STEMS Mentor Club

Day 2 continued traveling North to Langtry while stopping for some scenic views along the way. Our next stop was the Texas Travel Information Center in Langtry which provides multiple services. In addition to containing information on many Texas parks, it also shows the colorful History of Judge Roy Bean, and provides a native plant and cactus garden.

While also stopping for lunch the students got to explore Judge Roy Beans saloon/court house, walk along trails seeing the native plants of the area, and saw a number of birds. The birds seen included Phainopepla, Curve-billed Thrasher, and Cactus Wren to name a few.

On Day Two we went to Brackettville for the Fort Clark Days. A long standing tradition that showcases the heritage of the area, blending history with entertainment.

The students experienced living historian presentation from Lipan Apaches, Cannon firing, and a variety of other activities. They even had the chance to use atlatls and other old hunting tools.

https://www.fortclarkdays.org/

It was an interesting morning experience some of the history of the West Texas area, with more to come....

This past weekend March 7-10, we took a group of San Benito High School students on a West and Central Texas Camping Trip.

On day one after leaving the Valley at 5:30 am our first stop was to Seminole Canyon State Park - Texas Parks and Wildlife. We spent two nights in the park. It was the first time some of these students had ever been camping.

Stay tuned for the rest of our adventure.....

Last week we volunteered for a Green Powered car race at MSR Houston.

We had student teams from Texas: San Benito, Weslaco, Edcouch-Elsa, and Angleton. And students form Oxford Alabama. All competing to be number one in their category.

Despite some passing storms with heavy rain and wind the students continued to race in the rain and shine.

On July 18th we took a group of 60 students from Pittman Elementary in Raymondville to Sabal Palm Sanctuary

The students had the opportunity to do activities like a Nature Hike, exploring some of the Sanctuary trails and seeing the local wildlife. A Nature Scavenger Hunt, where the students learned about the app SEEK. And learning about plant identification and pressing leaves.

The students enjoyed visiting Sabal Palm Sanctuary for the first time. Not only did they get to hold a cicada shell in their hands they had the opportunity to see one emerging from its shell.

Check out what birds we saw and heard during our nature hike.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S187790952

On May 14th we took the San Benito High School STEMS students to Sabal Palm Sanctuary

Sabal Palm Sanctuary is 557 acre nature reserve located in Brownsville, Texas. Visitors can see the last remaining Sabal Palm forest, with public access, in the US. In addition to viewing wildlife visitors can see the history of the Old Rabb Plantation House.

Our students had the opportunity to go on a nature walk seeing
native South Texas wildlife including the Green Jay, Great Kiskadee, and a Speckled Racer. In addition the students also got to participate in some activities with Nerdvana creating little 3D printed models.

Our checklist of birds seen https://ebird.org/checklist/S174586660

This was the 2024 National Championship at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama for the Greenpower USA car races.

Greenpower USA National Championship at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.

Four states and two days of traveling, but we made it to the National Championship and got to see students from the Rio Grande Valley compete in greenpower car races against students from all over the nation.