The Texas Invaders program has trained over 300 citizen science volunteers. In the first two years of the project the CISC/Houston-Galveston Invaders Program has trained over 50 citizen science volunteers, more than any other regional satellite in the state.
Note: If you are a public agency or property owner in our area and would like a group of Invaders to log the invasive plants on public property, please notify us at sglenn@harc.edu.
Tracking Invasive Plants in Houston and Galveston, Texas
University of Houston Clear Lake and Armand Bayou Nature Center
The third workshop of the Houston-Galveston Citizen Scientists was held on March 7, 2008 at the University of Houston Clear Lake (Address: 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX 77058). Project staff trained 14 participants on use of the computer data entry system before we headed to Armand Bayou Nature Center. There we began field work to locate invasive plants around the Nature Center. Despite the cold weather, we had a dedicated crew of volunteers that Friday in March. Volunteers represented a number of local groups including: Midcoast Texas Master Naturalists, Galveston Bay Area Texas Master Naturalists, Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston Chapter, Harris County Precint One, and Mercer Arboretum.
The workshop presentation
from this event is available.
Bear Creek Citizen Scientist Workshop
The second workshop was held on May 18, 2007 at the Bear Creek Pioneers Park Texas Cooperative Extension Office (Address: 3033 Bear Creek Drive, Houston, Texas 77084) from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. Project staff trained 19 participants from the Texas Master Naturalists-Coastal Prairie Chapter, Mercer Arboretum, Heartwood Master Naturalists, Fort Bend County Master Gardeners, Galveston County Master Naturalists, and Jesse Jones Park.
The May workshop was successful thanks to the contributions of several groups and volunteers. Thanks to Teri MacArthur and Bruce Handley for leading workshop sections. A special thanks also goes to Fort Bend Master Naturalists for contributing many delicious treats for our breakfast, Sara Beth for the lovely and educational centerpieces, and Mercer Arboretum for providing us with herbarium specimens.
Lake Sheldon Citizen Scientist Workshop
The first workshop was held on September 25, 2006 at Lake Sheldon State Park (Address: 15315 Beaumont Highway (Business 90), Houston, TX 77049) from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Project staff trained 24 participants from the Galveston Bay Area Master Naturalists, Mercer Arboretum, Heartwood Master Naturalists, the Nature Discovery Center, and Sheldon Lake State Park.
Photo: Pond Bridge at Lake Sheldon State Park. Courtesy of TPWD.
If you'd like more information regarding these or other workshops for the Houston/Galveston Invaders, contact one of our coordinators: Stephanie Glenn at sglenn@harc.edu or Lisa Gonzalez at lgonzalez@harc.edu.