Programs & Events

The Center for Urban Ecology (CUE) offers workshops, nature walks, special events, and volunteer land stewardship opportunities to the public. Please check the Calendar of Events to see our upcoming programs.

Workshops

All About iNaturalist

Become acquainted with one of the most popular nature apps in the world, iNaturalist. During this workshop participants learn how to use the app and the website.

Birding ID Basics

Understand the basics of bird identification in the Rio Grande Valley. Participants will learn the 5 keys to bird ID, along with how to use binoculars, field guides, and various apps and online resources.

Cacti & Container Gardening 

Learn about native cacti, keeping container plants alive, and bring your own pot to take home a container plant.

Drought Resilient Plants

Learn about plants that thrive without much water. As the Rio Grande Valley’s water continues to be more and more precious, this workshop will help you think about landscaping plants that can drastically reduce your outdoor water use.

Edible Native Plant Gardening

Learn about native plants that provide habitat for wildlife and are a tasty treat in the kitchen.

Garden Tools & Techniques

Learn what tools and techniques our team use to make gardening easier, from differences in shovel types to weed whips, body positioning, and tool maintenance.

Growing Wildflowers 

Learn about how to grow your own wildflower meadows from the Center for Urban Ecology's plant practitioner team. Workshop attendees will receive a wildflower starter pack, which includes 5 ready-to-plant wildflower plugs and a seed mix.

Plant Propagation 

Learn how to propagation your own plants! Attendees will learn from the Center for Urban Ecology plant practitioners about how we propagate some of our favorite native plants.

Site-specific Garden Design 

Our experienced staff will share tools and resources that will help with garden design, then will help guide participants through a design process. Participants are asked to provide a base map of their garden space (including buildings, fences, and cardinal directions), along with up to 5 photos of their space.

Nature Walks

 Enjoy the thornforest and lush gardens of Quinta Mazatlan during one of the CUE’s guided walks in the park.

Flashlight Nights

Join naturalists on an evening adventure through the trails of Quinta Mazatlan in search of toads, owls, insects, spiders, scorpions, and other creatures of the night. Offered seasonally.

Quinta Park Tours

Learn about Quinta Mazatlan with one of our experienced naturalists. These tours will help you learn about local plants and animals, get ideas for your garden, and enjoy seeing wildlife in the park.

Tiny Forest Outreach Events

Join our team at one of our Tiny Forest sites to learn more about how we grow the forests, meeting some of the plants and animals that live in them, and enjoy an activity.

The CUE offers seasonally-relevant events utilizing a combination of community science data and ecological knowledge to build upon nationally or state recognized days and awareness campaigns. 

  • • January: National Bird Day
  • • February: World Wetlands Day
  • • March: International Day of Forests
  • • April: City Nature Challenge, Lights Out RGV, Earth Day
  • • May: Lights Out RGV, World Migratory Bird Day
  • • June: Flashlight Nights
  • • July: Flashlight Nights, Mothing by Moonlight
  • • August: International Bat Nights
  • • September: Hummingbird Morning
  • • October: Texas Native Plant Month, Planta Nativa
  • • November: Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival
  • • December: Christmas Bird Count

CUE Ecology

Show Your Support

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Support Quinta Mazatlán by becoming a member, giving your time as a volunteer or a donation. Your gift helps us care for the conservation of plants, education for children & adults, programs for the community & the mission & goals of Quinta Mazatlán.