Houston, TX – March 21st will be the kick-off of the Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador Program, a free program for adults to learn about the local environment. Bayou Land Conservancy (BLC) developed The Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador Program five years ago with the vision to have volunteers assist in management of BLC’s 13-mile Spring Creek Nature Trail, part of the expanding 33 mile Spring Creek Greenway. Now with its twelfth class slated to begin with orientation on March 21st, the program has evolved into much more. “Although the program was originally created to be a training ground for our Eco-Steward program, it really has become so much more, says Jill Boullion, Executive Director. Our Ambassadors help steward the trail, they represent BLC at community events, help lead our award winning No Child Left Inside Program, volunteer on committees, and even go on to become board members for the organization. We are happy to continue to make this investment in our community and offer the program at no cost because it really provides a benefit to our organization and to the environment!”
The Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador program is BLC’s free adult environmental education program. Offered twice a year with a series of five classes held on weeknights and weekends, the program teaches adults about the unique features of local ecology and about how BLC benefits the community through land conservation. After completing the program, Ambassadors have a better understanding of their natural environment, how to protect and preserve the greenway, and how to get involved with BLC.
“We have had over 200 people go through the Spring Creek Greenway Ambassador Program since its inception in 2014. This program is open to the public, and it is completely free, explains BLC’s Community Relations Manager Melissa Carter. We invite anyone interested in learning more about their natural environment and wanting to get outdoors to sign up for the program on our website at www.bayoulandconservancy.org/ambassador-program.” Beginning with a mandatory orientation and an introduction to BLC, the program curriculum includes: local flora/fauna identification, access points on the Greenway, watershed 101 and wetlands education, recognition and removal of invasive species, how to blaze and maintain low-impact trails, kayak training and safety, and water-quality studies.
About Bayou Land Conservancy: Bayou Land Conservancy is a community-sponsored land preservation organization working to permanently protect land in the Houston region since 1996. Bayou Land Conservancy preserves land along streams for flood control, clean water and wildlife. We envision a protected network of green spaces that connect people to nature.