Environment

The popular Arlington nature center presents nature walks, camping classes, story times and crafts at the River Legacy Living Science Center.

Event goers can enjoy hands-on environmental demonstrations, education booths, kid’s crafts, live music and an organic plant sale at Town Center Plaza, 255 Parkway Blvd.

On your way, drop-off your usable household goods; household documents for shredding; and bulky trash items at Town Center Elementary parking.

The city of Irving hosts its annual green film fest as an alternative to the outdoor fairs. Three venues are showing 19 environmental films with something for everyone. Movies include the classic Revenge of the Electric Car, American Made Movie and several nature family films. See website for complete schedule. 

The festival has a new location at the Dayspring Nature Preserve, 622 Rainforest Lane, and will feature exhibits, an eco-lab trail, kite flying and a wildflower seeded Easter egg hunt.

Native Prairies Association of Texas director Pat Merkord will be giving workshop on “Native Prairie Indicator Species: Signs Prairie Hunters Seek.”

Find out what the top 10 indicator grass and wildflower species for Dallas area blackland prairies are and have hands on opportunities to identify selected grasses and forbs.

This workshop will help those interested in looking for prairies or those who want to learn more on how to identify prairie indicator species an opportunity to expand their prairie knowledge.

Schedule:

10-10:30 – Set up

10:30 to 11:30 – Introduction to top 10 Prairie Indicator Species for Blackland Prairies

(Includes tips on ID with actual specimens)

11:30 to 12:00 – Lunch – Please bring your own brown bag lunch on site

12:00 to 1:00 – More in-depth view of Prairie Indicator Species using nearby prairie site walk and field specimens

1:00 to 1:30 – Presentation Wrap-up on some North Texas Prairies 

The hike will last 2-3 hours. Trails range from flat and easy to hilly and moderately difficult.  Bring a picnic lunch for later.

Wear hiking boots or sturdy walking shoes and a hat. Bring a small daypack with at least 32 oz of water and a trail snack or GORP (good ole raisins and peanuts).

All proceeds benefit Green Source DFW, Cedar Ridge Preserve and Explorers Academy, a nonprofit entity  founded to assist adverturers of all ages and economic backgrounds enjoy the outdoors. $20. 

RSVP: Wendel Withrow, wendel@withrowlaw.com, 214-287-1046. 

Earth Day Texas (formerly, Earth Day Dallas) is an annual, outdoor festival seeking to elevate environmental awareness and influence the way Texans think, live and work. The family-friendly and free-admission event allows leaders in the corporate, academic and non-profit worlds to unite and show Texans how green lifestyle choices can lower their cost of living, improve their health, and help save the environment.

The heart of the festival is the Eco Expo where exhibitors will use their presence to promote their achievements as green leaders, and teach attendees how to take environmentally responsible action by better utilizing available resources, switching to eco-friendly products, or joining their organizations.

Presenter: Ramsey Kweik, Southern Methodist University Geothermal Labs
 
Depleted oil fields have potential for clean utility scale geothermal energy. Ramsey Kweik of the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Labs will share his studies of Fairway Field in East Texas. Research demonstrates considerable potential for geothermal development from old, depleted oil fields.

Meetings are held in the Fellowship Hall, which is accessible through the church main entry, or from doors in the rear.

Free.
  

Free to residents of the following cities and areas  (Please bring driver’s license and a utility bill as proof of residence.):

Addison, Dallas, De Soto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Garland, Highland Park, Irving, Mesquite, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, University Park, Unincorporated Dallas County

Bring home and garden chemical products, paint and home repair products, fluorescent light tubes, batteries, craft supplies. (See website for complete list.)

For more information, go to dontwastetoday.com or call 214-553-1765.

Join the Dallas Trekkers on March 21 for a true wild outdoor experience just 4 miles from downtown Dallas. Long pants and hiking shoes are recommended for hiking on the less traveled trails in the forest.

The hike starts in the beautiful manicured grounds of William Blair Jr. Park where your will find a fishing pond and a spectacular view of downtown Dallas. Start the walk with hike around the pond on a paved trail, take the optional Mural Loop, and then go over the levee to the Trinity Forest. Both the 5K and 10K routes explore the forest and area around a lake with a distinctive shape that local hikers have dubbed the Bart Simpson Lake.

The 10K route continues to the Texas Buckeye Trail. This paved and natural surface trail meanders into the Trinity River's hardwood bottomland forest and to the Trinity River's edge. The bottomland forest is full of mature Buckeye, Bur Oak, Cedar Elm and Pecan trees. With luck, the walk will coincide with the spring bloom of the white Buckeye flowers.

Start hiking: 8-11am, Finish: By 2pm

$3.

Info: DallasTrekkers.org or Dianne Duke, d.w.duke@live.com, 214-368-9730.