We’re celebrating community organizations that support conservation and environmental initiatives around the city of Houston and beyond. Check out our community partners below to learn more about what these organizations are doing to celebrate the Earth and how you can learn from them about conservation year-round.
Bayou Land Conservancy
Bayou Land Conservancy preserves land along streams for flood control, clean water, and wildlife. As an accredited land trust at the forefront of land conservation for 25 years in Houston, Texas, protects land focusing on watersheds that feed Houston’s primary drinking water source, Lake Houston. Find out more information about their free adult environmental education program, Ambassadors, or find a map of our 14 mile natural surface trail, Spring Creek Nature Trail by visiting www.bayouland.org.
Buffalo Bayou Partnership
Advancing its mission of revitalizing Buffalo Bayou, Buffalo Bayou Partnership operates the “Clean & Green Program.” This comprehensive maintenance and management program that utilizes hundreds of community service workers to collect and remove trash and debris from Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries—preventing it from flowing into the Port of Houston and on to Galveston Bay.
Galveston Bay Foundation
Galveston Bay Foundation is a conservation nonprofit with a mission to preserve and enhance Galveston Bay for generations to come. Make a difference and join us for an upcoming event. From eating oysters at a discounted price at partner restaurants, to joining us at our annual meeting, a shoreline cleanup, or a rain barrel workshop, we’ve got you covered. Visit galvbay.org/events for more information and to register.
Happy Earth Compost
Happy Earth Compost provides a simple alternative to home composting for their customers. THe Houston Museum of Natural is delighted to compost with Happy Earth thereby reducing our waste, supporting sustainability and using the compost to enhance our green spaces.
Hermann Park Conservancy
Founded in 1992 as Friends of Hermann Park, Hermann Park Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park – today and for generations to come.
Houston Arboretum
The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is a nonprofit that provides education about the natural environment to people of all ages and protects and enhances the Arboretum as a haven and sanctuary for native plants and animals. One of the first nature education facilities for children in the state of Texas, the Arboretum provides services to nearly 500,000 visitors annually. For more information about the Arboretum, including visitor information, class and event registration, and levels of membership, please visit houstonarboretum.org.
Houston Botanic Gardens
The Houston Botanic Garden enriches lives through discovery, education, and the conservations of plants and the natural environment. The Garden, which encompasses 132 acres located a short distance southeast of downtown, closes an existing gap in the city’s world-class collection of cultural amenities for residents and tourists.
Houston Parks Board
Houston Parks Board is a nonprofit organization which aims to create, improve, protect, and advocate for parks for everyone. Since 1976, Houston Parks Board has invested over $300 million supporting over 250 parks and creating more than 14,000 acres of new parks and trails.
Memorial Park Conservancy
Memorial Park Conservancy is a private, nonprofit organization that operates and maintains 1,100 of the Park’s 1,500 acres. The Conservancy’s mission is to restore, preserve and enhance Memorial Park for the enjoyment of all Houstonians, today and tomorrow.
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy has protected land and water in Texas since 1964. From the mountains of West Texas, through the rolling Hill Country, and all the way to our eastern pineywoods and Gulf Coast, we’re committed to preserving the Lone Star State’s most cherished natural landscapes—and building a more resilient state for all Texans.
Urban Harvest
Founded in 1994, Urban Harvest has garnered a well-deserved reputation as a leader in the local food movement. We’ve earned this role by adhering to clear and simple values and a focused mission. Over 30 years ago, two Fourth Ward activists, Deacon Malcolm McLemore and Deacon Jean Cameron, started a community garden in their neighborhood along with Dr. Bob Randall, one of the founders of Urban Harvest. Their garden grew and grew. The simple act of growing food brought neighbors together to share recipes and seeds, to solve problems about crime and blight, and to eat and celebrate together. The seed that was planted by the success of this garden led to the creation of Urban Harvest seven years later. Since 1994, Urban Harvest has cultivated communities of gardeners, educators, farmers and neighbors to launch thriving gardens and farmers markets.