Meaningful Travel Roadshow - Galveston
Education Program & Experiences
Education Program (9 a.m. - 12 p.m.)
Location: Historic Galveston Water & Electric Light Community Center
Keynote: Samuel Collins III, Juneteenth historian and co‑chair, Juneteenth Legacy Project
Panel: Coastal Conservation & Climate Resilience
Galveston’s coastlines are at the heart of both community life and the visitor experience, yet they face urgent challenges from erosion, rising seas, and habitat loss. This panel will spotlight local leaders who are advancing solutions, from oyster reef and marsh restoration to accessible birding and sea turtle rehabilitation, and explore how the tourism industry can support and amplify these efforts. Together, they’ll discuss what meaningful partnerships look like and where the trade can plug in to build a more resilient future.
Topic Highlights:
Coastal resilience in practice: living shorelines, oyster reef and marsh restoration with clear outcomes.
Inclusive access to nature: East End Lagoon and Birdability-informed design that works for groups.
Wildlife conservation as education: sea turtle rescue today and what the hospital/museum will unlock for visitors.
Visitor-ready experiences and volunteer add-ons: eco-art kayaks, docent walks, oyster shell recycling, scalable for itineraries.
How the trade plugs in: partnership models, funding levers, responsible messaging, and short/longer term actions.
Other Speakers & Panelists TBA
Off-site Experiences & Tours (1 - 4:30 p.m.)
As part of the Roadshow program, attendees will have the opportunity to step into Galveston’s living history through off-site experiences that highlight African-American history and environmental heritage. These tours go beyond the destination itself, offering replicable approaches that show how meaningful travel can create positive change anywhere
Experience 1: Birding, Beaches, and Biodiversity
Experience Galveston's unique natural landscape with the Galveston Island Nature Tourism Council. Attendees will explore the 700-acre East End Lagoon Nature Park & Preserve, home to beaches, wetlands, and grasslands that attract more than 300 bird species year-round, making it a birdwatcher’s paradise along the Central Flyway.
Experience 2: Junteeth and Beyond Tour
As the birthplace of Juneteenth, Galveston’s powerful stories and landmarks honor resilience, freedom, and cultural contributions that continue to shape the community today. Journey through the city’s African-American history with Dr. Araminto Coleman Sorrell, founder of Juneteenth and Beyond Tours.
