Texas Parks and Wildlife's Conservation Education section consists of Texas Project WILD, Texas Children in Nature, and the department's Water Education as well. We're here to provide you with resources, training, and connections!

Chances are, you already have experience with Project WILD, but whether you're super experienced or newly acquainted, there are resources and training opportunities available for you! An environmental and conservation education program emphasizing awareness, appreciation and understanding of wildlife and natural resources; Project WILD can be used by classroom teachers, environmental educators, park and nature center personnel, and youth group leaders. Contact Kiki Corry for more information.

Here are Texas Children in Nature's Top Ten reasons why kids who play and learn outside are Healthier, Happier and Smarter.The links below connect you to research and information.

• Are healthier physically and mentally.
• Do better in school.
• Have higher self-esteem.
• Have good self-discipline.
• Feel more capable and confident.
• Are good problem-solvers.
• Are more cooperative with others.
• Are more creative.
• Feel connected with nature.
• Are tomorrow’s conservation leaders. 

Contact Jennifer Bristol for more information.

Our Water Education efforts center around this central truth: Our economy, our natural ecosystems and our very way of life in Texas is reliant on fishable, swimmable, drinkable water. To that end, and to help educate our public, we offer Texas Aquatic Science, a comprehensive  aquatic science curriculum, from molecules to ecosystems, and headwaters to ocean, for middle school and high school students. In addition, we offer our newest curriculum, Texas Waters: Exploring Water and Watersheds. With the Texas Waters curriculum, we want to inform and educate the citizens of Texas about the most precious natural  resource Texas possesses, its water. Many challenges face our state concerning water, particularly in our aquatic habitats, the water for wildlife.  Texas Parks and Wildlife values the natural and cultural resources of Texas and we want there to always be drinkable, swimmable, and fishable waters in our great State. 

This curriculum will allow Texas Master Naturalists and other concerned citizens to earn a Texas Waters Specialist designation and then start giving back to their community by performing community service in areas like:

• Water focused educational activities such as fairs, festivals, events, outreach,
• Projects  such as habitat restoration, water quality testing/monitoring, creek cleanups, aquifer recharge/karst feature flagging and clearing, etc., or
• Demonstrations like runoff models, runoff landscape features such as dry creek beds, rain gardens, etc.

  Contact Johnnie Smith for more information.

November 7 & 8 at the El Tropicano Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio.

Join the Texas Children in Nature network to explore the latest research and share ideas to strengthen the connection between children, communities and nature. During this two-day Summit, TCiN will bring together the health, education, built environment, faith, and conservation communities to shape an even brighter future for the children of Texas. TCiN will convene over 250 thought leaders to strengthen the network and develop opportunities and policies that will connect more children and families with nature.

November 7th will be filled offer over twenty sessions that will inform and inspire. Sessions on the 7th will be held from 8:00am to 5:00pm with time for networking and fun after the sessions. November 8th participants will turn the information and inspiration gathered from the previous day into meaningful community impacted during the action labs. Sessions on the 8th are from 8:00am- noon.  Field trips and professional development will take place during the afternoon of November 8th. The full schedule will be released in August.

Keynote speakers:

Dr. Cheryl Charles, Co-Founder, President and CEO Emerita of the Children & Nature Network and Research Scholar and founding Executive Director of the Nature Based Leadership Institute at Antioch University New England (AUNE).

Dr. Michael Webber, Deputy Director of the Energy Institute, Co-Director of the Clean Energy Incubator, Josey Centennial Professor in Energy Resources, Author, and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, at University of Texas in Austin.

Valarie Bristol, retired County Commissioner- Travis Co, Director of External Affairs- The Nature Conservancy, Executive Director- Trust for Public Lands, Texas.

George Bristol, Author of On Politics and Parks, entrepreneur, political organizer, fundraiser, and lobbyist.

Register Now! (http://texaschildreninnature.org/summit-2017)

For more information please email jennifer.bristol@tpwd.texas.gov