Conference registration includes banquet dinner. Please RSVP for banquet dinner below. Field trips and Welcome Session is not included. *Welcome Session is included in student registration only.

Conference registration includes banquet dinner. Please RSVP for banquet dinner below. Field trips and Welcome Session is not included. *Welcome Session is included in student registration only. If you're not a member and interested in becoming one, please reach out to [email protected].

Conference registration includes banquet dinner. Please RSVP for banquet dinner below. Field trips and Welcome Session is not included. *Welcome Session is included in student registration only. .

Conference registration includes banquet dinner. Please RSVP for banquet dinner below. Field trips and Welcome Session is not included. *Welcome Session is included in student registration only.

Join us for our Welcome Happy Hour on Thurs, November 5th at XX from 5:30-7pm. Light bites and beverages will be provided *The Welcome Happy Hour is included in student registration only. The KEYNOTE will begin promptly at 7pm and is FREE for all conference attendees.

Join us for our Welcome Happy Hour on Thursday November 5th at XX from 5:30-7pm. Light bites and beverages will be provided *The Welcome Session is included in student registration only. The KEYNOTE will begin promptly at 7pm and is FREE for all conference attendees.

All attendees must RSVP if attending the awards banquet. The cost is included with registration.

Attendees must purchase a ticket for each additional guest for the banquet dinner.

Hosted by FWS and American Forests Activity: Visit to Alamo, TX nursery, two restoration sites

1. • Nursery Visit - Look at the process from seed collection through seed processing, seed storage, seed germination, plug preparation, and crating. 
   • • Participation in crating, or other relevant activity
   • Restoration sites - 
   • • Nearby 20 year-old restoration site by FWS contractors
     • Nearby Rio Restoration Community planting site (1,800 community member volunteers)

Given the time of the year, the tour will center around a bird walk of our park and wetlands. During the walk World Birding Center Coordinator, William Farley, will highlight the roles that wetlands and ecosystems like ours play in the lives of both the migratory and year-round species that are found in the Rio Grande Valley. Additionally, he will touch on: 

• wetland dynamics
• native plant communities
• the relationship native plants and wildlife have in the area
• and the ecological impacts parks like ours have on both local and multinational scales

Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge

• • See native habitat, goal, or reference sites.
  • FWS will guide and take care of permitting, etc.

Learn about the Tiny Forest movement and the Center for Urban Ecology expansion project in McAllen. Participants will tour two Miyawaki-style forests with the project lead for those plantings. After that, the trip turns to visit the new Center for Urban Ecology site at Quinta Mazatlan to learn more about the native landscaping, sustainability design, and other features of the 12-acre nature center expansion. Led by Quinta Mazatlan’s staff ecologist, John Brush.

• Tiny Forest McAllen Public Library (30 mins)
• Travel Time (15 mins)
• Tiny Forests Palm View (30 mins)
• Travel Time (15 mins)
• Quinta Mazatlan / Center For Urban Ecology (90 minutes)

Directions and Parking.

Site 1: McAllen Public Library (the pin is exactly where the Tiny Forest is, north side of the parking lot).

Site 2: Tiny Forests Palm View (safest bet for parking would be across the street at Palm View Community Center, then a 5-minute walk over to the forests).

Site 3: Quinta Mazatlan / CUE Expansion area

It'll be a walking tour, so wearing comfortable outdoor clothing for the weather and bringing water will be sufficient.

Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park and World Birding Center is a world-recognized birding hotspot and a celebrated location for nature enthusiasts. This 798-acre park has documented 365 species of birds, and the entire four-county region has a list of over 460 documented species of birds, many unique to this area & found nowhere else in the U.S. The “Valley” can boast three State Parks, three National Wildlife Refuges, nine World Birding Centers, two Texas Audubon properties, one National Park property and several NGO’s and non-profits. There are 22 nature sites here, supporting 2,000 jobs associated with the nature and eco-tourism industry. Many thousands of world-wide visitors and birdwatchers bring in over 500 million dollars to the local economy annually.

Enjoy Bentsen from the comfort of a park tram. November is an excellent time to see birds at Bentsen and is the beginning of our peak visitation season. See Green Jay, Plain Chachalaca, Great Kiskadee and other amazing birds on this short park exploration to our bird feeding stations and other park attractions. Bentsen also has a park store which sells snacks and souvenirs and offers binocular and bicycle rentals.

Hosted by Texas Native Seed (TNS)- Visit to Laguna Atascosa Saline Prairie restoration site

1. • Lunch will be sponsored by TNS
   • Entrance fees will be waived
   • Coordination with any public hunts will be completed
   • Birding opportunities