Alamo Sierra Club Outings & Events

The focus of this month's event is wildlife. Our presenter, Christine Westerman, is the lead project manager in the local office of a national environmental consulting firm. She will explain the ecology of the park and its wildlife, show wildlife photos including those taken on the Land Bridge, and then lead a walk to the Land Bridge and back.

Please arrive by 7:45 am SHARP at the small classroom of the UEC to sign up for an 8:00 am start. After a heavily illustrated introductory talk focusing on the park's wildlife and their characteristics, we will walk out quickly to the Land Bridge stopping at only the savanna and the Bridge itself, but on the way back from the bridge we will look for signs of wildlife. Participants will be encouraged to observe nature and ask about what they see of interest on the walk back.

Minors must be accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. This presentation is not appropriate for dogs. DIFFICULTY: Easy--it is definitely suitable for families, with flat terrain, and a slow pace. This will be a 1.6 mile walk, and the event will last about two and a half hours, ending back at the Urban Ecology Center around 10:30 am.

The trail is a natural surface so be sure to wear sturdy shoes and, dependent on the weather, bring water, sun protection, and dress appropriate for the day and season. $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy are suggested to support the activities in the park.

This event's sponsors are the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Areas Office, the Alamo Area Master Naturalists, and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club.

Contact Stan Drezek (stanwendre@gmail.com) for additional information or questions.

Tickets are $50 each
Register and purchase your tickets here:
https://www.bambergerranch.org/workshops-events/november-18-fall-colors-hike

Please do not sign up for this meetup event until you have registered and purchased a ticket at the Bamberger Ranch website listed above.

Explore the 6.5 miles of trails at Bamberger Ranch Preserve at a spectacular time of the year! Come see the beauty of the big-toothed maples, as well as many other native Texas trees, as they show off their impressive array of colors. Take a “Selah” moment to enjoy the beauty of nature in the autumn, and all for a good cause, too!

Our event’s purposes include understanding the science behind climate change, the global effects of climate change, and the long-term impacts of this phenomenon on specific Texas ecosystems. The audience will be encouraged to ask questions and provide their observations relevant to the topic.

Our presenter, Gary Poole, is a former middle school math and science teacher, engineer, and electronics technician. He is as well a former Texas caver, beekeeper, and is currently a Master Naturalist with Alamo Area Master Naturalists, in which organization he has served in several different capacities including one year as President.

Please arrive at the UEC small CR by 8:45 am SHARP to register so we can start right at 9:00 am.

Minors only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs not appropriate because of the indoor presentation. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families. Suggested $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy to support enhancements to the park.

This event's general sponsors are the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department's Natural Area Office, the Alamo Area Master Naturalists, The Native Plant Society of Texas- SA chapter, and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club.

Contact Stan Drezek (stanwendre@gmail.com) for additional information or questions.

Our walk's purpose is learning about birds in the context of appreciating the beauty of the natural area and observing how nature changes through the seasons. The walk will be led by experienced local birder, Patsy Kuentz assisted by Lora Reynolds and other experienced birders. They will share their extensive knowledge as local birders to offer you an opportunity to see, identify, and appreciate many of the common winter and year-round birds in the area.

Bring bird identification apps or books and also binoculars if you have them.

Please arrive at 7:45 am SHARP to register so we can start at 8:00 am We will walk along various trails, sidewalks, and parking areas close to the Urban Ecology Center conducive to sighting birds. There will be brief explanations at the start and along the way with ample time for participant questions.

Minors welcome but only when accompanied by an adult parent/guardian. Dogs are not appropriate for this walk as they can disturb the birds. DIFFICULTY: Easy, definitely suitable for families. Flat terrain, slow-paced. The event will include about a mile of walking and will last about two hours ending back at the Urban Ecology Center around 10:00 am.

The trail is a natural surface so be sure to wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes and dress appropriately for the day's weather. Also, bring water and sun protection. Suggested $3 individual or $5 family donations to the PHP Conservancy to support enhancements to the park.

This event's general sponsors are the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, San Antonio Parks & Recreation Department's Nature Area Office, the Alamo Area) Master Naturalists, and the Alamo Group of the Sierra Club. Special sponsors include the Bexar Audubon and SA Audubon.

Contact Stan Drezek (210-464-1365) for additional information or questions.