About the Nonprofit
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Since 1984, the Valley Nature Center has introduced thousands of students and families to the sciences, sustainability, and the wonders of nature. Students from across the Valley are being introduced to natural science concepts and conservation principles through our outdoor classrooms and environmental education facilities. Educators benefit from teacher in-service training and support, along with materials in English and Spanish. Visitors attend seminars presented by local and national experts. Parents find family-oriented activities and a six-acre nature park fillied with winding trails and wetlands to explore. Bird watchers from around the world know this as a "must see" destination in one of the most biologically diverse areas of the United States. Not only do students need a foundation in science, but they must also have the capacity to sustain the jobs and revenue generated by ecotourism, a $463 million per year industry our four border counties, and other natural resource industries to fight systemic poverty. Located in the City of Weslaco's Gibson Park, the Valley Nature Center is a secret garden in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley that impacts people and wildlife on local, statewide, and global levels. Through collaboration with a wide diversity of public and private sector partners we achieve common goals, increase efficiency, and conserve resources. The Valley Nature Center has joined the elite few organizations who have been twice recognized by the Texas governor's office by reciving the Environmental Excellence Award in the Civic/Community category in 2017 and the Education category in 2023.
