Texas Forestry Association (TFA) presented the 2019 Forestry Innovation Award to Virtually Wild! Texas during the Association’s annual convention held Oct. 16-18, 2019, at The Fredonia Hotel in Nacogdoches, Texas.
“Based out of Houston, Texas, Virtually Wild! Texas highlights the important work done by a diversity of partners, including federal, state, city and non-profit partners,” said Rob Hughes, Executive Director of Texas Forestry Association. “Educational materials cover nature-related topics, ranging from monarch migration to reptile adaptations to forest management.”
Virtually Wild! Texas is a nature program designed for schools, hospitals and other institutions that serve students and young people with limited access to nature’s natural resources. The goal of the virtual field trips is to provide TEKS correlated and site-based nature-related activities that educators access from the classroom or other indoor settings. The virtual experience brings to life wildlife stories from the Houston region. Approximately 7,000 students from more than 30 classrooms, home schools, and medical facilities across the state of Texas have been reached since the program’s inception in 2016.
“TFA is proud to present this award to Virtually Wild! Texas for the innovative way they used technology to take nature to children, some of whom might not otherwise or seldom experience it,” Hughes said.