Employees open nature's window for students

The work of Channelview, Texas, employees will allow students a closer look at nature’s beauty. Employees constructed two observatory platforms, an aquatic study station and other facilities at Sheldon Lake as part of the park’s Environmental Learning Center.

Sheldon Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center is a 2,800-acre outdoor education and recreation facility located in northeast Harris County outside of Houston, Texas. This green and blue oasis surrounded by suburban sprawl provides area students a window to observe wild creatures and study local vegetation.

More than 3,000 students visit the park each year to walk along the half-mile nature trail that passes 28 naturalized ponds within the 400 acres of marsh and swampland containing alligators and other wildlife. Visitors also may see deer, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, ducks, geese and occasionally bald eagles during the winter months. Lyondell’s observatories give students a safe and open view of nature that they would otherwise never encounter.

Future plans include a new Visitor Learning Center with cabins and camping area facilities to accommodate teachers who will attend environmental education seminars and learning sessions on site so the amenities at Sheldon can be made a part of their classroom curriculum.