Stewards of the Wild
New generation of young professionals from Houston's leading families step up to support Texas' great outdoors
When the Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation launched the Houston chapter of its young professional group, Stewards of the Wild, organizers were successful in tapping into the up-and-coming generation of old guard families as well as into the well of new blood infusing the city.
Name tags revealed Recklings, Wickmans, Fatjos and Whelesses in the mix that gathered at the Houston Museum of Natural Science for the inaugural gathering. That meant paydirt for the organization that was represented on this night by Kelly Thompson, chair of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Justin Rhodes of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and Texas Game Warden Major William Skeen.
The goal of Stewards of the Wild: "Connecting a new generation of Texans to outdoor experiences and engaging them in statewide conservation projects."
Caroline Wagner leads the Houston Advisory Council of Stewards of the Wild, which will work to engage their YP peers through service and shared experiences in nature. Stewards of the Wild is planning upcoming events with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Houston and a camping trip for members to Texas Parks and Wildlife’s newly-acquired 17,000-acre Powderhorn Ranch on the Gulf Coast.
More than 120 turned out for the cocktail reception held amid the museum's wildlife exhibits including Chris Attar, Stephen Reckling, Douglas Schnitzer, Lauren Farmer, Mallory Shary, Jenna Walter, David Wheless, Ally Wickman, Austin Fatjo, Sara Cain and Kate Thompson.
