Green Space Alliance of South Texas

YMCA of Greater San Antonio’s mission is to put Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all.

Grant Focus:

GSA develops TEKS-aligned curricula engaging students through species identification, plant care, and forest therapy. Community volunteer planting days build neighborhood connection and stewardship. Expanding this model to four more schools advances GSA’s mission to connect people to land and nature. By embedding nature-based education and environmental restoration on school campuses, we remove barriers to access to green space and build environmental stewardship.

GSA will design three TEKS-aligned curricula for grades 2-4, rotated annually to create a continuum of educational experiences. A teacher workshop will prepare educators for implementation. The Tiny Forests will serve as living laboratories where students engage with nature. By integrating recreation, restoration, and education, the program suppo

Grant Year: 2026

Focus Area: Environment, Recreation & Preservation

High Impact Grant

Grant Impact:

GSA will establish four Tiny Forests on elementary school campuses in San Antonio, transforming underutilized schoolyards into thriving ecosystems that serve as outdoor classrooms for K–5 students and advance both environmental and educational outcomes. GSA plan to engage at least 400 students, their parents, and teachers in four planting activities, and 1,000 students in TEKS-aligned educational curricula, with the outcome of cultivating an understanding of the ecological values provided by the forest within the urban environment and opening new pathways for youth engagement in nature.

GSA will measure the success of the initial planting and the survival of each Tiny Forest (quantitative data), aiming for an 85–90% survival rate in the first three years through twice-yearly monitoring. Schools will help track growth and biodiversity using photo-monitoring stations, thereby fostering ecological learning. GSA will evaluate the impact of the educational programming through qualitative measures such as teacher surveys, pre- and post-tests, and engagement in on-site forest research activities. Stories and photos will be collected to document students’ personal experiences.