Our education program is multifaceted and takes place in the classroom, on the land, and in partnership with many organizations that are helping to lead the way in natural resource conservation education. We deliver programming, knowledge, and leadership skills to students in South Texas, including underserved communities, benefiting the region now and in the future.
East Foundation partners with the Witte Museum to bring the Land Stewardship Ambassadors (LSA) program to students in Bexar, Cameron, and Webb counties. The program increases awareness of land stewardship principles, promotes civil engagement in today’s youth, and inspires students to obtain careers that support land stewardship. This course is a reading and writing intensive course, and through interactive experiences, career exploration, and the study of stewardship, students learn how to be a voice for Texas!
We select three groups of 15 high school students from Bexar, Cameron, and Webb counties who have an interest in the environment, the outdoors, and developing personal leadership skills. They complete assignments and participate in two-hour sessions each week that explore topics such as the history of conservation, principles of wildlife management, managing our watersheds, human dimensions of land stewardship, the role politics play in natural resource management, the economic engine of natural resource management, and the importance of gender and ethnic diversity within user groups.
At the end of the semester-long program, students give a public presentation about a topic related to land stewardship. Students who successfully complete the 10-session program earn a $400 stipend. To qualify for the stipend, students must participate in seven out of the eight initial sessions and the two overnight sessions and complete all reading and writing assignments. There is no cost for the student to participate; we provide all materials for the course, in addition to transportation, food, and lodging for the overnight trips.
The Land Stewardship Ambassadors program is generously supported by SWBC, the Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation, and the San Antonio Livestock Exposition.
The 15 students chosen from each county will meet in their respective counties: The Bexar County cohort meets at the Witte Museum, the Cameron County cohort meets at Camp Rio at Historic Lula Sams in Brownsville, and the Webb County cohort meets at Falcon Bank in Laredo.
More info about LSA can be found here.
Schedule for Spring 2025
November 1, 2024 - Application deadline
December 8, 2024 (Mandatory) - Parent/student information session
January 11-12, 2025 (Mandatory) - Overnight at the Witte Museum in San Antonio*
January 26, 2025
February 2, 9, & 23, 2025
March 2, 16, 23, & 30, 2025
April 5-6, 2025 (Mandatory) - Overnight at the San Antonio Viejo Ranch near Hebbronville*
April 30, 2025 - Deadline for all projects
May 2025 - Exact dates TBD
Graduation celebration at each cohort location.
*Transportation to overnight locations and meals while in sessions are provided.
Qualifications
- Students must be freshmen, sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school.
- Students should have an interest in the environment, outdoors, and in developing personal leadership skills.
- Students must be able to commit to participating in the full course.
Contact Information
Bexar County
Helen Holdsworth – helenholdsworth@wittemuseum.org
Cameron County
Elisa Velador – evelador@eastfoundation.net
Tina Buford – tbuford@eastfoundation.net
Webb County
Masi Mejia – mmejia@eastfoundation.net
Student Testimonials
