Environmental Education

The Environmental Education Program provides an adaptive outdoor science and math curriculum and interactive learning activities through an outreach program at the retreat's nature preserve. The EEP targets special education and mainstream students enrolled in 1st-12th grade at twenty Texas public school districts, including and not limited to Killeen ISD, Temple ISD, Belton ISD, Academy ISD, McGregor ISD, Waco ISD, Round Rock ISD, Georgetown ISD, Leander ISD and Florence ISD.. PKRC partners with schools to incorporate hands-on educational activities that complement classroom lessons in the study of:

It has proven uniquely successful for students with special needs; improving standardized test scores, encouraging academic success, and preparing them for more independent lives after school. Approximately 3,500 students are expected to benefit from the EEP this year.

The Environmental Education Program is the nation’s first public school-based outdoor education program adapted exclusively for special education students that is conducted off campus on a continuing basis throughout the school year, as a collaborative venture between schools, treatment providers, medical staff, children with special needs and their families. The EEP is designed to adapt to the changing needs of students by meeting their individual and group needs. It capitalizes on the retreat’s natural resources, giving students learning experiences not found in the traditional classroom.

Participating schools provide transportation to and from the retreat, as well as the necessary staff (teachers, nurse clinicians, service personnel and parent volunteers). Learning activities at the retreat are coordinated with the district’s instructional staff and are directly related to each student’s Individual Education Plan.

Do the kids really learn AND have fun?

Creating a Love of Learning
The objectives of the EEP are to provide an experiential environmental science and math education program that will help meet the educational demands of students with developmental disabilities to:

• improve student performance in science, math, reading and writing
• meet goals set forth in the student’s Individualized Education Plan
• incorporate Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills into the curriculum to improve test scores
• improve disciplinary issues for teachers
• increase parent participation with the student’s education
• enrich the overall educational experience for children with special needs

PKRC partners with teachers and schools to meet these objectives by incorporating hands-on educational activities, complimenting classroom lessons in the study of:

Learning is an Adventure!
School groups learn about native Texas animals and enjoy a friendly competition. Divided into teams, students race to complete an outdoor animal classification quiz. They learn to identify and classify mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds and fish. Children get to find, see and touch nature’s inhabitant such as insects, spiders, birds and fish, creating a tactile awareness of the world around them.

Students build critical thinking skills by developing solutions to problems using environmental components. Through hiking and nature walks, students learn how to make decisions using a map, compass and natural markers. Small groups compete to collect hidden items or “puzzle pieces” on a scavenger hunt.

The EEP creates behavior change in students by helping them learn about the value of a responsible attitude toward their environment through recycling and composting projects. Students are shown man-made items that can be recycled and find out how to do so. Students also learn about creative avenues for reducing consumption and reusing natural resources. Participants are then challenged to make personal behavior changes at school and home, and discuss these practices with their family and friends.

EEP Story

Following is an excerpt of a letter from an Elementary Life Skills Teacher at Academy ISD. Her special education class participates in PKRC’s Environmental Education Program.

"I would like to share one visit to Peaceable Kingdom that stands out for my entire staff. We have a young man with autism who was basically non-verbal. On his first visit to Peaceable Kingdom we rode horses. He was on his horse for approximately 5 minutes when suddenly he began talk-ing. He started saying, 'I like the horse, the horse is brown' and he kept on talking for his entire ride. This young man became more verbal with each visit.

I truly believe we would not have seen such a significant breakthrough if he had not been afforded the opportunity to participate in all the wonderful hands on activities at PKRC."

EEP Partners

To schedule an outing for your school or class, contact Grant Critchfield at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.