Camp Fire Receives Outdoor Education Grant from Anita Berry Martin Memorial Fund at North Texas Community Foundation, a Camp Fire First Texas blog

Camp Fire First Texas has received funding from the Anita Berry Martin Memorial Fund at North Texas Community Foundation to support its Texas Outdoor Education Center (TxOEC).

The $7,500 grant will support the Texas Outdoor Education Center that operates at Camp Fire Camp El Tesoro in Granbury. During the school year, hundreds of students from across North Texas spend one to five days at camp taking part in hands-on scientific experiences to learn about and care for the natural environment.

Trained staff lead students through both formal and informal activities to introduce and reinforce scientific concepts and competencies required for their grade level. Everything from astronomy, fossils studies, and cookouts are used as real life examples to build dialogue and understanding around scientific content.

“What I value about our experience with Camp Fire’s outdoor education program is my students learn more than just the lessons needed for success in the classroom,” a 5th grade science teacher shared. “They walk away with new, life-long skills that they will carry with them.”

With supporting funds from the Susi and Mike Bickley Charitable Fund, the Conservation and Environment Fund, the Anita Berry Martin Memorial Endowment Fund, and the Helen D. and R.E. (Bob) Wallace Foundation Fund, the North Texas Community Foundation awarded a total of $373,300 to the following organizations:

Animal Welfare – Dogs, Cats and Horses

  • Allie’s Haven Animal Rescue: For the veterinary care of abused and neglected cats and dogs.
  • Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society: For the purchase of hay and for the support of the rescued, neglected, abused and
    abandoned horses to be adopted out.
  • Buster’s Friends: To support spay/neuter surgeries, specialty animal care, vaccinations and support animal foster homes.
  • Don’t Forget to Feed Me: To purchase cat and dog food to distribute to the community.
  • Friends of Arlington Animal Services: To provide spay/neuter surgeries for feral cats served through the Trap-Neuter-Return program and heartworm treatment for dogs.
  • Humane Society of North Texas: To build a fenced-in quarantine area and support the welfare of equine rescued from cruelty in their Johnson County facility; to purchase elevated pet beds for the dogs in the Fort Worth shelter.
  • Mid-Cities Community Cats: To provide medical care and medication for feral cats served through the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return program.
  • Panther City Feral Cat Coalition: To provide medical care for injured and ill cats who are feral or abandoned.
  • Parker County Sheriff’s Office: To provide specialized veterinary services for the abandoned, abused and neglected horses in Parker County.
  • Ranch Hands Rescue: General operations support for animal-assisted therapy services.
  • Remember Me Rescue: To build an obstacle course for training purposes to enhance adoptability of the retired race horses in the rescue.
    Saving Hope Animal Rescue Fund: To support the animals in the Fort Worth rescue waiting for adoption.

Equine Therapy

  • All Star Equestrian Foundation: To purchase hay for the herd of therapy horses.
  • MHMR Visions: To provide equine therapy for teens in the MHMR Adolescent Residential program.
  • New Hope Equine Assisted Therapy: For the purchase of a new utility vehicle to transport feed to each paddock.
  • Riding Unlimited: To purchase hay for the herd of therapy horses.
  • S.T.E.P.S With Horses: For the purchase of a portable storage shed.
  • Stars and Strides Therapeutic Riding Center: To support veterinary expenses and farrier services for elderly equine.
  • Texas Christian University: To provide equine therapy services for TCU students.
  • Victory Therapy Center: To support veterinary expenses and farrier services of their equine.
  • Wings of Hope: For construction of two paddocks and a horse stock with a concrete pad.

Land Conservation

  • Camp Fire First Texas: To provide support for Title 1 schools to attend the Texas Outdoor Education Center.
  • City of Fort Worth: To support the Open Space Conservation Program as they prepare Broadcast Hill Natural Area for public use through trail development, invasive species control and sign installation.
  • Fort Worth Report: To support environmental and conservation reporting.
  • Great Plains Restoration Council: For the prairie restoration work with the participants in the Restoration Not Incarceration™ program.
  • National Wildlife Federation: To help the recovery of monarch butterflies through empowering Fort Worth ISD students, teachers and community members to create milkweed habitats.
  • University of North Texas Foundation: To support the continued efforts to reestablish, protect and conserve 85 acres of prairie lands at Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area.

Those interested can learn more about Camp Fire’s Texas Outdoor Education Center here.

About Camp Fire First Texas

Camp Fire First Texas invests in North Texas communities by providing out-of-school time and outdoor learning programs for children and youth while also offering workforce development programs for early childhood educators. We envision a community in which every child has equitable access to the learning opportunities they need to succeed and thrive in a rapidly changing world.

About North Texas Community Foundation

North Texas Community Foundation drives meaningful change through charitable investment. The Foundation helps donors meet the needs of our community by providing tax-efficient strategies to support the causes they care about most. At the core of everything we do is a network of generous individuals, families and businesses intent on shaping the future of North Texas for good, forever. The Foundation has $519 million in assets and made grants totaling approximately $30 million in 2021. Learn more at northtexascf.org.