History of TOEA
In 1974 Ewell Sessom, Director of Health, Physical Education and
Recreation of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) formulated a plan around
his vision that every student, would have had an outdoor experience, an
opportunity to learn something about how the world exists, and how to
survive in the outdoors. Small workshops sponsored by TEA were held each
year from 1974 - 1978 at various locations around the state.
This role has since been entrusted to TOEA after the last TEA sponsored workshop in 1978.
In 1979 Mr. Sessom contacted a young teacher named John Fortner who had
started an outdoor education program at his school. John and Ewell
organized the first TOEA workshop at the H.E.BUTT foundation camp which
was primarily funded by the Dallas Safari Club. From that first workshop
came the dream for a statewide outdoor education association.
In February 1979 a group of people met in Waco to share ideas and plans for the formation of an outdoor education association.
At this meeting the name Texas Outdoor Education was chosen as well as
the first board and the bylaws. Through annual grants from the Dallas
Safari Club and the Houston Safari Club, TOEA was able to host at least
one educational work shop annually.
The annual fall workshop has been held at H.E.Butt Foundation Camp every
year with the exception of one workshop when the foundation camp was
under-construction.
