Wimberley - Wednesday Night Wheels
2020-09-09 18:00 - 20:00, 2020-09-22 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Blue Hole Regional Park, 100 Blue Hole Ln., Wimberley, TX, 78676, United States
All wheels are welcome at Wednesday Night Wheels! Starting in September, join us every Wednesday night from 6 PM to 8 PM at Blue Hole Regional Park. Bring your skates, ramps, boards, bikes, rails, and rollerblades and dominate the roads while they are closed to vehicles.
For touchless check-in please click the ticket button to register for FREE and sign the necessary waivers!
Click here to learn more and register.

Stonewall - Seed Stomp at the LBJ State Park and Historic Site
2020-09-20 10:00 - 15:00 | LBJ National Historical Park, 100 Ladybird Lane, Johnson City, TX, 78636, United States
Celebrate the life and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson by planting wildflower seeds with us at LBJ State Park! We provide the seeds, you do the stompin’! Learn about flowers, help us reseed our fields, and buy some wildflower seeds in the park store to take home! We will have arts & crafts activities for kids available! But the fun doesn’t end there…. Be sure to come back in the Spring to see the blooms you helped create! Event will occur at Park Headquarters.
Learn more on the Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/591982924914922/

Hill Country Alliance Virtual Leadership Summit - Day 1
2020-09-23 14:00 - 16:00 | Online
The Hill Country Leadership Summit is the Hill Country Alliance’s premiere annual gathering, and provides an opportunity for learning, networking, and being inspired among our region’s top community leaders, conservation practitioners, and natural resource managers.
This year, the Leadership Summit is going virtual! The Summit will be spread out over the course of three days – Wednesday, Sep. 23 from 2-4PM, Thursday, Sep. 24 from 10-12PM, and Friday, Sep. 25 from 10-12PM.
The Leadership Summit is made possible through the generous contributions of our sponsors – both on a corporate and individual level. For a look at last year’s sponsorship package, click here.
Registration and pricing options coming soon! Stay tuned for more details on this year’s Leadership Summit at www.hillcountryalliance.org/LeadershipSummit

Hill Country Alliance Virtual Leadership Summit - Day 2
2020-09-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Online

Hill Country Alliance Virtual Leadership Summit - Day 3
2020-09-25 10:00 - 12:00 | Online

Online - International Observe the Moon Night
2020-09-26 | Online
International Observe the Moon Night is a time to come together with fellow Moon enthusiasts and curious people worldwide. Everyone on Earth is invited to learn about lunar science and exploration, take part in celestial observations, and honor cultural and personal connections to the Moon. Note that we encourage you to interpret “observe” broadly.
Were you planning to host an in-person event this year? Try hosting a virtual one. Registration for International Observe the Moon Night is now open. Registering as an observer or event host officially marks your participation and connects you with our community around the world. We now have registration options for individual observers, private or household participation, and public events. Let us know how and where you are celebrating so we can add you to the global map.
International Observe the Moon Night occurs annually in September or October, when the Moon is around first quarter ― a great phase for evening observing. Furthermore, a first-quarter Moon offers excellent viewing opportunities along the terminator (the line between night and day), where shadows enhance the Moon’s cratered landscape.
You can join International Observe the Moon Night from wherever you are. Attend or host a virtual or in-person event, or observe the Moon from home. Connect with fellow lunar enthusiasts around the world through our Facebook page, #ObserveTheMoon on your preferred social media platform, and join the International Observe the Moon Night Flickr group. Outdoors, at home, online, or wherever you may be, we’re glad to have you with us. However you choose to observe, please follow local guidelines on health and safety.

Online - Hill Country Land Conservation Online Workshop
2020-10-02 09:00 - 12:00
Join the Hill Country Alliance and numerous partners for an online workshop on Hill Country Land Conservation. Tune in to learn from regional experts on land stewardship tools and financial resources, conservation easements, and what to expect in terms of eminent domain and other rural landowner issues in the upcoming legislative session.
Half-day workshop includes a landowner panel and the following presentations: Land Stewardship – Steve Nelle, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Retired; Key Issues for Rural Landowners and Ranchers – Jim Bradbury, James D. Bradbury, PLLC; Tax and Financial Considerations of Conservation Easements – Margaret Menicucci and Kathryn Tancig, Braun & Gresham Attorneys at Law; and Financial Cost-Sharing Opportunities – Shane Kiefer, Plateau Land and Wildlife Management.
Registration: $10 per individual, $15 per couple
Click here to register
Co-hosted by the Hill Country Alliance, Hill Country Land Trust, and Texas Land Conservancy, with support from the Gillespie Country AgriLife Extension, Braun & Gresham, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, and James D. Bradbury, PLLC.

Wimberley - Blue Hole Star Party
2020-10-17 19:30 - 23:00
The Wimberley Parks and Recreation Department and the Wimberley Valley Dark Sky Committee present the next Blue Hole Star Party on October 17th at 7:30pm. The event is FREE but registration is required. The Star Party will be held on the Blue Hole soccer fields. We will have appropriate social distancing measures in place and will be utilizing new technology to ensure everyone can view the wonderful Texas Night Sky. Guests are encouraged to bring a flashlight, a picnic, chairs, or a blanket.
Click here to register.

Online - Texas Water Conservation Association Virtual Fall Conference
2020-10-21 - 2020-10-23 | Online
The TWCA Fall Conference, scheduled for October 21-23, 2020, has moved online! Attendees can expect a format similar to our Summer Conference for panel and committee meetings, as well as speaker sessions. But we have also added new and improved networking and engagement features, including a virtual exhibit hall. The speaker sessions will include presentations on water infrastructure, water supply, and maintaining culture in a virtual work environment. We will also discuss legislative and agency updates and hear from some keynote speakers, who will be announced soon.
We look forward to “seeing” you there! Have any questions? Check out our FAQs.

Online - Hill Country Living FESTIVAL + Rainwater Revival
2020-10-24 | Online
Join the Hill Country Alliance and friends for the 10th anniversary celebration of our Hill Country Living FESTIVAL and Rainwater Revival! This event will be fully virtual and feature a jam-packed day of fun for folks of all ages.
Stay tuned for more details on this year’s FESTIVAL!
Learn more here.

Online - 2020 REGENERATE: Resilience in Times of Uncertainty - Conference hosted by Holistic Management International, Quivira Coalition, and the American Grassfed Association
2020-11-17 - 2020-11-20 | Online
2020 REGENERATE – Resilience in Times of Uncertainty
Our 2020 Conference is Going Virtual!
Hosted by Holistic Management International, the Quivira Coalition, and the American Grassfed Association.
Due to concerns around the COVID-19 pandemic, we will present 2020 REGENERATE as a virtual event. But we won’t keep you tied to a screen for days on end…
We’re changing our schedule from four packed days to a more relaxed but equally stimulating multi-week event, which will start in early November and include shorter sessions, allowing plenty of time for in-depth conversation and learning.
Over a period of weeks, we will offer five to seven plenary sessions, a set of facilitated roundtable discussions and regional forums, technical workshops, and networking opportunities. Some of the topics to be explored include Regenerative Agriculture in the Face of Climate Change, Racial Equity in Agriculture, Financing Regenerative Agriculture, Diversifying Markets, and Indigenous Land Management, plus many more.
Attendees will be able to participate directly in the live plenary sessions and roundtable discussions or view them later as recordings to catch up when you have time.
And don’t worry if you’re not familiar with Zoom yet. We’re going to host technology training sessions ahead of time to prepare you to enjoy the conference with comfort and ease.
Save the date – more info coming soon.

Johnson City - Lights Spectacular
2020-11-27 - 2021-01-03
“The Twinkliest Town in Texas”

Celebrate Lights Spectacular’s 31st Season
Holiday lights will continue to glow in Johnson City – with a socially distanced tour of “The Twinkliest Town in Texas” -boasting over two million twinkling lights in our historic square off Main Street.

Face Coverings and Social Distancing Required.
Blanco County and Johnson City request that all guests are respectful of Covid-19 protocols both locally and by the State of Texas. Gatherings of over 10 people will not be permitted.
Unfortunately this year we are unable to host our annual Lighted Hooves & Wheels Parade and Opening Weekend festivities, including fireworks.
Santa won’t be joining us this year. He’s in quarantine at the North Pole. But don’t worry, the elves are immune to Covid-19 so they will be delivering your presents.
Learn more here

Online - Strategic Water Vision 2021 - Virtual Stakeholder Working Group Session with Hays Trinity GCD
2020-12-02 17:30
The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District (the District) invites you to participate in the second virtual stakeholder working group session planned as part of the Strategic Water Vision 2021 effort, scheduled for December 2, 2020.
The District held the first round of stakeholder working group sessions in November. If you were unable to attend those meetings, a copy of the presented technical information, stakeholder survey results, and notes from the first round of meetings are available for review on the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District website: haysgroundwater.com, and select “Strategic Water Vision 2021” on the left side.
Objective for Round 2 of Stakeholder Working Group:
The purpose of the second stakeholder working group session will be to summarize key takeaways from the stakeholder engagement process thus far, discuss ongoing efforts of the District, review District funding mechanisms, and discuss plans for the District moving forward. We hope to collect additional stakeholder input to further the conversation on water management mechanisms that can be used for future efforts to conserve and protect the limited groundwater resources.
Virtual Meeting Details*
December 2, 2020
5:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting via Zoom
*meeting link/access details will be sent once an RSVP is received*
RSVP REQUESTED:
PLEASE RSVP to, Lauren Canales, at haystrinitygcd.swv2021@gmail.com or by phone at 512-636-7754 for the virtual meeting and include any access or communication needs you have at this time. She will send you a link for the meeting with information on the meeting format and an agenda.
If you have any general questions or concerns regarding the Strategic Water Vision 2021 effort, please respond to this email and/or contact Charlie Flatten, General Manager, Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District at (512) 858-9253 or by email at gm@haysgroundwater.com.

Johnson City - Deck the Halls with Science
2020-12-17 - 2020-12-31 | The Science Mill, 101 South Lady Bird Lane, Johnson City, TX, 78636, United States
This holiday season, deck the halls with science! The Science Mill will be open with expanded dates from December 17 to December 31 (closed Dec. 24 + 25 and Jan. 1). Come explore our 50+ interactive exhibits, inside and outdoors, including the newly updated Banana Piano and the return of MindBall—an exhibit powered by YOUR brainwaves! Meet the giant vinegaroon, marbled crayfish and other new animals in the BioLab, and find special pop-up experiences like the Sleigh Racer Challenge and our foot-controlled video game. Deck the Halls Pop-up Activities will run December 26- December 31.
Don’t forget to stop and shop our Science Store for holiday gifts with a science twist—or shop online and we’ll ship anywhere in the U.S. All proceeds support the museum’s STEM programs for Texas youth.
After the Mill closes, enjoy a self-guided driving tour of Johnson City’s Lights Spectacular displays featuring 2 million twinkling holiday lights (Nov. 27 through January 3; 6pm-midnight).
Learn more from The Science Mill here.

Stonewall - A Frontier Christmas with the Buffalo Soldiers
2020-12-18 11:00 - 16:00 | Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, 199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX, 78671, United States
oin the Buffalo Soldiers at LBJ State Park and Historic Site, as they bring in the Christmas holiday with engaging stories and displays that highlight Texas history, and daily life of soldiers on the trail. Listen to what Christmas meant to the soldiers and how they celebrated with their families over 150 years ago. Make a candle the old frontier way and gift it this holiday season, or try cooking your own piece of Christmas hard tack. Stop by to view artifacts and listen to tales of the early frontier for the whole family!
Audience size may be limited, and social distancing enforced. In order to enjoy the park and our Buffalo Solider programs, make sure to purchase your park entry pass before arriving to the park. Program times and location information will be available at the park gate/HQ. Park entry can be found at
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-reservation-information/reservations

Online - Wild Neighbors - Who’s Who Among Our Backyard Feathered Friends?
2020-12-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Online
Join us for a look at who’s who among our feathered friends frequenting our backyards during winter. Texas Nature Trackers biologist Craig Hensley will give you tips on how to tell one species from another and what you can do to attract them to your yard. Bring your backyard bird identification questions.
Learn more and register here

Stonewall - A Frontier Christmas with the Buffalo Soldiers
2020-12-19 10:00 - 16:00 | Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site, 199 Park Road 52, Stonewall, TX, 78671, United States
Join the Buffalo Soldiers at LBJ State Park and Historic Site, as they bring in the Christmas holiday with engaging stories and displays that highlight Texas history, and daily life of soldiers on the trail. Listen to what Christmas meant to the soldiers and how they celebrated with their families over 150 years ago. Make a candle the old frontier way and gift it this holiday season, or try cooking your own piece of Christmas hard tack. Stop by to view artifacts and listen to tales of the early frontier for the whole family!
Audience size may be limited, and social distancing enforced. In order to enjoy the park and our Buffalo Solider programs, make sure to purchase your park entry pass before arriving to the park. Program times and location information will be available at the park gate/HQ. Park entry can be found at
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/park-reservation-information/reservations

Online - 51st Annual LBJ Tree Lighting
2020-12-20 | Online
Join us online for our favorite holiday tradition!
Join us on Facebook and Instagram for this special Tree Lighting ceremony that has been a local tradition since President and Mrs. Johnson started it 51 years ago. While no in-person activities will be held this year, you can still visit park headquarters and the Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm to see the beautiful decorations that will be up the week before Christmas. Visit the gift shop for unique holiday items that will complete anyone’s last minute shopping needs. Park buildings will be open regular hours (gift shop 8:30am-4pm and Sauer-Beckmann farm 10am-4pm).
Please remember that masks are required inside state park buildings and encouraged outside. Call with any questions (830)644-2252.

LBJ State Park Facebook
LBJ State Park Instagram
Sauer-Beckmann Living History Farm Facebook

Wimberley - Blue Hole Polar Bear Plunge
2021-01-01 09:00 - 10:30 | Blue Hole Regional Park, 100 Blue Hole Ln., Wimberley, TX, 78676, United States
The Polar Bear Plunge has gone virtual! Due to Coronavirus, we cannot have a large in-person event at the park, but we still want to offer the community a chance to take the plunge. This Polar Bear Plunge we challenge you to complete 5K, at your own pace, before January 1st. Then on New Years Day, come during your designated time slot to pick up your t-shirt and plunge into Blue Hole! Tickets are $25 per person. If you do not want to plunge and only want the Polar Bear plunge t-shirt, register for just the t-shirt!

Time slots are as followed:
9:00AM – 9:30
9:30AM – 10:00
10:00AM – 10:30

Being active is easy, you can take a walk around your neighborhood, follow a workout video, swim laps, lift weights and so much more! This 50k challenge is to achieve 3.11 miles by January 1st, 2021, at your own pace and location by logging your miles/minutes of activity on the form provided. Complete the 5K challenge on your own then come in person on January 1st and plunge!

Click here to register

Online - Globe at Night Observations - January
2021-01-04 - 2021-01-13 | Online
Six Easy Star Hunting Steps

During the campaign dates, go outside more than an hour after sunset (8-10 pm local time). The Moon should not be up. Let your eyes become used to the dark for 10 minutes before your first observation.
Use a night sky app on your phone outside to find the constellation from where you are.
Go to the Globe at Night Report page to start to enter Globe at Night measurements. Make sure you are in “Nighttime version”
With a smart phone, the app will put in the date, time, location (latitude/longitude) automatically. Otherwise please type them in. For your location, type the street address closest to your observation along with the city, state or province and country.
Choose the star chart that looks most closely to what you see toward your constellation. That is, what is the faintest star you can see in the sky and find in the chart?
Chose the amount of cloud cover at the time of observation and then click on the “SUBMIT DATA” button.

Globe at Night 2020 Dates and Constellations
New for 2020: During many of the 2020 Globe at Night campaigns there will be more than one choice for which constellation is optimal to use. This will depend on your location around the globe. To decide which one is best for you at your location for the dates listed below, check to see if the constellation is more than halfway above the horizon. If so, you can use that constellation for the campaign. If not, try another suggested constellation for that month
Learn more here: https://www.globeatnight.org/6-steps.php

Online - Urban Stream Processes and Restoration Program – Day 1
2021-01-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Online
Urban Stream Processes and Restoration Program – Advanced Stream Restoration Design
Rivers and streams are at the core of many urban areas. These waterways perform many important functions such as transporting runoff and sediments, as well as providing habitat for wildlife and moderating temperatures. Natural stream design helps restore and maintain these functions and minimize negative impacts of urbanization, such as erosion and flooding. Maintaining or restoring riparian vegetation along urban streams can also improve surface water quality throughout the watershed by filtering nonpoint source pollution.
This three-day advanced workshop is being co-hosted by the Texas Riparian Association, Texas A&M AgriLife and the Texas Water Resources Institute. The training will focus on natural design processes for stream restoration projects and is more in-depth than the one-day trainings. Materials presented in the training will help attendees understand at a deeper level:

natural stream processes,
classification of streams using the Rosgen system,
natural channel design techniques,
regulatory overview,
stream survey procedures,
bioassessment, and
natural design structures.

Virtual Format
January 20–22, 2021
Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday: 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Click here to learn more and register

Online - Urban Stream Processes and Restoration Program – Day 2
2021-01-21 09:00 - 17:00 | Online

Online - Urban Stream Processes and Restoration Program – Day 3
2021-01-22 09:00 - 15:30 | Online

Online - Axis Deer in the Texas Hill Country Webinar
2021-02-02 14:00 - 15:30 | Online
Join the Hill Country Alliance and Texas Tech University Department of Natural Resources Management for a free, informative webinar on Axis Deer biology, ecology, and impact on the Hill Country.
To join, go to: https://zoom.us/j/93754658053. For those needing to participate by phone on February 2nd, call 1-346-248-7799 and then dial the Meeting ID: 937 5465 8053.

Online - Globe at Night Observations - February
2021-02-03 - 2021-02-12 | Online

Online - Converting to Wildlife Management Exemption Webinar with Plateau Land and Wildlife Management
2021-02-04 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
Learn if a Wildlife Exemption is right for you and your property and how to make the switch! This webinar will provide a basic understanding of the Wildlife Management property tax valuation, more commonly referred to as a “Wildlife Exemption”. It will cover the Wildlife Management law and requirements, how to qualify and how it works, examples of the seven wildlife activity categories, resources/tips for success, and how Plateau can assist to make the transition easy and stress free. Time will be provided at the end to address questions you may have about making the switch to a Wildlife Exemption from traditional Ag or Timber.
Presented by the wildlife exemption specialists at Plateau Land & Wildlife with over 20 years of experience working with landowners making the transition from traditional Ag and Timber to Wildlife.
Learn more and register here.

Online - Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas Webinar with Texas Water Journal
2021-02-11 10:00 - 11:30 | Online
Join the Texas Water Journal for a webinar exploring a new framework for quantifying groundwater recoverability.
The 2017 Texas state water plan projects total supply deficits of 4.8 and 8.9 million acre-feet under drought-of-record conditions by the year 2020 and 2070, respectively, driven by population growth concurrent with declining available supplies. Reductions in groundwater supply account for 95% of anticipated declines in total water supply. Meanwhile, restrictive groundwater management plans may be creating a regulation-induced shortage of groundwater in Texas, given the significant groundwater storage volumes that are unutilized under many management plans.
This presentation will explore a recent article in the Texas Water Journal, “Exploring Groundwater Recoverability in Texas: Maximum Economically Recoverable Storage,” where Justin C. Thompson, Charles W. Kreitler, and Michael H. Young provide an analysis of groundwater extraction feasibility and simulate maximum economically recoverable storage for conditions representative of the central section of the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer under economic constraints associated with agricultural uses. Their results indicate that certain uses may be limited to as little as 1% of current groundwater availability estimates. They suggest that Texas groundwater managers, stakeholders, and policymakers assessing groundwater availability need an alternate approach for estimating recoverability.
Learn more and register for the webinar here.
Read the full article from Texas Water Journal here.

Bandera - DNA Roundup
2021-02-11 17:00 - 20:00 | 11th Street Cowboy Bar, 307 11th Street, Bandera, TX, 78003, United States
Let’s get together, friends and neighbors, for the DNA Round-Up! A community kickoff, to celebrate Bandera’s original settlement patterns and why they matter. We will share stories of who filled the buildings and how the town has changed over time. We will begin to have a community conversation about Bandera’s future. Bring the family and invite the kids to chime-in! The DNA Round-Up, hosted by the City of Bandera and Simplecity, is the first in a series of opportunities for you and your neighbors to tell stories about what’s working and concerns, thoughts, opinions and ideas about your community.
The DNA Round-Up event will be 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 11, 2020 at:
11th Street Cowboy Bar
307 11th Street
Bandera, TX 78003
It will be outside, so dress warm!
The event will begin with a dialogue and presentation by Matt Lewis, of Simplecity. He will introduce the City of Bandera DNA Analysis, an in-depth study of Bandera’s historic anatomy and how it functions. The presentation will begin at 5:15 p.m., wrapping up around 6:00 p.m. It will be followed by a community conversation and end with information regarding upcoming Rodeo events.

Online - Grow your business with Dark Sky Tourism
2021-02-16 13:30 - 14:30 | Online
Cranborne Chase became an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2019 and we want to help tourism businesses in and around the AONB to make the most of this new status and USP.
Find out how your business can benefit from this new market and get tips on how you can make small changes that can help your business to appeal to these new audiences.
Astro tourism expert Richard Darn helped Northumberland become Europe’s biggest international dark sky park and launched the Kielder Observatory. He has worked with Cranborne Chase and North Pennines AONB on dark sky conservation and promotion and also with Northumberland, Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors and Exmoor national parks.
With a professional background as a media consultant, he has appeared on BBC Sky at Night, BBC News 24 and Stargazing Live and is a regular on BBC local radio. He recently completed an application to create an international dark sky reserve in the North York Moors and has helped scores of businesses tap into the market for dark sky experiences, offering practical advice and an undimmed passion for a starry sky.
Learn more and register here.
