June 10 through 20, 2012

Participants will explore the natural resources and conservation issues within three ecological regions of Texas: the Chihuahuan Desert, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, and South Texas Plains. The course will begin in west Texas near Alpine, TX, and the second half will be held in south Texas at the Welder Wildlife Refuge near Sinton, TX. Emphasis will be placed on understanding how geology, topography, and soils are related to the natural flora and fauna of each region, and how proper management of these natural resources can enhance ecosystem and watershed health.

To learn more, download the the following brochure and the application form.

CAB® TX Brochure

CAB® TX application (MS Word file or pdf)

Celebrate our dark skies with a star party and an outdoor screening of The City Dark, a new documentary about light pollution, starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.

This joint program of the nature center and the Big Bend Astronomers kicks off with hot chocolate, popcorn and sunset viewing at the visitors center. The City Dark showing begins at 8 p.m., followed by the star party, which wraps up around midnight.

In The City Dark, filmmaker Ian Cheney asks, “Do we need the stars?” To answer this question, he looks at the threat of killer asteroids in Hawaii, hatching turtles along the Florida coast, and injured birds on Chicago streets. The film unravels the myriad implications of a globe glittering with lights—including increased breast cancer rates from exposure to light at night, and a generation of kids without a glimpse of the universe above. Featuring stunning astrophotography and a cast of eclectic scientists, philosophers, historians and lighting designers, The City Dark is the definitive story of light pollution and the disappearing stars.

This is an outdoor event, so please bring a blanket and flashlight. Metal chairs will be provided, but attendees are welcome to bring their own more comfortable seating.

To register or for more information, please contact the nature center at 432.364.2499 or visit cdri.org.

Artist Willis LeJeune will be showing several of his wood sculptures from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on October 8 at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center outside Fort Davis.

Born and raised in Louisiana, LeJeune works within wood’s natural features to sculpt his beautiful art, searching for the most extraordinary expressions of life created by Mother Nature.

“My challenge as an artist is to know instinctively what to leave, what to remove, and what to expose to release the natural beauty locked within,” LeJeune said.

LeJeune will be on hand to answer questions about his work during the exhibition, which will take place in the visitors center foyer.

The nature center is located about four miles south of Fort Davis on Texas Highway 118. For more information, contact 432.364.2499 or visit cdri.org.

Earth Rocks!!! is our annual celebration of Earth Science Week, and we need volunteers to help with the 300 students that will be attending. This year’s theme is “Our Ever-Changing Earth,” with activity stations exploring dinosaurs, soils, astronomy, volcanoes, mining, erosion, earthquakes, rain simulation and more. Please contact our education coordinator, Jessica Glasscock, to learn more or volunteer: 432.364.2499.

Birds are the proverbial canary in a coal mine when it comes to shifting landscapes. Consistent and ongoing monitoring projects are vital to understanding bird ecology and population dynamics. Help us document what  bird species are visiting the Nature Center this fall. Birders of all levels of experience are welcome to participate in this important citizen science project. Learn more about bird monitoring at the Nature Center.

This summer has been hard on our fluttering fauna, but we’re finally starting to see some butterfly activity at the Nature Center (including some exciting rare species like another Ursine Giant Skipper!). Join us on Saturday, 8:30 a.m. at the Visitors Center and help us document the butterflies flying this fall. We’ll split into teams, be assigned count areas, and disperse until about 4:30 p.m. when we’ll regather at the Nature Center to compile our count numbers and tell wild butterfly stories. Learn more about butterfly monitoring at the Nature Center and find out what species have been spotted during past counts.

In conjunction with Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day, the Nature Center is offering free admission on Saturday, September 24. Besides enjoying our hiking trails, exhibits and botanical gardens, visitors can watch a hummingbird banding demonstration and participate in our Fall Bird Count. Download your free admission ticket for two from the Museum Day website.

Following the Desert After Dark hike, plan on exploring a new frontier: the night sky! David Oesper and the Big Bend Astronomers will help you identify the constellations, star clusters, nebulas, and the planet Saturn with its spectacular rings. The program is $5.oo per person (which includes the Desert After Dark hike, so come for both!).

The Devils River is a gem of Texas. Its waters, not easily accessible, bubble up at the headwaters—crisp and clean—and eventually flow into Amistad Reservoir, an impoundment of the Rio Grande.

Habitat along the river provides a home to such bird species as the Green Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Kiskadee, and the Black-Capped Vireo. If you are a birder, or simply a lover of nature, you won’t want to miss this opportunity to bird, butterfly, or simply enjoy the Devils River.

John Karges of The Nature Conservancy and Dr. Selma Glasscock of the Welder Wildlife Foundation will be our birding guides.

This trip is currently full. Call 432.364.2499 if you are interested in being put on the waiting list.