Comal County Conservation Alliance (CCCA)
  • HOME
    • What's Up
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Library
  • Spotlight Topics
  • Take Action
  • Comment
  • Donate
Picture
Picture
Picture

EVENTS 2020

Picture

October Virtual Program: Night Skies 

Picture
Picture

September Fundraiser: ​The Big Give 2020

Picture
Picture

March: Guided Tour of Honey Creek State Natural Area 

On March 14, about 45 "Friends of CCCA" went on a 2-mile guided nature walk in the restricted-entry section of Guadalupe River State Park that contains Honey Creek, one of the state's most pristine streams. Home to a rich variety of wildlife, ranging from jackrabbits and songbirds to turtles and salamanders, the natural beauty of this fragile ecosystem makes Honey Creek a special place.

​The photo is a portion of the participants that gathered for the hike. They are standing on the back porch of the 100+ year-old Rust House. Second from right is one of our Honey Creek State Natural Area guides, MacKenzie Brown. He led an outstanding two-hour tour that touched on the history of Honey Creek, its ecological zones, geology, and showed examples of different kinds of relationships that exist between organisms.
Picture

February Outreach: Annual Fun Fish

Water Oriented Recreation District of Comal County (WORD) presented its 24th Annual Fun Fish event. CCCA joined the fun by having our outreach table there, where we shared information about the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, what conservation means to wildlife, an interactive education station for kids to learn about the importance of conservation in a community.

On Sunday, February 23rd, CCCA volunteers worked long hours engaging 155 kids and 200 adults in a conversation about the importance of conservation and what they can do to save and ensure clean water gets to the Edwards Aquifer. Our Director-at-large, Leah Cuddeback, made two awesome EnviroScapes to teach what happens when gunk gets into the aquifer. Jane Finneran spent lots of time creating waterscopes so kids could explore what's in the deep, and we had Fun Fish pledge cards for kids to sign promising to do small acts to help the planet. This was a fun and very successful day.
    
Picture
Picture

February Landowner Workshop: "Creating A Land Legacy"

CREATING A LAND LEGACY
On Friday, February 21, 2020 about 35 people attended the second CCCA Landowner Workshop at Anhalt Dance Hall. The workshop covered conservation easements, the role of land trust organizations, open space and wildlife valuations, financial tools/resources available to landowners, and a panel discussion with landowners.

SPEAKERS
  • The Case for Conservation
Brent Evans, Cibolo Conservancy Land Trust
  • Wildlife and Open Space Tax Valuation (Exemptions)​
Tony & Jenny Blair, Blair Wildlife Consulting
  • Financial Resources For Landowners
Kathryn Brady, USDA — Natural Resources Conservation Service
  • Conservation Easement Basics
Jim Bradbury, James D Bradbury Law
  • What Is A Land Trust and The Land Trust Role In Working With Landowners
Tyler Sanderson, Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust

BREAKOUT SESSIONS
  • Financial Tools and Programs Available For Landowners
Jenny Blair and Kathryn Brady
  • Conservation Easements: Special Topics and Q & A
Margaret Menicucci, Braun & Gresham Attorneys-at-Law
Kathryn Tancig, Braun & Gresham Attorneys-at-Law
  • General Conservation Discussion
Carolyn Vogel, Texas Conservation Connection LLC
LANDOWNER PANEL
Sponsored by Alamo Resource Conservation & Development Area, Inc.
Kay and John Flowers & Jenny Carloye

The workshop was hosted by CCCA and the Great Springs Project.


Many thanks to our sponsors:
  • ​Hill Country Alliance
  • Anhalt Hall
  • Blair Wildlife Consulting
  • H-E-B
  • Alamo RC & D
  • Natural Resources Conservation Services
  • Hill Country Land Trust
  • Guadalupe-Blanco River Trust
  • Texas Wildlife Association 
Picture

February Outreach: Farmers Market, New Braunfels, TX

The CCCA's outreach booth was at New Braunfels Farmers Market. The Farmers Market is a weekly community event held at 186 S. Castell Ave. New Braunfels, TX, next to Krause's Cafe. The market is held Saturday, from 9:00 to 1:00pm and hosts local vendors with a variety of goods to offer. Meet neighbors from all over Comal County as you stroll through the aisles and shop for everything from baked goods, to locally made honey, and to pet necessities such as leashes and toys. And amid the booths, the live music, and the libations, you will find outreach committee volunteers demonstrating the action of the Edwards Aquifer, the importance of land preservation, the need to save our water, and what conservation means to wildlife.
Picture

February Community Program: Forest Therapy

Picture
Picture
Kortnee McDowell
On Tuesday, February 11th, Kortnee McDowell brought her expertise and enthusiasm to Landa Haus to talk about the positive impact spending time in nature has on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Anyone who spends time outdoors knows that it leaves us feeling relaxed, refreshed, and more positive. After sharing experiences from her work in “Forest Therapy,” Kortnee talked about the Japanese studies that have documented the scientific basis behind these positive effects. A tree chemical called phytoncide actually improves the human immune system by increasing natural killer (NK) cell activity and intracellular anti-cancer proteins. In other words, walking in the woods can not only improve your mental health, but your physical health, as well. 
Picture

January Community Program: Devil's Backbone

ccca_january_14.docx
File Size: 13 kb
File Type: docx
Download File

On Tuesday, January 14th, nearly 100 people gathered in the McKenna Center to hear Leslie and Randy Collier tell the story of El Rancho Cima, the former Boy Scout Ranch.
 
Leslie began by telling of her personal experience, spending many summers at the ranch. She loved the place so much that she and Randy bought property near it as their planned retirement home. And then, they learned that the Scouts had sold the property without any restrictions. Despite being nearby property owners, news of the sale got to them long after the fact.
 
The couple then began an effort to raise awareness of the sale and $24.5 million to purchase the property. Awareness seemed to come easier than millions of dollars. With volunteer videographers and drone pilots, they produced videos to help more people experience the property. They posted signs at the overlook on the Devil’s Backbone announcing the sale. They spoke with people at the overlook. They developed a website and a Facebook page. And, they gave presentations to any group that would listen.
Picture
​A packed audience gathered to hear about the Devil's Backbone.
Picture
Picture
Leslie & Randy Collier
Picture
Picture
"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, ​nothing is going to get better - it’s not."  — Dr. Seuss       
Picture
Picture
Picture

​Comal County Conservation Alliance
PO Box 2804
Canyon Lake, TX 78133

​​Contact us: 
info@comalconservation.org


CCCA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

​About Us
​Events
Library
​     For Kids
     and much more
​Spotlight Topics
Take Action
Picture
Picture
Picture
At CCCA, we believe that the work to preserve natural habitats and healthy natural systems in our county is an effort that is benefitted by the representation and participation of all segments of our community, embracing the rich diversity of talent, perspectives, experiences, and needs found throughout our county. Diversity includes people of different ages, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, genders, religions, cultures, and sexual orientations.
​All are welcome and encouraged to participate in the effort to preserve land, water, and wildlife in ​Comal County. 
Website Master— Graphic Design: Rita Wittwer
Picture
  • HOME
    • What's Up
  • About Us
  • Events
  • Library
  • Spotlight Topics
  • Take Action
  • Comment
  • Donate