Wednesdays in August from 1:00-3:00 pm
via Zoom
TRAPS Members $65 | Non-members $80
Sustainability should be a goal for any park or park system but with such a broad scope, it can be hard to know where to start. Join sustainability experts and parks professionals, Andee Chamberlain of Texas Parks and Wildlife and Shaun Auckland of the South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER) as they guide us through a 4-week, community building, educational program. Each week will focus on a theme (Rainwater Harvesting, Energy, Waste & Recycling, and Resiliency) and will feature targeted interviews with experts from the field. Sessions will be interactive with time for Q&A, small group discussion, and group problem solving.
Sessions will be held each Wednesday in August from 1:00-3:00 pm. Registration includes all 4 events. CEUs will only be awarded for sessions that attendees are present and engaged in throughout. These are live events and will not be available after session ends.
Week One: Rainwater Harvesting (.2 CEUs)
What can rainwater do for your parks? The answers may surprise you! This week’s discussion will focus on the “why” and the “how” of rainwater catchment, including a comprehensive overview of the benefits; and a focused discussion on practical and creative ways to collect and utilize rainwater. Andee and Shaun will interview experts from the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, and Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, and an American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) Hall of Fame member, followed by a chance for you to discuss your own challenges, opportunities, and success stories. Let’s dive in deep on rainwater!
Learner Outcomes
- Participants will be able to list 3 ways that rainwater catchment can benefit a parks system
- Participants will be able to discuss 3 ways that rainwater catchment is currently utilized in parks in Texas
- Participants will be able to develop a plan to implement rainwater catchment in their own park(s)
Week Two: Energy (.2 CEUs)
After the devastation of Winter Storm Uri, Energy became an even hotter topic of conversation in Texas. What can your park do to cut costs and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Andee and Shaun interview energy experts from Texas Parks and Wildlife, Harris Energy Solutions, and The Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Program to discuss topics ranging from energy costs and consumption to funding and support for upgrades to your energy conservation efforts. Learners will discuss case studies from professionals that have seen significant savings from investing up front in green infrastructure and share ideas on convincing your stakeholders that energy conservation is a worth-while endeavor.
Learner Outcomes
- Participants will be able to explain the importance of energy usage tracking
- Participants will be able to share 3 ways that their community could benefit from energy conservation
- Participants will be able to list 3 feasible opportunities for energy conservation in their own parks
Week Three: Waste and Recycling (.2 CEUs)
We all know what a headache waste management can be – but does it have to be that way? Join Andee and Shaun as they interview solid waste and recycling experts from Keep Texas Beautiful, Balcones Recycling, and Travis County to discuss some interesting, evidence-based ways that you can streamline your park trash systems. Everything from clean up events to composting to best practices in waste container selection will be discussed in this session.
Leaner Outcomes
- Participants will be able to identify 2 resources for community support for recycling efforts
- Participants will be able to identify 3 best practices in waste management
- Participants will be able to, after evaluation, discuss cost/benefit of a recycling program
Week Four: Resiliency (.2 CEUs)
Parks are buffers, but systems have to be in place for parks to be truly resilient. This discussion will center around the idea of resiliency, including defining what it means in parks; and discussing strategies both big and small to increase our parks’ ability to “bounce back.” Andee and Shaun will interview experts from City of Houston, City of Austin Sustainability Office, Freese and Nichols as they discuss the impact of emergent crisis situations, such as: extreme weather, natural disasters, and other significant impacts on parks and facilities, and offer suggestions to prepare for those events.
Learner Outcomes
- Participants will be able to define park resiliency.
- Participants will be able to discuss 3 ways that parks can be more resilient.
- Participants will be able to share one goal for increasing park resiliency at their own agency.
Shaun Auckland manages the Local Government Program for SPEER. SPEER’s mission is to accelerate the adoption of energy efficiency products and services in Texas and Oklahoma. She has over 15 years of developing, leading, and implementing practical and efficient strategic waste diversion programs and projects within several sectors of the sustainability, including greenhouse gas inventory, energy & water conservation, and policy development. She currently serves as the USGBC Central Texas Regional Council Chair.
Shaun holds a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (focusing on Sustainability) from the Texas State University and an accredited LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Green Associate.
Andee Chamberlain directs Sustainability Programs for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. As a conservation agency with a mission of sustainability, working to conserve the resources of Texas for present and future generations, she has helped TPWD find innovative ways to remain a leader in sustainability for over a decade. She has led the installation of more than 675kW of solar photovoltaics across 30 TPWD facilities and facilitated the purchase of an innovative 100% renewable energy contract for the agency. Working with colleagues, her efforts to conserve resources have led to the growth of rural recycling programs and energy efficient, dark-sky friendly lighting in our state parks.
Andee holds a Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies (focusing on Environmental Science, Sociology, and Public Administration) from the University of North Texas and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM), Project Management Professional (PMP) and an accredited LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Associate.