Try Stand Up Paddleboarding

Stand up paddleboarding is the fastest-growing segment of paddling sports. It is relatively easy to learn and can be enjoyed on calm water, whitewater, or surf. Losing your balance is inevitable, but falling in is refreshing on a hot Texas day! Learn more about SUP.

Find a Geocache

Geocaching is a modern-day treasure hunt! There are about 2 million geocaches worldwide, which range from easy to challenging. You can often find one without traveling far and they are hidden everywhere, from your local park to the most remote wilderness areas. All you need is a smart phone or basic GPS unit. Learn more about geocaching.

Enjoy the Birds

Many consider Texas to be one of the best places for birdwatching. It’s an activity that can be done in a variety of places, from your backyard to the backcountry, and doesn’t require much special equipment. All you need is a good field guide to the birds of Texas and a pair of binoculars. Learn more about bird watching.

Check out our blog for helpful tips for beginners, important information about selecting your equipment, suggested locations to try these activities, and more!

In Your Community

Organize a volunteer day in your local park to mulch trees. Mulch is important because it helps trees conserve water and survive drought conditions. Check out our brief guide, Mulching and Composting, for tips. Before you begin your project, be sure to check with your local parks and recreation department for proper procedures.

Prevent used items from going into landfills by organizing a donation drive in your community. Check out this clothing drive toolkit for information about collecting gently used items and donating them to a local charitable organization. 

At School

Promote environmental awareness in your school by organizing environmental projects or starting an environmental club. There are many resources available to help schools successfully implement conservation projects such as organizing a recycling program, building compost bins, starting a school garden, reducing waste in schools, and volunteering to monitor water quality.

You can also collect used electronic devices for charity and broken devices for recycling. Find out where you can recycle your electronics in Texas.

Don’t see a project that you are looking for? Visit the Corporation for National and Community Service for a helpful toolkit for organizing many types of successful service events in your community.    

Talk to your kids about the importance of the environment and teach them how to protect it. The Take Care of Texas Air Activity Poster has great information you can share with your children.

Help your kids get to school using alternate transportation, such as walking or biking. This will reduce emissions, save money, and promote exercise.

Teach your kids about recycling. Work together to sort the trash and recyclable items into their proper containers.

Encourage your children to take shorter showers. Time how long they spend in the shower and challenge them to make it shorter each day.

Countdown to Earth Day

Like our Facebook page and join us in a five day countdown to Earth Day! Starting April 17, we'll be posting one tip a day on Facebook. Each tip will focus on one of the five categories to the left and will be an easy, yet important way to protect the environment.