San Marcos CISD Awarded TPWD Grant to Expand Outdoor Education Program

As many of you may have already heard, San Marcos CISD was one of 20 organizations in the state of Texas to be awarded a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife to expand our district’s outdoor education program starting in the 2020/2021 school year. This will truly enable our district to get our students moving and learning in the outdoors through nontraditional activities and lessons.

Through this grant, we will be able to purchase mountain bikes and helmets, archery and geocaching equipment, camping gear, cameras for outdoor photography and much more. In addition to the equipment, we were also able to partner with local businesses and organizations such as Galaxy Bikes, Texas Outdoor Families, Paddle SMTX, San Marcos River Foundation and of course the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance. Our district is looking forward to fulfilling these partnerships and getting our students out and exploring San Marcos’ wonderful green spaces and teaching them the wonders of outdoor stewardship and education. Be on the lookout for many wonderful things to come!!

— Dylan Jones, Crockett Elementary/Miller Middle School

** SMGA contributed a letter of support for this grant application, which resulted in an award of $49,323. As Texas Parks and Wildlife noted, the local school district’s Outdoor Education Program “provides extensive outdoor skill instruction at all elementary schools and in middle and high school outdoor adventure classes. More than 4,600 students learn archery, fishing, nature photography, camping, orienteering and mountain biking. Additionally, district staff trained by the Texas Outdoor Family program offer students and families free day and overnight workshops at nearby parks. San Marcos CISD expanded its successful high school outdoor education program to all elementary, middle and high schools in the district to provide these opportunities.”