High school athletes put a lot of effort into training, competing, and representing their schools, but they can also be champions for the environment…
1. Ditch the Single-Use BottlesPlastic water bottles are everywhere, but they’re also a huge contributor to waste. Instead of grabbing a new bottle…, 4. Go Paperless With Schedules and CommunicationsBetween practice schedules, game days, and team meetings, sports can generate a lot of paper.…, Making the switch to more sustainable practices might seem like a big challenge, but it’s the small changes that really add up. From ditching plastic…
March 4, 2025 - Honoring the outstanding storytelling of our middle and high school categories
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is proud to announce the 2025 Take Care of Texas video contest winners.
Every year, students from…, 1st Place: $2,500 scholarshipJoshua Burgos Rivera, 12th grade, Liberty Hill High School, Liberty Hill, TX
2nd Place: $1,500 scholarshipSegiv Eldridge…, 1st Place: $800 gift card toward camera equipmentAndrew Pierce, 8th grade, Hudson Bend Middle School, Austin, TX
2nd Place: $600 gift card toward…, To view the winning videos or learn more about the contest, visit the Take Care of Texas video contest page.
Each first-place winner will be…
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality invites Texas students enrolled in grades 6–12 to participate in the Take Care of Texas Video Contest.…
Participating students must upload their entry before 5:00 p.m. CST Friday, Dec. 5, 2025, CST, with the required documents. TCEQ is not…,
Video must portray positive ways Texans can protect the environment, including keeping the air clean, keeping the water clean, conserving water,…, All Texas middle- and high-school students—whether from public, charter, or private schools or homeschooled—are eligible to participate. Applicants…, The entries will be divided into two age groups, middle school and high school. TCEQ staff, the public, TCEQ executive staff and commissioners, and…, There will be six big winners and WMTX will provide the prizes.
Winners will be announced in February. Specific date to be announced.
Prizes for…
April 16, 2025 - Three Texas elementary students win the Take Care of Texas Art Contest
Each year, students from kindergarten through fifth grade are challenged to create a picture that represents how they Take Care of Texas with the…
Bathrooms can be one of the most wasteful places in our homes, behind the kitchen. From toothpaste tubes to shampoo bottles, a lot of plastic waste…
Upgrade your comb and toothbrush If you’re in the market for a new comb or toothbrush, upgrade to one made from bamboo! Bamboo is a renewable…, Take showers More than half of all indoor water use takes place in the bathroom. Baths can use roughly twice as much water as a 10-minute shower…, Add plants Adding plants into your bathroom is a natural way to clean the air. Peace lilies, spider plants, pothos, and ZZ plants are great…, Use eco-friendly cleaners
For tough stains on tubs, make a paste using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Spread the paste on the stains, let…, Make your own detergent
Similar to cleaning products, laundry detergent can be made with just a few ingredients.
8 cups of hot water…
Video MUST be 30 seconds long.
Videos MUST feature horizontal (wide) orientation, like a movie screen.
Vertical (tall) videos will be…
All statistics used in your video should come from the TakeCareOfTexas.org website. We recommend choosing actions from only one category (Air, Water…
Plant native flowers and trees
Save Fuel
Carpool, bike, walk, take public transportation
Avoid idling
Check the pressure on your tires
Conserve…,
Ways to reduce water usage
Turning off the faucet when not in use
Take shorter showers
Water your lawn during the late evening and early morning…,
Reduce waste
Composting food scraps, leaves, and twigs
Recycle bottles, cans, cardboard, and more
Use reusable bags, bottles, utensils, etc
Stop…
Want to enjoy fresh, homegrown produce without the hassle of a high-maintenance garden? Indoor gardening is the perfect solution—especially when you…
Leafy greens are some of the easiest and most rewarding vegetables to grow indoors. They don’t need deep soil, they grow quickly, and many of them…, Herbs are a must for indoor gardening—compact, fragrant, and perfect for windowsill growing. Rotate herb pots every few days if the sunlight is…, Though less common for indoor gardens, root vegetables like radishes and carrots can be grown in deep containers. Use loose, well-draining soil so…, Microgreens are nutrient-packed baby greens harvested just after the first leaves appear. Popular options are radish, broccoli, kale, mustard greens…, Yes, you can grow strawberries indoors! With a bit more care, they’ll reward you with sweet, fresh fruit all year. Choose day-neutral varieties, as…, Light: Most indoor edibles need 4–8 hours of light per day. A sunny south-facing window is ideal. Supplement with LED grow lights if natural light is…
Ever feel like your garden is a little dramatic? Maybe your basil is thriving, but your tomatoes look like they’ve had a rough night? It might not…
Think of companion planting as the roommate system of the garden. Some plants make great roommates! They share resources, fend off pests, and just…, 1. Tomatoes + BasilNot just a culinary power couple! Basil actually improves the flavor of tomatoes and repels nasty bugs like mosquitoes and flies.…, 1. Tomatoes + CornBoth attract the same pests, especially the corn earworm (aka tomato fruitworm in disguise). Putting them together is like inviting…, Good companion planting means:• Fewer pests (because who wants to hand-pick bugs?)• Healthier plants (…
As educators, we have a unique opportunity to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious citizens. By modeling and teaching sustainable…
Waste reduction is one of the easiest and most impactful steps teachers can take. Keep reading for more habits that can influence students’ future…, Labs can consume a surprising amount of energy and water. With small adjustments, you can significantly cut usage. Read below for some energy and…, Chemistry labs are prime spots to introduce greener alternatives and safer practices similar to those listed below.
Choose safer chemicals: Replace…, Students are more likely to adopt sustainable habits if they see their teachers practicing them and if they’re actively involved. Try some of these…
You don’t have to be a homeowner to make your living space greener. Take Care of Texas has compiled a list of easy, renter-friendly ways to live more…
Change or clean your AC filter monthly
This may not be a chore that’s on your monthly to-do list—or one that’s even on your radar—but regularly…, Use nontoxic cleaning solutions
Keep your home spotless without the harsh chemicals! Glass cleaner, multipurpose spray, drain cleaner, and more can…, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Incorporating the three Rs into your daily habits can reduce waste and conserve resources. Think: using reusable grocery bags…, Thrift for furniture
The EPA estimates that nearly 12 million tons of furniture waste is generated annually. Buying secondhand furniture from thrift…, Sustainability isn’t just for homeowners! Checking for leaks, adjusting your thermostat, and utilizing natural light are easy actions you can take…
You don’t need expensive gadgets or complicated systems to improve your indoor air quality. In fact, some of the most effective strategies for…
Stale indoor air can trap dust, allergens, and even toxins from everyday activities like cooking or cleaning. Natural ventilation is one of the…, Many conventional cleaning products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and harsh chemicals that linger in the air long after you clean.…, Nature offers some of the best tools for indoor air quality, and you don’t need a green thumb to benefit.
Add air-purifying houseplants like spider…
College life moves fast—assignments, classes, parties, and everything in between. But in the rush of it all, students have a unique opportunity to…
The everyday tasks of student life—taking notes, completing assignments, working on projects—all have one trait in common: paper. Over the semester,…, Social events are a big part of student life, but they can also generate a lot of unnecessary waste. Fortunately, small choices at parties and…, Whether you're grabbing a snack between classes or packing lunch for a study session, your food habits can afford sustainability too.
Use Reusables…,
Lead by Example: Everyday actions—bringing a reusable water bottle, recycling properly, or biking to class—can inspire others to do the same. You…, Sustainability doesn't have to mean sacrifice. In fact, it's often the small, consistent actions that leave the biggest impact—especially in a…
Congratulations to the 2025 K-5 Art Contest Winners!
The 2025 Take Care of Texas Kids Art Contest has officially ended—thank you to all the…
The best way to Take Care of Texas is by learning about how we affect the natural environment of our state on a personal and community level. By…
Here you’ll find a wide variety of educational resources for teachers, parents, and students of all ages. Through using our resources as a program of…