If you are part of a group who would like to help with a beach clean-up or other sanctuary project please contact Winnie Burkett or call the Houston Audubon office at 713-932-1639.
St. Arnold Brewery at Sims: June 3, 2007
On June 3rd, a small army of volunteers descended on Sims Bayou Urban Nature Center. They came from all walks of life but had one thing in common. They love the hometown beer brewed at the St. Arnold Brewery in Houston. They came together, got to know one another, and worked all day to make improvements at the center. Old fences were removed and beautiful split rail fences put up, gardens were weeded, lawns were mowed and edged, boardwalks were built, the martin house was cleaned out, and the pocket prairie was expanded. After all the hard work, folks settled back and enjoyed lunch and canoeing in the bayou. We truly appreciate their hard work and encourage everyone to come and see the wonderful new fences around the gardens. A special thanks goes to Lennie Ambrose who headed up the volunteer event. Former Houston Audubon Society Board of Directors President, John Biesmann, was also there toiling in the heat. He now works for the brewery and enjoyed the chance to be back on familiar territory.
— Mary Anne Weber, Education Director
BP Cleans Up Bolivar Flats: May 11, 2007
Thanks to former HAS Board member Mark Steuer, 70 BP volunteers showed up at Bolivar Flats on May 11 for their 11th Bolivar Flats clean-up. What a difference they make, picking up all the trash from Rettilon Rd to the end of the beach past the vehicular barrier. We are always pleased to have them come.
— Winnie Burkett, Sanctuary Manager
BP Work Day: April 12, 2007
BP brought approximately 60 volunteers to the Edith L. Moore Sanctuary. They solved a terrible erosion problem by moving 38 yards of materials by wheelbarrow from the parking lot to behind the big pond. This washout solution was pre-engineered by the Tuesday Trail Crew who had built a wooden frame to stairstep the rock material down to Rummel Creek. BP not only provided the labor but also very generously supplied the funds to buy the materials needed to fill the washout. BP also cleaned up Rummel Creek, enhanced the Tosca gate entrance, cleaned the log cabin top to bottom, and worked in the cabin gardens. We had great weather and hard working volunteers for a very productive work day. Thank you to all the participants, including Jack Bacon, Aaron Stoley, Charlie Smith, Henri Childers, and Bryan Tarbox who are HAS volunteers.
— Flo Hannah, Sr. Sanctuary Steward
Dominion Work Day: October 9, 2006
Approximately 100 volunteers from Dominion Exploration and Production covered the 1 1/2 acre sanctuary following through on a Ron Jones led USFWS cooperative agreement that included building an observation deck overlooking the new wetland pond, constructing a wheelchair accessible trail to the remnant oxbow on Sims Bayou, re-working the Urban Harvest gardens, seedball making, removing the Bermudagrass from the new prairie opening next to the barn, planting new understory trees and shrubs, gardening, fence removal, dismantling of the old floating dock staircase, and cabin/office cleaning.
— Flo Hannah, Sr. Sanctuary Steward
