Field Notes Symposium

NEW DATES: September 14 & 15, 2023

$65 per person

Registration closes Monday, September 11 at 5:00 pm.

Program Overview

The Houston Arboretum & Nature Center is hosting an interactive and intimate environmental symposium in September 2023 to connect Houston area practitioners to share their on-the-ground knowledge and discuss larger conservation initiatives.

The goal of this symposium is to foster meaningful dialogue across multi-disciplinary fields – practitioners, educators, designers, landscapers, planners, engineers, and contractors – regarding the methods, management, and messaging for ecological restoration in an urban setting. Participants will connect, compare notes, learn best practices, and become better educators and experts to support and strengthen urban ecological restoration practices, foster collaboration, and encourage innovation to benefit the Greater Houston Region.

Meeting Location

All indoor presentations will be at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center Building. The address is 120 West Loop North (610 Parking Loop) or 4501 Woodway Drive.

Meeting Structure

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear presentations on related topics, engage in panel/facilitated discussion as well as small group breakout sessions, and attend guided walking tours of the Arboretum.

Registration will be capped at 100 people so that we can assure successful interaction between presenters, attendees, and to facilitate effective field tours and breakout sessions.

View Detailed Agenda

Day 1

Morning Session – WHY

Presenters
Debbie Markey, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Jaime Gonzalez, The Nature Conservancy
Kelli Ondracek, Houston Parks & Recreation Department

Panel Facilitated Discussions
Jaime Gonzalez, The Nature Conservancy
Kelli Ondracek, Houston Parks & Recreation Department
Justin Bower, Houston-Galveston Area Council
Danielle Pieranunzi, SITES Green Business Certification Inc.
Sarah Newbery, Kinder Foundation

Afternoon Session – HOW

Houston Arboretum Master Plan as Implemented by Design Workshop

Presenters
Emily Manderson, Blackland Collaborative
Jason Burt, Forney Construction
Susan Sherrod, Biohabitats

Panel Facilitated Discussions
Jason Burt, Forney Construction
Susan Sherrod, Biohabitats
Carolyn White, Harris County Public Health
Beth Clark, Clark Condon
Claudia Vassar – Houston Botanic Garden
Conners Ladner, Design Workshop

Day 2

Morning Session – MANAGE

Natural Channel Design-Ravine Restoration at the Arboretum, Brett Jordan, HydroGeo Designs

Presenters
Stephen Benigno, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Lee Marlowe, San Antonio River Authority
Marissa Llosa, Houston Parks Board

Panel Facilitated Discussions
Lee Marlowe, San Antonio River Authority
Marissa Llosa, Houston Parks Board
Courtney Hall, Memorial Park Conservancy
Derek Sanford, Armand Bayou Nature Center
Gabriela Sosa, Buffalo Bayou Partnership

Afternoon Session – MESSAGE

Presenters
Tiffany Ritter, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Valeria Casas, The Student Conservation Association
Treasa Antony, Nature Heritage Society

Panel Facilitated Discussions
Valeria Casas, The Student Conservation Association
Treasa Antony – Nature Heritage Society
Anica Haymes, Houston Arboretum & Nature Center
Becky Martinez, Bayou Land Conservancy
Bethany Foshée, Coastal Prairie Conservancy
Dany Millikin, Houston Botanic Garden

Case Study Investigation – Texas A&M Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning presentation

Pricing

The registration fee of $65 per person includes a Field Notes Workbook Deliverable, registration for both days, two-day parking pass, Thursday and Friday lunch and break refreshments, and Thursday happy hour.