A student-led environmental education program is making waves across Far West Texas. The Big Bend River Rangers, an initiative originally launched at Lucy Rede Franco Middle School in Presidio, is now connecting students from Presidio, Marfa, Alpine, and Terlingua with the Rio Grande and other local ecosystems through hands-on science and conservation.
Created by the late Presidio High School teacher Patt Sims, the program engages students in environmental science, outdoor activities, and resource stewardship. Participants learn about water quality, ecology, and conservation through field trips and guest lectures from experts in the region.
One of the key monthly activities includes water quality monitoring along the Rio Grande, with students collecting and testing water samples at the mouth of Colorado Canyon in Big Bend Ranch State Park—about 40 miles downstream from Presidio.
Layla Spurlock, park ranger and interpreter at Big Bend Ranch State Park, recently joined the group to speak about the Rio Grande’s flow and its role in sustaining life and communities in the Big Bend.
Support for the program began with Lucy Rede Franco Middle School Principal Rogelio Zubia, science teacher Danica Romanban, and former science teacher Belinda Dolino, and has since grown with the backing of the Big Bend Conservation Alliance.
In addition to the high school program, the Big Bend River Rangers COLLAB offshoot introduces younger students to outdoor learning through guided activities. In one recent trip, Presidio ISD fourth graders explored Davis Mountains State Park with Ranger Charlie—many experiencing their first hike.
From testing water samples to exploring state parks, the Big Bend River Rangers program is cultivating a new generation of environmental stewards deeply connected to the region’s land, water, and future.
Image Source: https://www.bigbendconservationalliance.org/projects/big-bend-river-rangers
