South Texas Ecotourism Center

06/18/2026

06/18/2026

Please join us Thursday June 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for our STEC Winter/Spring Speaker Series featuring Taylor Zavala speaking on the "Health Benefits of Forest Bathing". Tay Zavala is a certified Relational Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and certified nature-based education teacher contributing to the education team at Quinta Mazatlan as an Environmental Education Supervisor. After receiving their Bachelors of Fine Arts at Emerson College, they returned to the Rio Grande Valley to explore their relationship with the land through storytelling between different written and visual forms of expression. Forest Bathing or Shinrin-Yoku is a practice that originated in Japan in the early 1980s. The practice was developed in response to the effects of the technological boom on people's quality of life, aiming to reduce burnout, stress and reconnect them with nature. Engaging them with our environment through multiple senses not only expands our ability to be present , but nurture our relationship to the land and to each other. Participants will learn the health benefits of the practice and discover simple ways they can integrate the practice into their daily lives. The STEC is located W. State Hwy 100, Laguna Vista, TX. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on holidays. Free Admission. The presentation will be on Facebook live. (South Texas Ecotourism Center). stec-lv.org (956)772-0210. @topfansDavid A. Garza, Cameron County Commissioner, Pct. 3Office of Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr.Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife RefugeUTRGV Gulf Scholars Program South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce

06/18/2026

A big Thank You to the Laguna Madre Cultural Foundation for donating $7494 to the South Texas Ecotourism Center for special viewing equipment for special needs visitors. We appreciate the generosity of the Foundation to the STEC and its visitors. The STEC is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on holidays. Free admission. Stec-lv.org. (956)772-0212. Facebook and Instagram. David A. Garza, Cameron County Commissioner, Pct. 3 Cameron County Parks and Recreation City of Los Fresnos City of Harlingen City of South Padre Island Museum of South Texas History RGV Nature Cameron County Amphitheater and Event Center Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce Caracara Trails Town of Laguna Vista, Texas South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce

Photo from left to right.
Duane Rasmussen,LMCF Board Member, Sharon Helsley McGinley , LMCF Board Member, Leonard Waldorf, LMCF Board Member, Edward Meza, STEC Director

06/15/2026

https://www.stbctmn.org/post/anita-s-blog-artful-bug-disguises

Do you ever think bugs are playing tricks on you? Two species seem to have more disguises than a cold war spy. They trick me every time.If it weren’t for my iNaturalist.org phone app, I would think I had found 12 different bug species, when in fact, they all come up identified as Symphylus caribbe...

06/15/2026

Please join us Thursday June 18th from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for our STEC Winter/Spring Speaker Series featuring Taylor Zavala speaking on the "Health Benefits of Forest Bathing". Tay Zavala is a certified Relational Forest Therapy Guide through the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy and certified nature-based education teacher contributing to the education team at Quinta Mazatlan as an Environmental Education Supervisor. After receiving their Bachelors of Fine Arts at Emerson College, they returned to the Rio Grande Valley to explore their relationship with the land through storytelling between different written and visual forms of expression. Forest Bathing or Shinrin-Yoku is a practice that originated in Japan in the early 1980s. The practice was developed in response to the effects of the technological boom on people's quality of life, aiming to reduce burnout, stress and reconnect them with nature. Engaging them with our environment through multiple senses not only expands our ability to be present , but nurture our relationship to the land and to each other. Participants will learn the health benefits of the practice and discover simple ways they can integrate the practice into their daily lives. The STEC is located W. State Hwy 100, Laguna Vista, TX. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on holidays. Free Admission. The presentation will be on Facebook live. (South Texas Ecotourism Center). stec-lv.org (956)772-0210. @topfansDavid A. Garza, Cameron County Commissioner, Pct. 3Office of Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr.Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife RefugeUTRGV Gulf Scholars Program South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce@ See less

06/15/2026

Week of 6/8/2026 - 6/14/2026

BIRDS
Altamira Oriole (Icterus gularis)
Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus)
Couch's Kingbird (Tyrannus couchii)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
Great Egret (Ardea alba)
Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Purple Martin (Progne subis)
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor)
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

MAMMALS
Hispid Cotton Rat (Sigmodon hispidus)
Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus)

REPTILES
Common Spotted Whiptail (Aspidoscelis gularis)

AMPHIBIANS

FISH
Blue Tilapia (Oreochromis aureus)
Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis)
Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna)

INVERTEBRATES
Fiddler Crab (Family Ocypodidae)
Red Harvester Ant (Pogonomyrmex barbatus)

Join us this Wednesday, June 17th from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. during our After Dark event with Moth Night in partnership with the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist. There will be a moth presentation, and light up screens to document and observe the moths and insects attracted to the lights. Bring your cameras, black light, and flash light. There will be live invertebrate presentation, hands on activities, night hikes, and more. Bring your dinner with you and enjoy the South Texas Ecotourism Center at night. STEC is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except on holidays. Free admission. (956) 772-0210 stec-lv.org. Check us out on Facebook and Instagram. @topfansDavid A. Garza, Cameron County Commissioner, Pct. 3Cameron County Parks and RecreationSouth Padre Island Chamber of CommerceMuseum of South Texas HistoryCity of Brownsville, TX - Municipal GovernmentCity of South Padre IslandCity of McAllen TX GovernmentCity of HarlingenCity of Los FresnosRio Smoke Catering Co.Rio Grande Valley Urban Wildlife - Texas Parks and Wildlife

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

The Cameron County Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce that it will begin making improvements to the east-side boat ramp at Adolph Thomae, Jr., County Park, starting this week. Renovations include demolition and build back of the boat ramp's courtesy docks and fish cleaning stations. The temporary ramp closure is expected to last through the end of September, barring any weather delays. The Contractor plans on keeping one of the ramps open during construction, along with most of the parking in the respective area. We thank you in advance for your patience, as the County works diligently to make these necessary improvements for your continued boating enjoyment.
of Cameron County Judge Eddie Treviño, Jr. Commissioner Joey Lopez Commissioner Gus Ruiz, Pct.4 Sofia C. Benavides