Strategic Plan

The mission of Texas Children in Nature is to ensure access and connection to nature for ALL children in Texas. In 2025 Texas Children in Nature Network released its latest Strategic Plan.

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Connect

Goals

  • Goal 1: Be a trusted hub for providers in the nature-outdoor community across the state
  • Goal 2: Foster strong connections within the network

Objectives:

  • Objective 1: By 2030, have 500 or more active members
  • Objective 2: Achieve 12 operational regional collaboratives
  • Objective 3: Host an annual summit that meets the needs of our communities’ professional development and networking needs, scoring a customer satisfaction score of 4.5 on a 5-point scale
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Empower

Goals

  • Goal 1: Build community capacity that fosters collaboration and systems change
  • Goal 2: Provide high-quality resources and training that empowers members

Objectives:

  • Objective 1: By 2030 increase the number of communities participating across Texas Children in Nature Network projects, ie, Nature Smart Libraries, Green Schoolyards, and Outdoor Learning Environments for Early Childhood Education, to 150 communities or more
  • Objective 2: Create and implement an evaluation plan for our resources and training
  • Objective 3: Increase and diversify funding sources and revenue streams that support our projects
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Amplify

Goals

  • Goal 1: Champion organizations and opportunities that increase children's access to nature across the state
  • Goal 2: Showcase the work of the Texas Children in Nature Network community through impactful, data-driven storytelling
  • Goal 3: Share research-driven, best practice strategies to engage children in nature

Objectives:

  • Objective 1: Increase the organization's marketing engagements and efforts by 10%
  • Objective 2: Prepare at least 12 Facilitators for Texas Children in Nature Network presentations and trainings
  • Objective 3: Create at least one educational resource biannually to inform stakeholders of our position

Thank You to Our Strategic Planning Partners

Board Members

  • Chair: Dr. Demekia Biscoe

  • Vice Chair: Marsha Towns

  • Past Chair: Dr. April Conkey

  • Treasurer: Keiji Asakura

  • Secretary: Jimena Vivanco

  • Britney Huynh

  • Amalia Sollars

  • Alferd Molina

  • Dr. Courtney Crim

  • Ted Stevens

  • Richard Heilbrun - Ex Officio

  • Dr. Rene Bartos

  • Melissa Mullins

  • Dr. Kelly Albus

  • Dr. Jay Maddock

  • David Buggs

Regional Leaders

  • Paso Del Norte: Kasi Munoz
  • Caprock: Sarah Coles
  • North Texas: Cheryl Potemkin and Anna Lewis
  • Heart of Texas: Sarah Coles
  • Austin: Ashleigh Pettus
  • Hill Country: Helen Holdsworth
  • San Antonio: Stephanie Regets
  • Pineywoods: Ted Stevens

  • Rio Grande Valley: Marisa Oliva

  • Coastal Bend: Angie Arredondo

  • Houston: Sarah Coles