As North Texas continues to grow, helping young people understand and protect the natural world has never been more important. The Dallas ISD Environmental Education Center (EEC) in Seagoville is giving students opportunities to experience science where it happens—outdoors.

Located on 500 acres of woodlands, wetlands and prairie, the center serves as an outdoor classroom where students investigate local ecosystems, identify native plants and wildlife, monitor water quality, explore sustainable agriculture and develop a deeper understanding of environmental stewardship through hands-on learning. Programs are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) science curriculum and encourage students to think critically about conservation, biodiversity and responsible resource management.

Throughout the year, students participate in guided field investigations, hike more than four miles of nature trails, conduct laboratory experiments, observe live animals and explore topics ranging from soil health and pollinator habitats to astronomy and fossil discovery. The campus also includes a working barn with livestock, vegetable, herb and flower gardens, an ecology theater, a fossil pavilion, nature play areas and an astronomical observatory that bring Earth and space sciences to life.

Beyond student field trips, the Environmental Education Center offers summer science enrichment programs, professional development workshops for educators and volunteer workdays that help maintain native gardens, trails and wildlife habitat. These experiences encourage environmental literacy while building observation, teamwork and problem-solving skills that students can apply both inside and outside the classroom.

Whether identifying aquatic insects in a pond, planting vegetables in the teaching gardens or observing migratory birds along the trails, students gain a firsthand appreciation for the natural systems that sustain North Texas communities. By connecting classroom learning with real-world exploration, the Dallas ISD Environmental Education Center is inspiring the next generation of North Texas environmental stewards to help protect our air and water quality, conserve natural resources and create healthier, more sustainable communities for years to come.

The Environmental Education Center is located at 1600 Bowers Road, Seagoville, TX 75159.

For more information, visit DallasISD.org/Environmental-Education-Center or call 972-749-6900.