Artist Boat has worked with many school districts in the Galveston/Houston area to implement a robust educational out of school time program where students were introduced to the Galveston Bay watershed and the interconnected impacts that humans have on this planet through Science and Art and created lasting public art to translate their knowledge to others. 

At these campuses, students created “visual learning legacies” in the form of a 8’x4’ large-scale acrylic murals. The murals tell the story of Galveston Bay from their neighborhood - how it is fed by the Trinity and San Jacinto Rivers, how the land is utilized, and how that water eventually flows into the Gulf. The murals showcase the unique organisms that thrive in the fresh water wetlands, oak motte, coastal prairie, salt water wetlands, dune and beach environments from all across the Texas coastline. Each school is uniquely depicted on the murals – surrounded by local human infrastructure such as roads, neighborhoods, refineries, and the city of Houston. Throughout the planning, designing, and implementation process of creating these murals, the students were able to visually see the connection between their homes, and how deeply interconnected humans are with the fragile and resilient ecosystems that surround them. 

During our time with students in summer or after school, students were provided a succinct lesson, art project, and discussion of tangible action steps the students can take to work through environmental challenges. Students engaged in a variety of hands-on lessons to learn about the watershed, create art, and meet natural resource organizations working to improve the quality of Galveston Bay. The collaboration between these schools and grant partners will serve as inspiration for future Galveston Bay stewards for many years to come.