weather.

July 25 (Sat) - Big Thicket Hike on Turkey Creek Trail - On July 25, 2009, the Houston Sierra Club will hike part of the Turkey Creek Trail in Big Thicket National Preserve. We will shuttle vehicles and begin the hike at the Turkey Creek Trail and Gore Store Road and end the hike at FM 420 and the Kirby Nature Trail. The hike will be about 8 miles. Hiking time will be about 6 hours.  Bring your day pack, water, at least three quarts of water, lunch, hiking shoes, cool clothes, binoculars, cameras, and field guides. The trip is limited to 15 people. It will be hot so take note and come prepared accordingly!  If you want to go on the hike call Brandt Mannchen at 713-664-5962 or email him at brandtshnfbt@juno.com and leave your name, address, phone number, and email.  We will meet on July 25th (to carpool/caravan) at 7:30 am at Rice University, Entrance 13A, off of Greenbriar. Look for a blue Plymouth Neon with lots of bumper stickers. Be there at 7:30 am sharp because we need to get on our way quickly since it will take about two hours to get to our destination. In case of trip cancellation Brandt will either email or call you.

July 26 (Sun) - East End and 5th Ward Bike Ride - 8:00 AM - Explore the old part of town. We will wander thorough parts of the 5th Ward and East End that you probably have not seen before. Start at Stude Park off of I-10 (at Michaux and Usener - Key Map page 493B) for a 10-15 mile bike tour. Use the parking lot next to the ball field. We will leave Stude at 8:00 AM. The Sierra Club requires that all riders, children and adults, wear bicycle helmets. Remember to bring water and sunscreen. Reservations for the trip are not required, but call John in case of bad weather. Join us for brunch/lunch afterwards. John Berlinghoff 713/644-8228, johnb@hal-pc.org

August 1 (Sat) - Summer Hike Will Cover Part of Caney Creek Loop - On Saturday, August 1, 2009, the Houston Sierra Club will hike part of the beautiful Caney Creek Loop, from Osborn Road to FM 1375, on the Lone Star Hiking Trail (LSHT) in Sam Houston National Forest. We will cross the lush floodplain forests of Caney Creek and Green Branch. The hike will be about 5 miles and hiking time will be 3-4 hours.   Bring your day pack, water, lunch, hiking shoes, clothes to fit the weather, binoculars, cameras, and field guides.  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 email her at lshttrailboss@yahoo.com for additional details. Please supply your name and contact information should we need to make changes.

August 23 (Sun) - Sheldon Lake Canoeing and Kayaking - (Early morning trip) - Join us as we explore Sheldon Lake at the state park located off of the Beaumont Highway (Business 90), 2 miles east of Beltway 8 in northeast Harris County. After the trip will visit the Environmental Learning Center, an old fishery that has "gone back to nature" but has walking trails, studies of pond ecology, and catch and release fishing. Contact the leader John Berlinghoff (713-644-8228 johnb@hal-pc.org) with or without a canoe or kayak.   We are asking a $5 donation/person to the Sierra Club.

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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:  07/03/2009.   Content © 1999-2009 by the Sierra Club.