In honor of this family’s multigenerational commitment to the conservation of their ranchlands in the Hill Country and Trans-Pecos regions of West Texas; decades of financial support to conservation and environmental organizations through the Shield-Ayres Foundation; the vision, execution and support of Camp El Ranchito, a program of the Shield Ranch Foundation now in its 16th year, having served more than 1,000 children in Central Texas;...

Magaly has consistently shown up to support connecting young people in Austin to nature throughout various positions. With Austin's Urban Forest Program as a Youth Program Specialist she took on the difficult task of launching and facilitating the inaugural Youth Forest Council. Since leaving the Urban Forest Program, Magaly worked with Allgo, where she applied for and received a Roots & Wings Festival Microgrant in 2021 to host a...

Susana saw a disconnect in her community between her neighbors and nature. With her work with Chicana in Nature she sought to make a difference by starting a hiking group specifically for residents Dallas/Fort Worth and Latinos to create a safe and welcoming space for people who did not see themselves outdoors. She regularly leads outdoor experiences and engages with families not only at local Dallas/Fort Worth spots but also leads trips to...

For many years the San Antonio River Authority has been sharing nature experiences with the residents of San Antonio, serving both as a municipal water authority, but also, as an environmental educational entity in the city. In 2021 The San Antonio River Authority launched the ‘Don’t Let Litter Trash Your River’ (DLLTYR) Initiative. A study was conducted to measure the success of the school field programs, results showed a positive and...

Green Space Learning brings nature play to children across Texas. Led by founder Audrey Rowland, Green Space's entire business model centers around the importance of play, especially outdoor and nature play. Green Space provides teacher training on nature play, as well as designs, builds, and installs custom nature play spaces for early childhood programs. Green Space is committed to educating early childhood educators, program directors and...