Javier Gonzales, SPIBNCAS's Texas Naturalist, underscores the importance of experiential learning, stating, "We care about what we experience. Only by interacting with nature do we commit to protect it."
SPIBNCAS currently hosts over 80,000 visitors annually, including approximately 1,500 school students on field trips each academic year and summer. This grant will expand the outreach to more students, enabling SPIBNCAS to forge partnerships with schools, fostering informed citizenship and encouraging students to become protectors and researchers of the environment.
The mission of the South Padre Island Birding Nature Center and Alligator Sanctuary, a nonprofit organization established by South Padre Island’s Economic Development Corporation, is to educate the public about the local birds, flora, fauna, and natural environment, emphasizing conservation and environmental awareness.
Executive Director Cristin Howard-Enholm expressed excitement about the grant, stating, "This is our first grant award from the Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation. We look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with them. This will help us expand our nature camps and field trip opportunities. We are adding a South Texas Marine Life exhibit this coming year and look forward to developing new curriculum and experiences for our field trip students."
The Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation supports nonprofit agencies in 50 counties across South and Central Texas, and SPIBNCAS is eager to leverage this partnership for the betterment of environmental education in the region.
