Lufkin Middle School teacher Jennifer Stover is working on her master’s degree. During the fall and spring semesters, she takes online classes after spending her days teaching sixth-grade science. But during the summer, Stover spends time in a different type of classroom.

“It’s incredible, it’s unreal and helps to light a fire under us so that we can bring this stuff back to our own homes and begin to grow community-based initiatives that focus on the three pillars of the program — community-based conservation, environmental stewardship and global understanding.”