Comments Off on ¡Cumplimos un Año! Texas Nature Lotería con TLC y LO ATX!
TLC is excited to join our friends from Latino Outdoors – Austin in celebrating their one-year anniversary. Come celebrate with the TLC and LO community at Zilker Brewing in Austin with a fun evening of Texas Nature Lotería!
Focusing on all things nature, this is a traditional game of chance, similar to bingo, but using images instead of numbers. The Lotería boards are free for everyone (with a suggested donation of $5.00 per board). You can compete for top-notch prizes from local businesses while enjoying craft beer all night long. And guess what?! Even if you don’t win a prize, you will go home knowing you supported a great cause because Zilker Brewing Co will be donating $1 for every beer you buy for the whole day!
The Ecologist School Field Trip program is a STEAM service-learning opportunity created in partnership between Pease Park Conservancy and Families in Nature. With a curriculum that spans 16 different areas of study and lessons aligned with school TEKS, this program seeks to engage students in an outdoor setting and inspire the future generation of environmental leaders. This Family Day will be an opportunity for guardians and children to experience an excursion complete with stations, lessons, walk throughs, and so much more!
Join TREAD Coalition for their advocacy day at the Capitol where you will get to visit with Members of the Texas Legislature and their staff on pertinent issues affecting landowners and rural communities. During the 88th legislative session, this is a critical time to have your voice heard about bills that will directly impact your land, property rights, and pocketbook. We will meet in the Agriculture Museum on the 1st floor of the Capitol.
Comments Off on Agriculture BMPs for Watershed Planning
Agricultural best management practices are conservation measures that help reduce the volume and pollutant load carried by surface stormwater runoff into rivers and lakes. This course will be an excellent overview for anyone interested in learning more about agricultural conservation practices for cropping and livestock systems.
Comments Off on Saturday SEAM Series: Weather Wonders
Join us as we explore the fun, and sometimes wild, weather Spring brings to South Texas. Students will create tornado tubes and home made quicksand, learn how lightning is made, and put a cloud in a bottle!
During this beginners workshop, you’ll take a tour of Headwaters to see a native landscape at work, learn from experts with the Native Plant Society of Texas-New Braunfels Chapter about the most low maintenance, but beautiful, native plants you can enjoy, and get tips on the best plants for your yard conditions. We’ll even have activities for kids, so bring the whole family!
Don’t you love all the gorgeous wildflowers that are coming into bloom? Curious about them? Join Deedy Wright to talk wildflowers. Learn their names, where they like to grow, and how you might grow some of your own next year.
2022 TxN 20: Texan-led leadership in conservation for a sustainable future in Transportation.
The Texan by Nature team is excited to present the fourth annual list of Texan by Nature 20 (TxN 20) Honorees. TxN 20 recognizes outstanding work in conservation and sustainability from Texas-based businesses.
It’s an opportunity to showcase innovation, commitment to conservation, and best practices from the industries that keep Texas running: Agriculture, Architecture, Financial Services, Food, Beverage, & Grocery, Technology, Energy, Healthcare, Municipal Services, Retail, Transportation, and Construction & Manufacturing.
Meet the 2022 TxN 20 Honorees leading sustainability in transportation: Cap Metro and DFW Airport.
12 electric buses purchased in 2021— 2022 Honoree Cap Metro
Who is Cap Metro?
Cap Metro is Austin’s regional public transportation provider. CapMetro connects people, jobs and communities by providing quality transportation choices to Central Texas. Created in accordance with Chapter 451 of the Texas Transportation Code, CapMetro was established by a voter referendum on Jan. 19, 1985. The agency is funded in part by a 1 percent sales tax levied by members of its service area.
How are they setting the standard?
In the social sector, Cap Metropartnered withH-E-B, Central Texas Food Bank to deploy Help-at-Home kits to elderly and disabled citizens across Austin, dedicating 300-400 service hours a week to the Help-at-Home Kits program.
CapMetro used its resources to help provide meals to the hungry in our regions, providing access to basic food necessities without the risks of COVID.
CapMetro uses 97% renewable energy purchased from Texas wind farms totaling around 8.7 million kilowatt hours of energy. With 12 new electric buses purchased in 2021, CapMetro will increase to 200 electric buses by 2026 to reduce its overall fleet greenhouse gas emissions. 100% of CapMetro’s electricity from Austin Energy is renewable (wind and solar) Green Choice electricity.
Powered by 100% renewable electricity from Texas wind farms — 2022 Honoree DFW Airport
Who is DFW Airport?
Today, Dallas Fort Worth International (DFW) Airport warmly welcomes more than 73 million customers along their journey every year, elevating DFW to a status as one of the most frequently visited super-hub airports in the world. Centered between its owner cities of Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas, DFW Airport also serves as a major economic generator for the North Texas region, producing over $37 billion in economic impact each year by connecting people through business and leisure travel.
How are they setting the standard?
2,000 DFW employees work to advance ESG initiatives, forming strategic partnerships with several prominent external entities, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Coca-Cola, Nestle, the University of North Texas, Avfuel Corporation, and the Dallas Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition, to advance innovative approaches to sustainability.Additionally, DFW is powered by 100% renewable electricity from Texas wind farms, directly benefiting local economies. As a result, since 2010, the Texas electric grid (ERCOT) has increased from 8% renewables to over 20%. Waste collected from DFW’s food waste program is transported to local farms and compost facilities, resulting in 9 tons of food waste diverted from landfills since 2021.
15 concessionaires from two terminals have been onboarded to the composting program, and the Airport anticipates expanding the program to additional concessions locations in the coming months.
Why Forward Thinking Leaders in Transportation Matter
According to the EPA, the Transportation sector contributes more to overall U.S. greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector, producing 27% of global emissions in 2020. Since bringing down emissions and getting from point A to point B are musts in the modern world, innovation in transportation is critical to keep a prosperous economy and protect the environment. Sustainability leaders like CapMetro and DFW Airport are keeping the world connected and protected.
How TxN20 Honorees Are Selected Each Year
To select the 2022 TxN 20 Honorees, the TxN Team evaluated submissions and conducted independent research across 2,000+ of Texas’ publicly traded and private companies in 12 key industry sectors.
All companies were evaluated on a 17-point scoring system, from which the top 60 highest-scoring companies moved on to the final round of TxN 20. A selection committee of top industry leaders and experts was then formed to evaluate the top 60 companies and select the final 20 businesses recognized as TxN 20 Honorees.
Honorable Mentions: Standouts in Sustainability
In addition to this year’s TxN 20 honorees, here are three industry standouts for best practices in conservation and sustainability coming from companies across the agriculture industry.
The Houston-based Kirby Corporation operates as the premier tank barge operator in the United States, transporting bulk liquid products throughout all three U.S. Coasts and more. In 2020, they transported 423.4 million barrels of cargo without a spill in the water. Additionally, by 2024, they estimate a 25% reduction of marine CO2 emissions per barrel of capacity.
The Omaha-based Union Pacific delivers integral goods to families and businesses every day with efficiency and reliability. In 2021, they introduced Genset and Green Goat locomotives for service in California, Texas and Chicago, with fuel-savings of more than 20% compared to other diesel locomotives in similar use. Additionally, PSR efforts allowed them to reduce the size of their locomotive fleet, effectively retiring their least-efficient units.
The Greenwich-based XPO Logistics is a top ten global provider of transportation and logistic services. In 2021, they launched a new rail freight service in partnership with Irish Rail to provide a greener, more efficient path to transport goods between Western and Southeast Ireland. Additionally, in European locations, they have installed intelligent LED lighting in 14 more locations, in total covering 55% of their square footage.
Get Involved:
Is your company at the forefront of sustainability in Texas? Share your work with Texan by Nature by submitting Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) data that showcases how your company benefits people, prosperity, and natural resources to programs@texanbynature.org.
To be considered for the official TxN 20 list, companies must:
Have operations and employees based in Texas;
Share a demonstrated commitment to conservation & sustainability;
Showcase tangible efforts, impact, and data in conservation;
Comments Off on 2022 Texas Children in Nature Network Summit and Champions Awards Dinner
During this three-day Summit, TCiNN will bring together health, education, built environment, faith, conservation, and community leaders to shape an even brighter future for the children of Texas. Over 250 community leaders from across the state will gather to strengthen the network and develop opportunities and policies that will connect more children and families in nature. New this year: special, a private film screening of Deep in the Heart, and informative half-day workshops are included in your registration.
Comments Off on 40TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT: Fall Hike at Las Fogatas
Join us for a beautiful fall walk at Las Fogatas, a conservation easement property outside of Willow City, Texas (about 20 minutes outside of Fredericksburg). This will be a 2-mile, moderate-difficulty hike led by Conservation Director Stephen Ramirez. Venue information sent after registration.
Austin’s own C3 Presents, in collaboration with the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at The University of Texas at Austin, is proud to host highly-acclaimed British artist Bruce Munro’s Field of Light installation, from September through December 2022.
Illuminating 16 acres in the Texas Arboretum at the Wildflower Center, Field of Light is a stunning display of 28,000 vibrant solar-powered, fiber-optic light pods that showcase the intersection of art, technology, and nature. The installation unites with the outdoors, celebrating the natural topography of the landscape and creating an immersive and emotional experience for guests.
Fortlandia, our annual exhibition of secret hideouts, is taking place in a new location — the Luci and Ian Family Garden. This year’s lineup of custom forts will transport you to imaginary worlds and spark an appreciation for art and nature. There will also be a bonus installation along the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, presented in partnership with The Trail Foundation. Happy exploring! Entry is included with regular admission.
