Conservation Rock Stars

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SCA Joins B-52s Concert Tour in Texas

The B-52s are more than a bestselling rock band — they are also conservation rock stars!

Over the past 40 years, since the B-52s were founded in Athens, Georgia, millions of fans have turned out to enjoy the band’s bestselling songs such as “Love Shack” and “Rock Lobster.” But this weekend in Texas, concert-goers had a chance to get their hands dirty before the show by stepping up to serve with SCA. Hundreds of fans in Austin and Houston took up the challenge to make native wildflower seed bombs — small balls of soil, clay, and seeds that will explode into bloom to bring native wildflowers to Texas and support threatened pollinator populations such as bees and butterflies.

In Austin on May 18th, concert-goers at Austin City Limits — many donning creative outfits in tribute to their favorite songs — stopped by SCA’s seedball station to get creative and talk conservation. “My daughter served with SCA years ago, and she still talks about the impact it had on her,” said Pam Wallace. “I’m proud to be a supporter and happy to see SCA out here at the show!”

Other concert-goers were new to SCA, but no less eager to dig in. The Lyons family, including fourth-grade twins Brooke and Samantha, teamed up to create over 30 seed bombs before the show kicked off. “When I grow up, I’m going to be a wildlife explorer!” Brooke announced with handfuls of clay. (“Definitely a future SCA member!” observed mom Lisa.)

Two days later in Houston, SCA joined the concert tour again to host seedball activities with the B-52s at the House of Blues. Over 200 fans joined in to make seed bombs in Houston, with help from local SCA alumni and crew members. B-52s frontman Fred Schneider, a long-time environmental advocate and supporter of SCA, invited SCA staff and members backstage after the show and autographed an SCA hard hat.

 

The mobile seed ball program, which SCA has used to bring hands-on service to venues from corporate offices to concerts to street festivals, was developed with support from American Express.

“At almost any venue, there’s room for a little service,” said SCA Events Manager Ann Pedtke. “We look forward to working with the B-52s again in future to help conservation reach new audiences and expand the limits of where we can take events with SCA!”