The strongest of these alliances has been with Laredo Community College (LCC) where our office is currently located.

The LCC administration, believing in the mission espoused by RGISC, provides strong support for the organization. The tangible nature of this support is evidenced by the office space and equipment that LCC makes available to RGISC. RGISC, in turn, renders valuable services to the college.

RGISC attracted one-half million dollars from the Lamar Bruni Vergara Foundation for the construction of the Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center (LBVESC) on the LCC Campus

RGISC was the driving force in constructing the Paso del Indio Nature Trail, in 1994, along the riverbank at LCC. The Center and nature trail were RGISC goals from the beginning. RGISC founders saw the need for an environmental science center to educate the community about the Rio Grande and its importance to the millions of people who live along its banks. The LBVESC opened on April 16, 1999 and transferred hands from RGISC to the college.

Forward thinking LCC leaders have incorporated the concept of an environmental science center as a part of the institution’s science program, interest in the Center is much broader than science. It has been used to stimulate creativity in writing, music and art. Others have found the Center to be an excellent and enjoyable place to satisfy their community service requirements. Many students use the Center as a living laboratory, finding the study of living specimens to be much more enjoyable than studying foul smelling, pickled ones in their science classrooms. Some folks like to come to the Center because it is entertaining. They are intrigued by the activities of their non-human neighbors that inhabit the Rio Grande. At the Center visitors gain new understanding and appreciation of the Rio Grande.

Through our work, thousands of citizens are learning about the vital importance of the Rio Grande to their lives.