Each spring, Concordia University Texas hosts NatureFest, a week-long event
dedicated to learning about and celebrating the unique natural setting of the
University.
NatureFest features tours of the nature preserve, guided bird watching, live animal
demonstrations, and more! Bring your family to enjoy Concordia's beautiful campus
and preserve, and get to know the Office of Environmental Stewardship, who will guide
tours of the preserve and Tornado Trail.
Most importantly, we encourage you to get outside for classes, meetings, prayer, and
leisure throughout the year.
Nature Fest Schedule & Locations
Follow CTX Environmental Stewardship on social media channels for information or visit the University Calendar for more information. #CTXNatureFest
Monday, March 28
Preserve Tour - Short Loop
9:00 - 9:50 a.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
45-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Birding
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
The Pier
Enjoy bird watching tours around campus, Tornado Trail, and more with Carl and Carol
Trovall.
Friesenhahn Cave Fossil Display
10:30 - 11:30 a.m.
The Pier
Come visit with members of the Friesenhahn Cave team and see their display of fossils
from the cave.
Campus Clean Up
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tables between Cedel Hall & the Arts & Innovation Building
Join our campus cleanup efforts this week. To get involved, stop by the tables between C & D any day during Nature Fest to pick
up trash bags and gloves. Spend some time picking up trash on campus, and before depositing your bag in the
dumpster, post a picture of what you collected on Instagram with the hashtag #KeepCTXBeautiful
and tags @ctxservicelearning and @ctxenvstewards. All participants will be entered
into a drawing for a gift bag fill with fun items.
Preserve Tour - Long Loop
1:00 - 2:30 p.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
90-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Writing from the Preserve - Dana Degreff and Concordia University Texas
1:15 - 2:15 p.m.
Location: The Pier
Join us for a 45-minute Nature Writing event led by Dana DeGreff, an experienced nature
writer and workshop presenter.
RSVP - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/writing-from-the-preserve-dana-degreff-and-concordia-university-texas-registration-301537365377
Tuesday, March 29
Birding, Tornado Trail Wildlife Blind
8:00 - 9:45 a.m.
The Pier
Enjoy bird watching tours around campus, Tornado Trail, and more with Carl and Carol
Trovall.
Come and expereince the new Tornado Trail Wildlife Blind! The OES Ranger team has
been hard at work to build this amazing trail amenity.
Preserve Tour - Short Loop
9:30 - 10:15 a.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
45-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Campus Clean Up
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tables between Cedel Hall & the Arts & Innovation Building
Join our campus cleanup efforts this week. To get involved, stop by the tables between C & D any day during Nature Fest to pick
up trash bags and gloves. Spend some time picking up trash on campus, and before depositing your bag in the
dumpster, post a picture of what you collected on Instagram with the hashtag #KeepCTXBeautiful
and tags @ctxservicelearning and @ctxenvstewards. All participants will be entered
into a drawing for a gift bag fill with fun items.
Wildlife Blind Grand Opening/Tornado Trail Picnic
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Tornado Trailhead (Meet at the entrance near the residence halls)
Come and expereince the new Tornado Trail Wildlife Blind and enjoy a picnic with fellow
Concordia community members. The OES Ranger team has been hard at work to build this
amazing trail amenity.
Preserve Tour - Long Loop
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
90-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Wednesday, March 30
Preserve Tour - Short Loop
9:00 - 9:50 a.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
45-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Birding
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
The Pier
Enjoy bird watching tours around campus, Tornado Trail, and more with Carl and Carol
Trovall.
Outdoor Chapel at Luther Park
10:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Luther Park
Join us for an outdoor worship service in Luther Park, led by Pastor Jacob Boessling
and Drs. Trovall and Puffe.
Office of Environmental Stewardship Coffee & Community
10:30 - 11:00 a.m.
Welcome Center
Join Zach Stark, Director of Environmental Stewardship, for Coffee & Community after
Chapel to discuss enviromental stewardship on campus.
Campus Clean Up
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tables between Cedel Hall & the Arts & Innovation Building
Join our campus cleanup efforts this week. To get involved, stop by the tables between C & D any day during Nature Fest to pick
up trash bags and gloves. Spend some time picking up trash on campus, and before depositing your bag in the
dumpster, post a picture of what you collected on Instagram with the hashtag #KeepCTXBeautiful
and tags @ctxservicelearning and @ctxenvstewards. All participants will be entered
into a drawing for a gift bag fill with fun items.
Raptor Demonstration by Sky Kings Falconry
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Luther Park
See hawks and many other birds of prey in action!
Preserve Tour - Long Loop
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
90-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Online Interdisciplinary Panel: Interactions and Thoughts on Nature
3:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Online event
Join a group of Concordia faculty members in a discussion of how their disciplines
approach interactions with nature in ways such as environmental justice, Christian
views of nature, peoples' attitudes of nature through time, and music in nature.
Panel participants - Rev. Dr. Paul Puffe, Rev Dr. Gerard Bolling, Dr. Ann Schwartz,
Dr. Matthew Bloom, and Ms. Anne-Marie Shaver.
Microsoft Teams Link
Thursday, March 31
Birding, Tornado Trail Wildlife Blind
8:00 - 9:45 a.m.
The Pier
Enjoy bird watching tours around campus, Tornado Trail, and more with Carl and Carol
Trovall.
Come and expereince the new Tornado Trail Wildlife Blind! The OES Ranger team has
been hard at work to build this amazing trail amenity.
Campus Clean Up
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tables between Cedel Hall & the Arts & Innovation Building
Join our campus cleanup efforts this week. To get involved, stop by the tables between C & D any day during Nature Fest to pick
up trash bags and gloves. Spend some time picking up trash on campus, and before depositing your bag in the
dumpster, post a picture of what you collected on Instagram with the hashtag #KeepCTXBeautiful
and tags @ctxservicelearning and @ctxenvstewards. All participants will be entered
into a drawing for a gift bag fill with fun items.
Snake Demonstration by Texas Reptile Service
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
Lower Level, Health & Sciences Building
Participants will be able to see snakes, turtles, and other reptiles up close and
in person.
Prayer Walk on Tornado Trail
1:00 p.m.
Welcome Center
Preserve Tour - Long Loop
2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
90-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Friday, April 1
Preserve Tour - Short Loop
9:00 - 9:50 a.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
45-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Birding
9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
The Pier
Enjoy bird watching tours around campus, Tornado Trail, and more with Carl and Carol
Trovall.
Campus Clean Up
10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Tables between Cedel Hall & the Arts & Innovation Building
Join our campus cleanup efforts this week. To get involved, stop by the tables between C & D any day during Nature Fest to pick
up trash bags and gloves. Spend some time picking up trash on campus, and before depositing your bag in the
dumpster, post a picture of what you collected on Instagram with the hashtag #KeepCTXBeautiful
and tags @ctxservicelearning and @ctxenvstewards. All participants will be entered
into a drawing for a gift bag fill with fun items.
Preserve Tour - Short Loop
11:00 - 11:50 a.m.
Arts & Innovation Building (Building B)
45-minute guided tour of the Concordia Preserve
Milkweeds & Monarchs
1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
Luther Park
Learn about the important relationship between milkweed plants and Monarch butterflies.
During this event, you can assist the Office of Environmental Stewardship transplant
milkweeds into the ground & planter pots. Tools and gloves will be provided.