Environment

Volunteers needed to help remove invasive plants at the 5-acre nature center located in Oak Cliff. Bring gardening tools. Workday will be cancelled if raining. info@twelvehills.org.

Panel discussion on hydraulic fracturing or fracking with Ed Ireland, executive director of the the Barnett Shale Energy Education Council, and Terry Welch, a Dallas attorney who advises local governments on natural gas drilling. Hosted by Mountain View College's Office of Student Life Sustainability Committee.

Speakers to discuss the state of Texas' energy. Speakers include: Mark Armentrout, Former ERCOT chairman, CEO of Texas Technology Partners; Maria Richards, SMU Geothermal Lab Coordinator; Al Armendariz, PhD, Former Region 6 EPA Administrator, Sierra Club Texas Campaign Director; James Smith, PhD, Maguire Chair, Oil & Gas Management; and Jim Duncan, Solar Design Specialist, North Texas Renewable Energy Group. Sponsored by the Memnosyne Foundation, SMU and the Sierra Club.

Visitors can hike at the Meadow Preserve for free at the monthly open house. Enter at Wooded Gate on east side of Alma, south of Bethany.

Master naturalist leads 1.5-mile night walk. Wear close-toe shoes, long pants and weather appropriate clothes. Bring bug spray, flashlight and binoculars or spotting scope. Meet at the Suncreek Park circular parking lot (just west from the normal Connemara entrance on Alma - see map on website) at 9 p.m. sharp and then walk to the Meadow the back way. Sign up on the Connemara website. This event is not appropriate for young children.

Event-goers will meet birds of prey up-close, fly homing pigeons, dissect owl pellets, try out binoculars and spotting scopes, take a birding hike, create bird art and make bird feeders. Taco Party food truck will be onsite for lunch. Parking is $5. Free.

Tour hosted by the Dallas Historic Tree Coalition offers an introduction to bird watching. Birding leaders will take groups through chain of wetlands on the north side of Loop 12 after birding at Little Lemmon Lake. Wheelchair accessible. Free. info@DHTC.org

Tour hosted by the Dallas Historic Tree Coalition features panoramic view of forest river valley and historic trees from Indian and pioneer history. Free. info@DHTC.org

Dr. Fouad Jaber, asst prof and water resources mgmt specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, will discuss water conservation and alternative water sources, including rainwater harvesting, grey water and air conditioner condensate reuse. For more information, contact Kirk Miller: 972-699-1687 or KirkMiller@DallasSierraClub.org.

The Nature Explore Family Club meets on the first Sunday of the month with the goal of inspiring children and families to explore the natural world and spend quality time outdoors.