In Praise of Education, Preservation as Flood-Mitigation Strategies

6/16/25 – Not many people understand the value of education and preservation as a flood-mitigation strategies. Leaving land near waterways in its natural state costs a tiny fraction of building giant detention basins after people flood. Plus the natural land provides recreation for people and habitat for wildlife.

The people who built communities like Kingwood and the Woodlands understood that. That’s why we have 300-foot-wide greenbelts along streams like Bens Branch. It’s also why we have giant natural areas like East End Park and the Creekwood Nature Center. They draw an exceptional amount of wildlife to one of the largest cities in America.

But passing that learning on to others requires education.

Connecting with Nature Through Photography

Ansel Adams once said, “If you want to preserve nature, inspire people with its beauty.” I’d take that a step further and add “…while they are young.”

Education and preservation are both crucial flood-mitigation strategies.

So, this morning, I gave a talk about bird photography to a class of young, aspiring photographers at the Creativity Shell in Kingwood.

Years ago before retirement, I built the building that now houses the Creativity Shell. It won national architectural awards for the way it integrated nature with business. I took many of the photos below on the property near Kingwood Park High School. The rest were taken in the surrounding area.

The photos underscore how preservation can bring beauty, contentment, excitement and joy to people who otherwise inhabit a densely populated urban environment. They help people see the subjects, not just as other species, but as individuals struggling to survive, thrive, and raise young of their own.

Photos of Area Wildlife

*Two great egrets mirror each other as they preen their feathers.*

*Painted bunting munches on tall-grass seed outside the front door of the Creativity Shell*

*Two proud parents watch the first of their chicks hatch out of its egg*.

*A gathering of roseate spoonbills. The shape of their long bills lets them efficiently sift through muddy water in swampy areas where they can’t see food clearly.*

*Great egret tilts its wings to slow down before landing on its nest.*

*One species attempts to raid the nest of another and triggers a war.*

*Another display of the great egret. The long, lacy plumes (aigrettes) are raised and displayed during courtship.*

*One roseate spoonbill returns to the nest which the other was guarding.*

*Red-tailed hawk was feasting on a possum outside Creativity Shell*

*Big sticks like these are used to form the foundation of nests that will hold three to four chicks as they grow to adolescence.*

*The vision of a hawk is significantly sharper than humans’. Some estimates suggest they have eight times more resolution. This lets them spot prey up to a mile away in some cases.*

*Roseate spoonbill coming in for a landing.*

And for something completely different…

*Fawn born on the lawn of the Creativity Shell near the front door.*

About the Creativity Shell

The Creativity Shell took over a building I constructed in the early 2000s for my business – Rehak Creative Services. The 20,000 SF facility is divided up into multiple open spaces designed to encourage interaction, sharing and creativity. Virtually every space in the building has a view of nature outside from at least three different angles.

Shelancia Daniel, M.Ed. and executive director, has turned it into a space for encouraging creativity among students of all ages. Offerings include classes/workshops for sewing, textile arts, fiber arts, art, drawing, painting, pottery, photography, media, cooking, culinary arts, knitting, S.T.R.E.A.M. (science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, math/media), and so much more.

*More than 80 summer-camp students and teachers gathered outside the Creative Shell for a group photo this morning.*

The Creativity Shell operates year round. It is a nonprofit organization on a mission to educate and inspire the next generation of makers. It was a privilege and a pleasure to see the light in their young eyes.

Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/16/25

2848 days since Hurricane Harvey

Connecting with Nature Through Photography

Photos of Area Wildlife

About the Creativity Shell

You might also like