TedXSFA 2014
In 2014 I was invited to speak at a TED conference in Nacogdoches. My presentation detailed the development of my curriculum combining the works of master artists with outdoor science lessons.
iNaturalist
In 2015 after seeing a workshop at a Children in Nature Network conference I started observing and cataloging organisms on iNaturalist. I created a project for our campus and with the help of students and staff we mapped hundreds of species around our facility and the data is shared with other projects around the world. iNaturalist provided a platform for students to interact with working scientists.
Texas TP&W Mussel Watch
Since 1999 I have been doing regular surveys of the mussel populations on Lake Livingston. Over the years I have collected and identified 1000s of mussels with my students and staff. The data has offered valuable insight into what species are in Lake Livingston and how quickly populations recover after catastrophic events. We have even identified incredibly rare species.
Wood Duck Nest Project
Since the 1980's we have maintained about 30 wood duck nest boxes on Lake Livingston. I took over the project in 1998. Students assist with the maintenance and monitoring of the nesting. The boxes are about 90% successful. All boxes are geolocated and mapped on Google Maps. Data is uploaded every year and linked to the school website so students can monitor the box they worked on.
Sand Forensics Lesson
I created a sand forensics lesson where students identify characteristics of sand to solve a fictional murder. Student examine sand for size, shape, color, and sorting. Local samples of sand were specifically chosen to illustracte various geologic concepts such as weathering and erosion.
Ashley Dang Wins TCEQ Environmental Excellence Award.
Ashley Dang, a stellar example of the kind of staff I employed, earned recognition by the state of Texas for her role in ongoing projects for HISD at the Outdoor Education Center