![b2ap3_thumbnail_TCiN_01.jpg](/images/easyblog_images/1402/b2ap3_thumbnail_TCiN_01.jpg "Left to right: Carter Smith, Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department; Colleen McCue, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of Texas Marine Science Institute; and Richard Louv, Author, "Last Child in the Woods." Credit: Texas Children in Nature, Jennifer Bristol.")
At the Children & Nature Gala on April 7, 2015 the Texas Children in Nature (TCiN) initiative honored the regional leaders who volunteer their time to connect with the partners and families in their areas. No one is more deserving of a Nature Hero award than UTMSI’s Colleen McCue. Colleen is the volunteer and outreach coordinator for the Mission-Aransas Reserve. She also serves as the South Texas Regional Leader for Texas Children in Nature. Colleen’s dedication, passion and tireless work has helped TCiN to engage over 300 partners and connect almost 4 million children with nature across Texas.
"She is truly deserving of the Texas Children in Nature - Nature Hero Award. She is a thoughtful and strategic leader for the south Texas region and is so well respected by the partners in the area, as well as her peers around the state,” said Jennifer Bristol, State Coordinator for the Texas Children in Nature Network.
Under Colleen's leadership, the South Texas Region has done more outreach events and connected with more partners to helped raise awareness about why it is so important that we all work together to connect children and families with nature.
![b2ap3_thumbnail_TCiN_02.jpg](/images/easyblog_images/1402/b2ap3_thumbnail_TCiN_02.jpg "Left to right: Richard Louv, Author, "Last Child in the Woods"; Koy Coffer, Kerr County 4-H Agent Regional Leader; Colleen McCue, Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator, Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve, University of Texas Marine Science Institute; Jaime González, Conservation Education Director, Katy Prairie Conservancy; Molly Stevens, Executive Director, Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center; and Carter Smith, Executive Director, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Credit: Texas Children in Nature, Jennifer Bristol.")
Learn more about the initiative at http://texaschildreninnature.org/
Don’t forget to check out current outdoor activities in our region: http://www.naturerockssouthtexas.org/
