Lake Creek
Outdoor Learning Lab

The Lake Creek Outdoor Learning Lab is a campus-wide, hands-on science program across grade levels—students investigate ecology, engineering, and environmental stewardship in real time using our garden, pond, and wooded habitats as living classrooms. The garden is our flagship site, currently eight raised beds (45'×6' each) that we’re expanding into vegetable, herb, and native plant beds with a dedicated pollinator section and, long-term, a small greenhouse.

Students see science in action while building executive skills and
SEL: they clear and prep plots, run experiments, collect data, and
practice responsibility, teamwork, and ecological stewardship—
gaining pride in shaping a sustainable campus.

Community partners power the learning: guest educators from
Texas Wildlife, Edible Landscapes, and the Montgomery County
Gardeners Association deliver on-site lessons; the Montgomery
County Beekeepers are mentoring an on-campus apiary; and
students are planting free native seeds from a township event to
expand our pollinator garden. Donated plants are being rehabilitated for use in the beds, reinforcing sustainability and resourcefulness.

To keep the momentum, we’re seeking support for student PPE (gloves/boots), soil and compost, organic pest and fire-ant control, basic tools, and so much more—resources that will help students grow a thriving outdoor learning ecosystem that nurtures plants, supports pollinators, and advances authentic STEM learning.

Creek to Creek: Streams of Knowledge at the LCA Life Cycles Lab

At Lake Creek Academy, we believe the best learning happens when students can see, touch, and nurture the living world around them. That’s why we launched Creek to Creek: Streams of Knowledge at the LCA Life Cycles Lab (C2C @ LCA), a hands-on environmental education program in partnership with Trout Unlimited.

This program brings ecosystems, conservation, and science to life as students raise trout from eggs to fingerlings in our on-campus aquatics lab. Beginning in January, students will care for trout in a 50-gallon tank, applying their knowledge of water chemistry, the nitrogen cycle, and sustainable habitat care. By May, the trout—now three inches long—will be released into the upper Guadalupe River, returning them to their native ecosystem.

Our Environmental & Agriculture Studies class serves as the backbone of this program. Students have already practiced with smaller aquatic life, learning how to monitor water quality, manage oxygen levels, and maintain a balanced environment. As they care for trout, they’ll also study the interconnected life cycles of river plants, insects, and other native fish species, deepening their understanding of Texas ecosystems.

Beyond science, C2C @ LCA fosters stewardship, responsibility, and a sense of wonder. Students don’t just learn about conservation—

they experience it, developing the knowledge and empathy needed to protect the natural world for generations to come.

Lake Creek Academy
Flight Club

At Lake Creek Academy, we know some of the most powerful lessons happen when students step outside and simply look up. That’s the heart of Lake Creek Academy Flight Club, our school birding program that turns our campus and nearby habitats into living classrooms for budding naturalists and citizen scientists.

Flight Club invites students to explore the skies, trees, and wetlands as they learn to identify birds by sight and sound, observe behavior, and understand how each species fits into the larger ecosystem. Using binoculars, field guides, and the Merlin Bird ID app, students practice matching calls and songs to species and are encouraged to learn the most common local bird vocalizations by ear.

As their skills grow, we aim to take student learning beyond LCA—visiting nearby hotspots like WG Jones State Forest and other local parks and preserves. Along the way, they practice core science skills: careful observation, data collection, pattern recognition, and the basics of ecology. Every list they log in eBird reinforces the idea that they are not just learning about science; they are actively doing science.

Just like our Life Cycles and Outdoor Learning Lab programs, Flight Club is about more than field guides and checklists. It builds patience, focus, and quiet confidence as students slow down, listen closely, and share discoveries with one another. In Flight Club, students don’t just learn about birds—they become curious, capable citizen scientists and thoughtful stewards of the natural world, carrying that sense of wonder and responsibility far beyond the school grounds.

Lake Creek Academy is now an official birding spot (and soon to be hotspot) on eBird, and Flight Club treats it as a living lab. Students submit checklists, document seasonal visitors, and track migration patterns over time—contributing real data to eBird’s global citizen science database. In doing so, they see how their observations help researchers monitor populations, study climate impacts, and protect habitats far beyond our campus.

Held every two weeks, Teen + Ally Social Nights at Lake Creek Academy represent a hub of connection and belonging for teens (ages 13–18). Teen Ally Social Nights are more than just a hangout—they’re a safe, supervised community space where respect, acceptance, and fun go hand-in-hand. Picture a 90-inch movie screen lit up with classic and current films, groups gathered around board and card games, crafts in full swing, and the buzz of laughter filling the room. Every teen is welcome—so long as they’re ready to bring kindness, respect for others, and an open mind. These nights give teens a chance to build friendships across schools and backgrounds, providing the kind of healthy social outlet every parent wants for their child.

Character Development Through Character Development

Dungeons & Dragons is more than multi-sided dice and dragons—at Lake Creek Academy, it’s a dynamic lab for personal growth. Students step into imaginative roles where they practice teamwork, communication, and creative problem-solving in real time. As their characters take risks, weigh strategy, and collaborate to overcome obstacles, players are strengthening the same skills they’ll need in life. The magic of D&D is in the balance: it’s safe, it’s playful, but it’s also deeply instructive. Students build empathy by seeing through another character’s eyes, learn the social dynamics of group decision-making, and discover the thrill of taking bold but thoughtful risks. It’s story-driven education at its most engaging.

Four days a week, middle and high school students gather for a 30–45 minute roundtable discussion that blends critical thinking with cultural literacy. The format is simple but powerful: students explore themes like imagery, iconography, and race—asking why these ideas exist, how they shape our world, and what they mean for the future. Guided by a skilled facilitator, the Roundtable invites students to challenge assumptions, listen deeply, and develop their own voice. The conversations are lively, respectful, and often eye-opening. By tackling complex issues in a supportive environment, students sharpen their analytical skills, grow in empathy, and prepare to engage thoughtfully in a diversely complex world.