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Announcements WEC After IKE The Waterborne Education Center's office is back to regular business hours following the abbreviated hours in the immediate wake of Hurricane Ike. We are in the process of assessing our damages, the river conditions and what to do next, and working diligently with local, state and federal relief opportunities to get regular services back on line as soon as possible. At this time, we estimate suspended services will be carried out through November, if not longer.
The WEC office and fences sustained
wind damage. Flying debris punctured the east wall The WEC is preparing alternative educational activities until regular activities resume. We are putting together a classroom presentation on the affects of the storm on the river and the natural renewal of the wetlands. Please check back with the website for more information about this program as it becomes available, and also on the progress of other program restorations.
GBEP AND TCEQ AWARD WEC FUNDS FOR OUTREACH ENDEAVORS
WEC’s outreach director Amy Hill said these funds will be used to support promotion of the on-the-water field lab program through events such as information booth at local and statewide science teacher conferences, such as the recent Mini-Conference for the Advancement of Science Teachers in Orange and the Texas Gator Fest in Anahuac. Funds will also support a teacher workshop and two VIP field labs, website renovations, a year of WEC newsletters and related outreach supplies.
“Without this program, many potential passengers might never know of
this great educational opportunity,” Hill said. “With the help of GBEP,
we will be able to reach out to more Texans to spread the
WEC programming implements the GBEP Public Participation and Education Action Plan. Like GBEP, the WEC works “to establish effective, ongoing public involvement with Galveston Bay resource management efforts at all levels; to improve future stewardship through education of students and the adult public concerning the bay ecosystem; and to invoke the public commitment and political will necessary to achieve effective comprehensive management.” The Galveston Bay Plan states, “In an era of severe constraints on both governmental and private sector funding, an educated and motivated public can provide much of the needed expertise, time, effort, and leadership to protect and monitor the bay.” The WEC agrees, and seeks to provide the education the public requires to serve the needs of the bay. This program introduces coastal residents, many for the first time, to the coastal resources they are expected to protect. The WEC’s mission is to foster appreciation and stewardship of coastal resources, heritage and culture by providing hands-on waterborne education services. The WEC provides custom field labs for groups interested in area ecology, wetlands and wildlife observation, Texas history, nature art and any other topic the group believes can be addressed through WEC services. This program provides a bridge between classroom facts and real world applications of coastal resources’ functions and values, and fosters environmental stewardship. It is an ideal middle and high school science field trip. TAKS-aligned curriculum is available for 8th grade science classes. To schedule a WEC field lab, contact Wes Kruger at (409) 267-3547 or weskruger@ih2000.net. For more information about the WEC, visit the website: www.txwaterborne.org. Newsletters The WEC publishes a bi-monthly newsletter for customers, sponsors and the interested public. It includes a feature story of recent WEC events, upcoming events and other news briefs concerning the WEC and those involved in the program. Recent Issues: If you would like to receive the WEC newsletter, send an email to amyturner@ih2000.net. Please specify if you would like a hardcopy or digital file, and include your mailing/email address. If you would like to be removed from the mailing list, send a message to the same address. Thank you!
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The
WEC vessels Smith Point and Moss Bluff received damages from the storm. CLCND has had them moved to dry dock under Coast Guard requirements to
assess the extent of their damages. We will hopefully know more by
Friday, October 17th.
in the kitchen and bathroom hallway. These have been temporarily
patched, and will be permanently repaired soon. The WEC hopes to have
the fences standing again within a month or two. But like so many
others, we just have to wait our turn before our needs can be met.
