Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center invites you to celebrate Earth Week with five days of fun-filled activities that may include nature walks, story readings for children, boat rides, and daily lessons on topics that will broaden your knowledge of the natural world. You could learn how to photograph birds, design a butterfly garden, an epiphyte from a hydrophyte, and so much more. Earth week always centers around Earth Day, April 22^nd. It all culminates on the following Saturday with Eco-Fest.   Reservations are required for many events and may be made by calling 409.670.9799.

 

The theme for Earth Week 2009 is Transformations. Earth Week begins on April 21 and ends April 25 with Eco-Fest. 

Learn more about the exciting activities taking place each day during Earth Week: 

Tuesday, April 21:  

9:30 am - 12:30 pm  -  Sketching for a Nature Journal, in partnership with the Stark Museum of Art with Amelia Wiggins. 
Learn to make quick sketches of the natural world inspired by our surroundings at Shangri La.  Amelia Wiggins, Educator, Public Programs at the Stark Museum of Art will demonstrate techniques for recording plant forms.  Fill the pages of your favorite sketch book with drawings, rubbings, and prints; then enjoy a private nature-themed tour at the Stark Museum of Art to see the art of famous naturalist, John James Audubon.  Students must bring their own sketchbook of unlined paper.  Meet at the Admissions window.  RSVP required.  Call 409.670.9799.  Maximum 20 people.  

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Compost and the Garden
Learn what composting is all about and how easy it is to build a compost bin for your garden.  Meet in the Children's Garden.  RSVP required.  Call 409.670.9799.  Maximum 20 people.  

7:00 pm - Living Green with Ed Begley, Jr 
Lutcher Theater, 707 Main Street, Orange, Texas 
The truth about global warming is very inconvenient - it takes ingenuity, sacrifice, and commitment to incorporate energy efficiency and sustainable living into daily life.  Nobody knows that better than long-time environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. star of HGTV's acclaimed Living With Ed, which illuminates his 30+ year commitment to saving the planet.  At the podium, Ed Begley, Jr. brings the audience into his ultra-green world, shedding energy-efficient light on how each of us can make a difference.  Besides starring in television's St. Elsewhere, Ed Begley, Jr. has appeared in over 200 television and film roles, and he has won numerous environmental awards, serving on the boards of earth-friendly organizations such as the Thoreau Institute, Friends of the Earth, and the Environmental Media Association.  This event is sponsored by the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation and Lamar State College-Orange and is FREE to the public.