WEATHER, TEXACOLOGY

Class Location: Hornsby Bend Center for Environmental Research Auditorium

2210 FM 973
Austin, TX 78725
Google Map directions
Hornsby Bend Map

Date: 12/15/2018

Start time: 8:00 am
End time: 3:30 pm

Class Coordinators: Mark Wilson and Emily Hansen

The classroom is located in the brick building just inside the security gate to Hornsby Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant. Check in with the gate guard and let them know you are in the CAMN class. The CER has an auditorium (to the right as you enter), bathrooms, water, etc.

Where to Park

In the parking lot just inside the guard gate, next to the visible building. Plenty of free parking.

Class Speakers

Jon Zeitler – Science and Operations Officer, National Weather Service, Austin/San Antonio Weather Forecast Office.
Dr. Kevin Anderson – Coordinator of the Austin Water – Center for Environmental Research at Hornsby Bend since 2000. Kevin received his Master’s degree in Philosophy from Ohio University, where he taught philosophy and symbolic logic for several years. He was beginning his Ph.D. dissertation in Philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin in 1995 when he met some geographers, and they convinced him to switch programs and to become a geographer. He did. He received his Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin with a dissertation entitled, Marginal Nature: Urban Wastelands and the Geography of Nature. His research interests include urban ecology, riparian ecology, sustainable agriculture, environmental history, philosophy, and literature. He is a co-founder of the Texas Riparian Association and a Research Fellow with the University of Texas – Texas Natural Science Center.
Jim O’Donnell – Biologist, City of Austin. Jim’s work includes restoring endangered species habitat on several tracts of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. He leads work days that include trail building, clearing debris along creeks, invasive species removal, erosion control, tree planting, and seed collecting/planting.

Agenda

8:00-8:15 Welcome and Show&Tell
8:15-9:45 Weather – Jon Zeitler
9:45-10:00 Break
10:00-11:00 Natural History of Texas – Kevin Anderson
11:00-12:45 Walking Tour of Hornsby – Kevin
12:45-1:15 Lunch
1:15-1:30 New Class Projects & Sign-up
1:30-3:00 Habitat Restoration/Management – Jim O-Donnell
3:00 Wrap up & closing

How to Prepare

Come dressed for the weather. We will take a mid-day hike along the Colorado River, could be muddy.

Be sure to bring:

Bring a bag lunch that does not require refrigeration or reheating. There is plenty of space to spread out and eat lunch inside (or outside if the weather is good)
Binoculars for the hike
Notebook
Pen/pencil
Reusable coffee mug/thermos
Reusable water bottle
Interpretation item for Show & Tell

Curriculum Units to Read:

Units 6 (Ecosystems) & 8 (Weather & Climate)
Chapter 8 (Weather & Climate)

For your reference:

CER website – http://www.austintexas.gov/cer
CER on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/austinwatercer
Hornsby Bend on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/hornsbybend
Hornsby Bend Bird Observatory Program website – http://www.hornsbybend.org
Austin-Bastrop River Corridor Partnership on Facebook – www.facebook.com/austinbastroprivercorridor
Waller Creek on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/Lifeonwallercreek
Marginal Nature Blog – http://www.marginalnature.blogspot.com/