Let the forest be your classroom this fall! Discover nature and learn about the environment through Making the Connection: A Nature Series offered in cooperation with the Texas Forest Service and Lone Star College-Montgomery’s Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL). These non-credit courses are designed to help adults–and even children–connect with nature in a relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere.
“Environmental classes are significant because they connect people, families, and generations directly with their natural surroundings,” said John Warner, urban district forester for the Texas Forest Service. “This connection will enable them to make more informed choices and become better enlightened advocates of the environment.”
For adults and families, the series is offering Nature Sketching & Journaling, Holiday Decorating with Nature, and an Extreme Nighttime Sensory Hike. Each of those courses take place on one day at Jones State Forest and last only a few hours each.
“We have taken the most popular classes from past years, but changed them up a bit based on students’ feedback to make them new and exciting,” said Warner.
Also, two new adult classes have been added to the series this fall–the Texas Master Naturalist training course and the citizen wildlife ecology specialist certification program.
The Texas Master Naturalist training course is a highly focused, six-week, field trip based learning experience for adults. The statewide curriculum program will provide training on wildlife and natural resource management with hopes that participants will then share their knowledge about the environment to the community through service and outreach.
The citizen wildlife ecology specialist certification program is a three-day course aimed to provide participants with the information they need to protect their homes and communities from wild fire and maintain a healthy balanced ecosystem.
The Heartwood Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, Friends of the Jones State Forest, and Conroe Parks and Recreation are also partners with the nature course series.
“It’s great when we can work with others in the community to set up classes,” said Donna Smith Burns, program manager for adult and personal enrichment at LSC-Montgomery. “It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved–especially the class participants.”
For older adults with other “environmental” hobbies or interests, Smith Burns said LSC-Montgomery’s ALL program offers a wide range of nature courses, in addition to those already mentioned.
“If your interests are bird watching or vegetable gardens or plants and herbs, the ALL program has a course for you,” said Smith Burns. “We’re even offering a garden tour course and a going ‘green’ in Montgomery County course this fall.”
The partners of the nature series have worked to keep course costs either free or minimal for participants or ALL members. The exception is the Texas Master Naturalist training course, which costs $150. In most cases, class sizes are limited, so early registration is encouraged to guarantee your spot. For more information about the nature series courses, the ALL program, or to register for a course, please contact Donna Smith Burns at (936) 273-7446 or mcall@LoneStar.edu or visit LoneStar.edu/all-montgomery.
LSC-Montgomery is located at 3200 College Park Drive, one-half mile west of Interstate 45, between Conroe and The Woodlands. For more information about the college, call (936) 273-7000, or visit Montgomery.LoneStar.edu.
Lone Star College System consists of five colleges, including CyFair, Kingwood, Montgomery, North Harris, and Tomball, six centers and Lone Star College-University Center. With over 51,000 students, it is the largest college system in the Houston area and the third largest community college district in Texas. To learn more, visit www.LoneStar.edu.