We believe investing in education is one of the most meaningful ways you can preserve Galveston Bay for generations to come. Our education programs get students of all ages outdoors and connected with nature through hands-on STEM curriculum helping to inspire youth to become the future stewards of the Bay. The K-12 TEKS-aligned programs below represent just a few from our more comprehensive education portfolio.
For questions or more detailed information on our education programs, contact Cindy Wilems at cwilems@galvbay.org
“At Home With The Bay” is a virtual series of engaging environmental education lessons taught by Galveston Bay Foundation’s staff. Lessons include a lab, conservation craft, talk with a Bay biologist and an activity of the week. Each lesson comes with an accompanying activity guide available for download here.
If you participate in these lessons, we’d love to hear from you! Please fill out this survey about your experience.
This project was created in partnership with NOAA
GBF educators bring the Bay to your K-12 students via classroom STEM workshops. These interactive, hands-on programs are an easy way to integrate the local environment into your curriculum.
FREE for this school year via an EPA grant through the Galveston Bay Estuary Program! Check out the Program Document before registering.
Want to learn more about a specific workshop topic and review vocabulary, activities, & photos? Review our Bay to Schools 1-pagers here.
Wetland Connections is a year-long program that connects 6-12th grade students to the bay through nature journaling and data collection with mini-campus wetlands, a series of STEM classroom workshops, and a spring field experience at a local wetland on Galveston Bay.
The overarching goal for Wetland Connections is to deepen student knowledge and connection with the Galveston Bay wetland ecosystem while learning how to conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection via the water quality testing and nature journaling components of the program.
Space is limited and applications are due by August 16th. Check out the Program Document and apply below.
Bring your students to the Bay! Our field experiences engage 1st-12th grade students in the local ecosystem via inquiry-based activities where they gain experience using scientific field equipment and increase their observation skills.
NEW THIS YEAR: We’ve combined activities into “Themes” where each theme has a driving question for students to explore and answer as they go through the day. Check out the Program Document before registering.
If you want your students to participate in a one-day, hands-on service learning event at a site around the Bay, Students in Action is for your class! 3rd – 12th grade students help to protect the health of the Bay by planting marsh grass, creating oyster reefs, collecting nurdles, or picking up trash – all while creating a connection to Galveston Bay that will last a lifetime. Through this work, students also learn about environmental careers and stewardship opportunities that await them!
Please review the program document here before you register for a field experience.
GBF Educators can lead professional development workshops at schools and at one of our field sites for an immersive learning experience. Galveston Bay Foundation is a certified continuing professional education (CPE) provider for the State of Texas. Email Cindy Wilems at cwilems@galvbay.org to book a PD workshop.
Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities!
The Pod: A free rolling trunk filled with activities, lessons, and materials to introduce Galveston Bay dolphins to your class.
Curriculum and Digital Resources: Click the link below to view and download our free local environmental education resources below:
Science of Galveston Bay Curriculum: K-12th
Virtual Watershed Education and Training (V-WET) connects students with research occurring along the Gulf Coast in an engaging virtual format to increase environmental literacy and STEM skills. The tours below include a full curriculum package with teacher guides, tour maps, student worksheets, and an action project to further engage student learning.
Phytoplankton in Galveston Bay: Tour Texas A&M University Galveston’s Phytoplankton Dynamics Lab to learn more about their research focused on phytoplankton as model organisms to address questions related to water, climate, and energy. Funded by a NOAA B-WET grant.
Coastal Fisheries in Galveston Bay: Tour NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center to learn how they provide the scientific advice and data needed to effectively manage the living marine resources of the Southeast region of the United States and Atlantic high seas. Funded by a NOAA B-WET grant.
Shark Biology & Fisheries Science in the Gulf : Tour Texas A&M University Galveston’s Shark Biology and Fisheries Science Lab to learn biological and ecological research methods to better understand species movement dynamics, life history, and impacts to fishery resources. Funded by a NOAA B-WET grant.
Did you complete a V-WET Tour with your students? Want to share student Action Projects? We’d love to hear from you!
