Environmental Organization or Group

Mingle with eco-friendly folks at this monthly meetup.

Join the Sierra Club for Ken Burns' Yosemite: A Gathering of Spirit, a documentary film produced to honor the 150th anniversary of the landmark federal act signed by Abraham Lincoln that preserved Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of giant sequoias. This act, the first time a government set aside land for public use and enjoyment, gave birth to the national park idea. This inspirational film brings to life an amazing time in America's conservation history. All welcome. Free. Info: Kirk Miller, 972-699-1687 or  KirkMiller@DallasSierraClub.org.

Denton's successful citizens revolt is off the streets for now and in the courts. The next organized front in the battle over urban gas drilling in DFW is the Fort Worth suburb of Mansfield. And hard-pressed residents there need your help in turning the tide.

In response to months of grassroots effort on the ground, and only after the very first presentation by a physician on the medical consequences of fracking, Mansfield's city council has called for a "work session" to "discuss" changing its circa-2009 drilling ordinance for next week.

Showing up next Wednesday means you're saying no to the bullying tactics the Mansfield city government are using to silence local residents. 

READ MORE FROM DOWNWINDERS AT RISK

Visit our closest national wildlife refuge, Hagerman Wildlife Refuge, which is only 1.5 hours from Fort Worth and offers wildlife viewing and hiking trails in a unique setting. It was set aside in 1946 primarily as a resting place for geese and ducks, and includes nearly 13,000 acres of habitat adjacent to Lake Texoma. This trip gives us a chance to explore how federal lands are leased for various purposes, as you will note after seeing oil wells on this property. The refuge is located about 65 miles northeast of Fort Worth near Gainesville TX. 

In the morning we will explore the park on foot on the park’s hiking trails. Bring a sack lunch for a group picnic after the hike. After lunch we will take a guided tour of the refuge via tram with a refuge bird expert for approximately 1 – 1.5 hrs, and view a Powerpoint presentation about the refuge. Optional stop on the way home at the famous Clark’s Outpost BBQ in Tioga, TX.  

Admission: 5 cans of food or $5 donation to local food bank. Entertainment DJ & karaoke. RSVP Robert Berndt, 817-884-2634

Join the North Texas Corporate Recycling Association and the Greater DFW Recycling Alliance for a holiday gathering. $25. Tables sponsorships available.

The 115th annual Christmas Bird Count is scheduled for Dec. 14, 2014 to Jan. 5, 2015. Organized by the National Audubon Society, this all-volunteer effort takes a snapshot of bird populations to monitor their status and distribution across the Western Hemisphere. The results are compiled into a database that is shared with federal, state and private authorities.

Counts are open to birders of all skill levels. Novices are placed in groups with more experienced birders. New to CBCs? Join us in the fun! 

The Fort Worth CBC will be held on Saturday, Dec, 20. If you would like to join a particular area please reach out to the leader of that area. Info: Mary Lee Johnson at birder76051@yahoo.com to be placed on a team.

NTREG hosts a field trip to Franconia Brewery, an extremely energy efficient operation. How efficient? They recycle 100 percent of their mash (left-over hops after brewing). All brewery waste materials that can be recycled are recycled. They operate a state-of-the-art energy efficient building. A large portion of the water used in the brewing process is collected and re-used!

 Finally, Franconia Brewery says they don't produce waste or trash that will end up in a landfill. For that reason, they don't have a trash dumpster!

Franconia will give NTREG a private brewery tour. No beer or samples will be served during our tour. Instead, the focus will be the energy conservation efforts of their operation. The tour starts promptly at 10:15 am.

After the private tour for NTREG attendees, anyone who wants to join Franconia's regular 11 am tour is welcome to do so. The regular tour takes two hours and includes free samples of their product. Regular tour cost is $5 per person.

Following in the footsteps of Darwin, Dr. James Bednarz, professor of biology, University of North Texas, will take us to the exotic Galapagos Islands for a close-up look at the endangered Galapagos Hawk. Jim served as Hawk Mountain Sanctuary director of research and higher education from 1987 to 1990.

The Native Prairies Association of Texas has launched a chapter in Fort Worth. Prairie enthusiasts, master naturalists, bird watchers, landowners, educators and anyone else interested in prairies is welcome. 

Info: Jo Ann Collins, joacollins@gmail.com or 817-689-0098.