Houston Community Partnerships and Engagement Program, US FWS

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Houston Community Partnerships and Engagement Program, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Contact: Nancy Brown    email:         HCP Facebook

"U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (Service) is working to provide opportunities for urban residents to find, appreciate, and care for nature in their neighborhoods and beyond. Engaging our urban neighbors and fostering a sense of stewardship is based on the priorities of the Service's Urban Wildlife Conservation Program. Helping Houston residents find nature in their back yard will lead them to other wildlife adventures, including on national wildlife refuges. It builds the conservationists of tomorrow."

"With six national wildlife refuges within 90 miles of downtown Houston, there is a diversity of experiences for urban residents to get outside and enjoy nature."

Some of their programs serve youth & students who are unable to get outside into nature, whether due to classrooms or hospitalization or quarantine.   See the Storymap below about "Virtually Wild Texas"  authored by Nancy Brown

"Virtually Wild! Texas brings nature to students who are learning from inside a class or hospital room. These students are meeting wildlife professionals and learning about careers in conservation. "  (Photo of Atwatrers Prarie Chicken courtesy of Lauren Harnett (NASA Attwater's Prairie Chicken breeding facility)

The storymap includes many videos of the host, Jaime Gonzalez of The Nature Conservancy in Texas, talking to Conservationists about their work.

"This virtual experience brings to life wildlife stories from the region. The program is reaching thousands of students thanks to the partnership of The Nature Conservancy inTexas, Katy Prairie Conservancy, Region 4 Education Service Center and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "

(xEducation xConservation xWildlife xYouth xCommunity xUrban xUSA xTexas xHouston xJournalism xStorytelling)