NACOGDOCHES, Texas — Stephen F. Austin State University professors recently received a grant that will fund camping trips to state parks for Nacogdoches middle schoolers.
Associate professor Dr. Sarah Straub and assistant professor Dr. Melissa Hulings were awarded Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Community Outdoor Outreach Program grant. The funding totals just under $98,500. Dr. Summer Koltonski, assistant professor of education studies, has also joined the program to support programming for students with special needs.
The money will be used to support the East Texas Adventurers program, which includes four camping trips for Nacogdoches ISD's McMichael Middle School students to interact with and learn from nature, according to the university.
"I am thrilled to once again collaborate with McMichael Middle School for the East Texas Adventurers program," Straub said. "Working alongside returning teachers and administrators is so exciting because we can bring in the lessons we learned from our first go-around to make the experience so much better for our students. I can't wait to continue the exploration, discovery and connections through our adventures!"
The James I. Perkins College of Education faculty members will partner with local state parks, such as Mission Tejas, Caddo Lake and Tyler, to have overnight camping trips that foster a deeper connection to nature and engage students in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.
“Each of the four camping adventures will focus on a different topic that directly relates to student learning in the classroom through a variety of activities,” Hulings said. “I am most excited about seeing students connect with the outdoors and see how their learning in the classroom can be applied to their lives. I hope that children participating in this project will gain an appreciation for the outdoors and develop a greater connection to their local environments and parks.”
The professors will start to look for adventure counselors this spring. Those interested in outdoor overnight adventures can email Straub at straubsm@sfasu.edu for more information.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to integrate outdoor experiences into our collaboration, thanks to our invaluable partnership with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,” Straub said. “By combining our efforts, we aim not only to enrich the academic journey of the students but also instill in them a profound appreciation for nature and the world around them.”