Name: Champions Awards Luncheon
Start: 2018-12-06T11:45:00-0600
End: 2018-12-06T13:15:00-0600

Join the Texas Children in Nature network at the annual Summit and Champions Luncheon. The Summit will bring together leaders from the conservation, education, health, faith and built-environments to share best practices and new innovations that will inspire others to take action.

Texas Children in Nature (TCiN) is a program of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. TCiN supports the network of over 500 partner organizations who are dedicated to creating equitble access to nature for children and families. Research shows that children who learn and play in nature are healthier, happier and smarter. Join us this year at the Summit and find out why Texas continues to lead the children in nature movement to connect over 3 million children with nature each year.

Location: Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina, 707 North Shoreline Boulevard, Corpus Christi, TX 78401
Register for this event by clicking on the Ticket button below. Once you are registered you can manage your schedule and networking events.

Registration includes: Access to all sessions, breakfast on Dec. 6 & 7 and access to the Champions Luncheon.

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Champions Awards Luncheon

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Winners of the Texas Children in Nature Champions of Children in Nature:
Health:
Department of State Health Services (DSHS): For their Outdoor Learning Environments (OLE!) Texas initiative to improve the outdoor spaces of childcare centers to facilitate more active play and increase a child’s connection with nature. DSHS brings together other state agencies and non-profits to engage childcare centers, landscape designers, and the community to offer trainings and technical advice to improve children’s health and wellness through an increased connection with nature.
Education:
Flour Bluff Independent School District: For their outstanding work to engage students with conservation education via the Junior Master Naturalist, Citizen Science programs, Birding Clubs, and Nature Clubs. The district embraces learning outdoors with natural classrooms and play areas that connect students, teachers, and the surrounding community to local nature.
Community:
Coastal Bend Bays Foundation: For their efforts to bring the community together at events such as Earth Day, Bay Day, Adopt-a-Beach and other programs that highlight the value of the Coastal Bend ecosystems. CBBF programs give children and families a sense of place through a connection with the near-by nature.
Access:
City of Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department: For providing equitable access to the outdoors at over 190 parks, with a special focus on a connection with natural areas at the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve and Learning Center, Hans & Pat Suter Wildlife Refuge and Blucher Park. Programs at the Oso Bay Wetlands Preserve provide children and families a chance understand the wildlife and ecosystems they live with.

Speakers

Jennifer Bristol

Author, Texas Children In Nature

Jennifer L. Bristol is the author of Parking Lot Birding: A Fun Guide to Discovering Birds in Texas and has contributed articles about nature exploration to Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine and the Children & Nature Network. Her current writing projects with Texas A&M University... Read More →

Rodney Franklin

Division Director for State Parks, Texas Parks and Wildlife- State Parks

Rodney Franklin is the Director for State Parks. Rodney started his career with TPWD working as a seasonal employee at a small historic site in Paris, Texas – the Sam Bell Maxey House. After graduating from Texas A&M, he went on to manage that site and was later promoted to Lake... Read More →