Environmental Education in North Texas

Children who learn in nature can increase their science testing by 27%. Science is now proving what the River Legacy Foundation knew all along! Environmental education helps kids learn and improve their test scores.

Environmental education is crucial not only to engage youth with the curiosity and wonder of nature, but to also complement science curriculum in schools and to groom future environmental stewards. In the midst of our frantic urban pace, the River Legacy Foundation and River Legacy Park along the Trinity River feature 1,300 acres of native habitats and wildlife similar to North Texas 100 years ago. It also offers eight miles of paved paths to encourage hiking, exercise and community.

Immersing students in a learning experience that allows them to grapple with a problem, gain higher-order thinking skills and pursuing the solution are the goals of all educators.

As state testing moves to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness or STAAR assessment, our age-appropriate curriculum will continue to be modified and adapted. To complement our excellent curriculum, we must do things like renovate our animal aquariums and terrariums to provide a better living environment for our animals and thereby maximize the student experience.

Research demonstrates that when students are taught with hands-on instructional materials, they truly learn science. Studies also show this benefit extends to other subjects such as reading, writing, language development and math.

So, with new research suggesting that hands-on experiences have a stronger impact on learning, the River Legacy Foundation must maximize learning by providing quality interactive learning experiences. We must also integrate technology into our classrooms and update our learning stations with new educational toys.

The River Legacy Foundation currently serves North Texas families and children. The children who attend our programs reflect a wide range of socio-economic levels and ethnicities. We place additional emphasis in serving students and families attending Title 1 schools.

Aristotle once said, "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." By immersing our youth in an experiential learning environment at River Legacy Parks, students are more apt to appreciate, respect and steward our environment.