TMRA’s Education Outreach Program

By Charitie Wright-Witman 

The best way to learn is to do. At TMRA Teacher Workshops this summer, nearly 100 teachers saw for themselves how Texas’ natural resources are mined and used to make our everyday lives better. That brings to more than 1,500 classroom teachers – from fourth grade through university level – who have attended TMRA Teacher Workshops since it started in 1991. This translates to more than 1.5 million students who have heard the ‘real story’ of mining from teachers who have learned the facts firsthand.

At the two coal workshops, teachers saw how lignite is mined and used to provide reliable, low-cost electricity. Attendees observed how the land is restored to even better condition than before mining operations, while touring reclaim areas at North American Coal Corporation’s Sabine Mine and San Miguel Electric Cooperative.

The Industrial Minerals workshop partnered with Texas Aggregates and Concrete Association to provide opportunities for 20 teachers to visit working quarries and see how sand, gravel and stone mined in Texas is used to make our modern life possible. Presenters from Vibra-Tech and Austin Powder showed participants what happens during a blasting operation at a mine site including an actual BLAST! 

For the nuclear workshop, 18 teachers came to Corpus Christi to visit the mining and plant operations at enCore Energy in Kingsville and learned how uranium provides electricity. Presenters from Uranium Energy Corporation and Uranium Resources Inc. talked to the teachers about the environmental issues and the future of the uranium industry as well as explained how mined uranium is enriched and used to make electricity.

At all wrkshops, facilitators presented hands-on activities that are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and the STARR test, helping to ensure the Texas mining industry will be depicted factually and objectively in the classroom.

Annual Meeting Live Auction
 

The last night of the Annual Meeting is a silent and live auction which benefits TMRA’s Education Outreach Program. This program primarily funds our Science Teacher’s workshop, along with various Owner/Operators and Support members. Between 2004-2022, TMRA members generously contributed their time, services, items, etc. for the auctions, with a total amount of $2,344,379 raised.

Learn More About TMRA Teacher Workshops

Click here to learn more and see how to participate in 2023!