Ecosystem Summit 2026

What to Expect:

Attend the Rockport Cultural Arts District Ecosystem Summit 2026 from 11am-5pm, with conservation advocates, ecosystem educators, environmental experts and ecotourism entrepreneurs. The Rockport Cultural Arts District initiated and coordinated the event to raise awareness of Rockport, Fulton and Aransas County’s heritage of environmental champions and organizations, and it's recognition as "The Ecosystem Capital of the Texas Gulf Coast."

This Summit highlights innovation in restoration, local advocacy, and environmental eduation - with a shared goal of sustaining the ecosystems that define us. RCAD extends its sincere gratitude to all the partners and supporters who made the Ecosystem Summit possible.

PRE-SUMMIT TOUR:

Attend the Coastal Bend Alliance for Sustainable Stormwater (CBASS) Green Infrastructure Bus Tour from 9am - 11am. CBASS will be hosting a Green Infrastructure Tour before the Summit to show off green infrastructure installations around the City of Rockport. This tour will include the opportunity to hop on a bus. The Bus will pick up tour attendees at the location of the Aransas County Community Center, 302 N Live Oak St, Rockport, TX 78382. The Bus Tour is free of charge but you must register to attend. You can also follow along in your own vehicle.

BUS TOUR REGISTRATION SEPERATE FROM THE SUMMIT REQUIRED HERE:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1ldXD4sjhylkei8SGIN6NBfhVXFp-2wLSiw6apIbvH_I/edit?ts=6a0342d4

Thank you to our Sponsor - The History Center for Aransas County

Date: June 19th, 2026

Time: 8:45am-11am

Tour Agenda:

9:00AM The History Center for Aransas County: Speaker – Amy Parker

801 E Cedar St, Rockport, TX 78382

• Gardens Tour – Replica of Dr. Bruhl’s Medicinal Garden
• Historic Medicinal Garden: Features plants traditionally used for healing and everyday remedies along the Texas coast
• Dr. Paul Bruhl Apothecary Connection: Demonstrates how physicians historically used plant-based treatments and local resources
• Pollinator & Habitat Garden: Designed to support butterflies, bees, and coastal bird species (includes native plants that provide food, shelter, and seasonal blooms)

9:40 AM “Cultural Interface” Sculptures: Little Bay – Speaker - Charlie Belaire

Corner of E. Laurel St. & HWY 35 N

• Drought Tolerant Native Plantings that Flower Year Around
• Little Bay Retention Wall- shoreline stabilization. Grass roots efforts
• Oyster reefs - water quality & biodiversity
• Compound Flood Sensor- TAMUCC Project
• Drainage Retention Planting in Medians- TXDOT Project

10:20 AM The San Antonio & Aransas Pass Rockport Railroad Museum: Speakers – Ashley Bennis, Brian Koch / Adrien Hilmy

105 S Magnolia St, Rockport, TX 78382

• Water Cistern - how does it work and what are the benefits
• Rain Garden - a model of water filtration and biodiversity
• Rainfall simulator - show casing how different soil types infiltrate water.

Info: - Featuring Eco Documentary Films, followed by Lunch, Speaker Kathy Sweezey-The Nature Conservancy, and Panel Discussions: Aransas County's Heritage of Environmental Action; Balancing Economic Development and Sustainability, and Developing Advocacy Champions will be conducted by panelists: John Blaha, Dinah Bowman, Janae Evans, Amy Belaire, Chuck Naiser, Jim Farnsworth, Dr. Rebecca Rylander, Pat Cruz, Steve Ferguson, Della Meadows
- Networking / Expo- Aransas First Land Trust, Aransas Pathways, Texas A&M AgriLife Ext-Aransas County, Keep Aransas County Beautiful, San Antonio Bay Partnership, Texas Sea Grant,
- Texas Parks & Wildlife - Special Recognition of Aransas Pathways Trails - Closing Ted Ballard-Freshwater Texas and Ashley Bennis-CBASS, The Harte Institute

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Host or Publisher Rockport Cultural Arts District