Welcome And Guest Spotlight

SPEAKER_02 0:18

Welcome to the Market It With Atma podcast where we give you the tips, tools, and strategies you need to be successful. My name is Brian, and I'll be your host today. Today we have a very special guest joining us, and her name is Becky Giroud with River Legacy. Becky Giroud is a lifelong educator, community builder, and environmental advocate whose impact spans business, education, and nonprofit leadership. She co-founded the big event at Texas AM in 1982, a student-led service initiative that now spans more than 80 campuses nationwide. After beginning her career in special education, Becky also helped grow her family's Arlington-based manufacturing business, which employs more than 70 people today. River Legacy now celebrates 30 years of connecting more than 1 million learners to nature through education, recreation, and preservation. Becky, welcome to the show. But before we get to the show, let's say thank you to our sponsors. Today's episode is sponsored by Nouveaux Desk Coworking, the home of Arlington's most accessible production ready podcast studio. Whether you're launching your first show or leveling up your content game, Nouveau Desk gives you a professional studio environment where you can walk in, hit record, and create. But NouveauDesk is more than just a podcast room. It's fully equipped business hub with private offices, conference rooms, and workshop and event spaces designed to help you host, collaborate, and grow. If you're ready to elevate your brand, your business, or your voice, book your next recording or your next tour at nuvodesk.com. Create here, work here, build here. Today's episode is brought to you by Nuvio, the all-in-one business platform designed to help you build, manage, and scale with confidence. With Nuvio, you can build your own website in minutes, manage all of your leads and customers through a powerful CRM. And if you're in the restaurant industry, you can run your entire operations using Nuvio's modern point of sale system. Whether you're a startup, a service provider, or a full-scale restaurant, Nuvio gives you everything you need in one place. Simple, connected, and built to grow with you. Discover why entrepreneurs are switching to Nuvio. Visit Nuvio.com and run your entire business on one platform. Whoa, welcome back everyone to the Market It With Atma podcast. And we have a very special guest, like I said before, and her name is Becky Dureau with the River Legacy Foundation. And man, we have a pleasure of having her on this show, and it's going to be a lot of fun. Let's try not to get off topic, right? We have so much fun with talking. So this show is all about uh, you know, the build launch grow scale philosophy that we have here at Adventure Marketing Agency. Uh but like all of our guests, build launch grow can you know mean all kinds of different things in in business, right? It doesn't just have to be for marketing. And so we'll talk about your journey as far as how you've built launch, growed, and scaled, you know, River Legacy. And we'll start with um the big event at Texas AM. And you started teaching special education and working for your family's business, you know. Uh what threat connects you to all those those seasons?

SPEAKER_00 3:29

Well, uh the big event is the largest one-day service project that um is student-led. And it's spread from Texas AM all over really the world. Uh they had one in Cutter. Uh and it's all over the United States. We have it here in Arlington, Texas now. Um that's about saying thank you. Um and I would say gratitude is one thing that connects me in all three of those. Um, starting my own business. Um I have had the pleasure of meeting so many people, um, vendors, customers, and my employees, and working together to make decisions that are fair for all of us. That's a big deal for me. And um making a system where when we get when we're doing well, we're all doing well. Yeah. Um, and it creates family. And um, those are relationships that you can be truly grateful for. Um and then River Legacy, uh nature is where I really find my easiest time to connect to God, to the creator of all that beauty. And um, I don't think you can see it without saying thank you. So I would say gratitude connects all of those for me.

Creating River Legacy’s First Curriculum

SPEAKER_02 4:46

Wow, wow, and you you started off um you've had multiple journeys from operating a small business to to doing nonprofit to education, and you kind of hit it in the nail, right? Like uh dealing with people and working with people and just communication with people. Uh and now you're at River Legacy, right? And so uh take us back though into 1996. What was it like developing and teaching the first curriculum when you started with River Legacy in the Nature Center?

SPEAKER_00 5:17

Well, what an amazing opportunity that was. I was uh running my own businesses, and then I also was teaching science at my son's preschool because they lost their science teacher. Um, and my very good friend Ellis Elliott was um also uh a former teacher and um doing some other things. She um kept kids in their home, in their home, and my son was one of the ones, and um we were good friends, and I got this call from uh River Legacy that said, Um, I've got your dream job for you. And I was holding a two-month-old baby and ran my own businesses and had a part-time job teaching, and I thought, oh yeah, perfect. All I need is another job.

SPEAKER_02 6:01

Just another thing to do.

SPEAKER_00 6:02

Just one more thing. Um, knock out sleep, and I got it covered, right? But I tell you, it really was my dream job. And um, I knew I couldn't do it alone. And so I talked to Ellis and um she was all in, and we convinced the board to let us job share. They didn't even know what job share was at that point. It was kind of a new thing, and I said you get two for the price of one.

SPEAKER_02 6:28

Oh, there you go.

SPEAKER_00 6:29

And um it was a great opportunity um to work with an extremely talented teacher to work uh to create something that they still use bits and pieces of today. Um it's really exciting because I feel like we have an intrinsic need for nature in our lives that that's born in us, and that just like your thirst, if you ignore your thirst for long enough, then you don't feel it anymore, right? Well, if you ignore that need in you long enough, maybe you don't feel it. But as soon as you get a little spark of that, um, it catches on fire, and you just have to have nature. You you need it, and I think that's how we're designed to live our best lives is to really connect with nature. So many of our kids today don't have time to play outside, they don't have time to get dirty out there, and you know, I think it's really important, and I think that's one of the things that we get to do at River Legacy. Um sometimes our kids are coming off the bus and they're scared because they've never been in a forest before. And all of a sudden it's this big space and they're scared and they think, you know, are there monkeys there or are there bears there? And we um take them into the woods, and all of a sudden they have this experience. You know, we have um part of our our experience that they have when they come on a field investigation is the walk in the woods. They also get to explore what's on the forest floor and learn about invertebrates and then they learn about vertebrates. They're comparing, they're contrasting, it's hands-on, it's minds on, and when it's time to get back on the bus, they don't want to go. So, um, you know, going from fear to love in about two and a half hours, pretty awesome, right? Yeah um, and who wouldn't want a job like that?

SPEAKER_02 8:27

No, that's awesome, that's awesome. And just so you know, the older you get, right? Like, you're right, you know, sometimes you're like, man, I just need to slow down. And I know people that actually um they force themselves to go on hikes or go camping because they're just like, I'm tired of the technology. Right, I'm tired of the fast pace and I just want calm and peace and tranquility of just nature itself. And you said that this connects you with the creator. It really does. And so how has this personal conviction shaped your perf your professional mission?

SPEAKER_00 8:59

Well, um again, it goes back to gratitude. I think um I have every reason to be happy in my life. Um the Lord has blessed me dearly and I am very grateful for it. And one of the ways that I can give back a portion of what I've been given is through my time, not just my treasure, but also my time and hopefully my talents. And so I teach Sunday school, I'm a scout master, and working at River Legacy really helps me fulfill that gratitude part where I um help other people connect to this beautiful nature that God has created that we can all share. Of course, um it is a a personal part for me, but I also see the gratitude that I have when someone is scared and then all of a sudden they find something that they love. Or um, gosh, one day I was in the atrium and this mom came in and she was really excited and looking for her kids' fourth grade class. And um I said, Well, here, let me help you find them, and she had her name badge on, so she was an approved volunteer, and um I was helping her, and she said um that her mom was so scared of snakes that she almost didn't let her come when she was in fourth grade. And she begged her mom, her mom let her come, and she said that when she had her baby, she thought, I'm gonna go on that field trip. And you know, that full circle moment is just something that really makes my work gratifying. I mean, I raise money so that we can do these things so that people can experience this and make those connections. That's pretty cool for me.

SPEAKER_02 10:55

Yeah, you said, you know, you raise money. Does it feel like work though?

SPEAKER_00 10:58

No, no, because I am raising money, but I'm also helping people connect to what they can do.

SPEAKER_01 11:04

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:05

Um, one of the things I know about nature is that every living being, animal, plant, everything, has a role to play in nature. It's an important part of this cycle that's been created. And we as humans are the only ones get to choose if we're making a positive or negative impact on the environment, on nature. And I love to be able to connect people to that. Businesses, I help them connect to that. Um, you know, as a marketer, I can tell you that I can help you figure out if your audience that you're seeking is a group that I have contact with. And they're going to be grateful to you for supporting this mission in Arlington and in North Texas.

SPEAKER_02 11:51

So it's funny you say that because one of our core values is joy.

SPEAKER_00 11:55

Right. That's a big one for me too.

SPEAKER_02 11:58

You you is just like uh you kind of been talking about how you enjoy, right, um what you do, right? And so I've been talking to staff um lately about, you know, you have to find joy in what you do. If you don't find joy in what you do, then it's hard to do the work you do. Right. And uh obviously the there there will be obstacles, which I'm pretty sure you've you've witnessed multiple obstacles.

SPEAKER_01 12:21

I've had a few of those.

Finding Joy Through Teamwork

SPEAKER_02 12:23

Um so um this is gonna be off topic. Dang it, dang it, Becky. We went off topic. You predicted it. I did. Um, how do you how you embody joy in what you do? You know, you're building this foundation, you're building your you know, everything from build on scroll scale, like, but you as you're in the business and as you're doing this, um, when obstacles do come, you know, because they will, right? How do you find ways to continue to provide joy and enjoy what you do?

SPEAKER_00 12:53

Well, I think part of that is the relationships that you build and the um trust that you build with the team. We have a great team, a small team, but it's a mighty team at River Legacy. And one of the things I love about it, and it does bring me great joy, is I can have bad ideas. And just pitch them right out there, and somebody's gonna toss it around with me and help me develop it, or say, hey, you know what, let's focus on this instead. We can work together and to solve problems, I don't have to do it by myself. Talk about a joy right there. Yeah. And we have people who have so many different skill sets, but when we work together, we can do way more than we could do by ourselves.

SPEAKER_01 13:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 13:40

Um, I think there's also a great joy in seeing something come to fruition where you have an idea, you build it with your team, you collaborate with others. You for us, we get a lot of volunteers who are so committed. And when you see that meshing into something that's meaningful and even life-changing for people, boy, talk about joy. And it doesn't feel like work. It I mean, there are a couple of things. It was admin work, right?

SPEAKER_02 14:12

Oh man, but you know what's funny? I was just a volunteer. You you actually uh she she pulled my leg and arm and she was like, I need people to do the dunk, uh the what is it, the dunk tank. The dunk tank. And I I volunteered.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

You were awesome. Uh you're a very positive person, but you were able to uh get on your smack talk and Yes, I did. And kids like, oh you missed it, you should get three more.

SPEAKER_02 14:38

Yeah, that was so much fun. And the kids, you know, you do it for the kids, you know.

SPEAKER_00 14:42

And think about, you know, you were out there, you were creating memories for kids. They remember that guy who was up there, and you know, you're a business person in town, taking your time. That shows that you care about our community. But for that one kid, you may be the only man who, you know, talked to him and and you know, made him feel like he was doing something important. And, you know, you got dunked and you cheered for him, and I mean that's that's meaningful. And you never know. I mean, I don't know about your life, but I have like snippets of my childhood that I remember, just bits and pieces here and there. That could be something that somebody remembers the rest of their life, Brian.

What A Student Field Day Looks Like

SPEAKER_02 15:23

That's true, that's true, you know. Uh, you just never know who you're going to impact. Right. Right. And so um you you've been growing River Legacy, um, you know, and now you serve approximately 14,000 students each year. So what does typical field investigation experience look like for a fourth grader?

SPEAKER_00 15:42

Well, um our fourth graders come and we divide them into three groups and rotate through these three different areas. So um our fourth graders will have a time where they walk in the woods. They're walking in the woods with a naturalist and they have that moment where they get still and they get quiet and they listen and they feel the breeze and they smell that smell of the leaves and sometimes a blossom, and they they start to notice all of these things. Um and all of a sudden, they are in a different place. Um, I've heard some kids say it's like it's another world, and isn't that cool to be able to provide that for them? Also, they've had a week-long study unit about the forest, about this ecosystem that they're stepping into. And all of a sudden, all of this culmination of knowledge bubbles up and they're like, hey, look what's in the canopy over here. And they're saying these words and they're just rolling off their tongue because it's real. It's something that they're they're experiencing. Um, another rotation that they have is they explore what's on the forest floor. So a lot of times, you know, people you were talking about who might want to get away might take a hike, but never really take the time to see what's on the forest floor. And we um our naturalists have these boxes that show decomposition. There's gonna be some fungus in there, yeah, lichen.

unknown 17:19

Oh no.

SPEAKER_00 17:21

Best beetles, earthworms, it's pretty cool. They get to see what termites do. We put a little trash in there.

SPEAKER_02 17:29

Wow.

SPEAKER_00 17:30

And show them that that could be on the forest floor. We might show them what might happen if an animal ate that. And all of a sudden you've got these fourth graders who are like, it would be terrible to litter, and people who litter should go to jail. And, you know, they are all of a sudden passionate environmentalists, and I love that. Um, the third part of their visit is they get to visit with they learn about invertebrates under on the forest floor, bugs, worms, and then also they learn about vertebrates as the third part. So they get to meet animals up close. They compare a reptile and a mammal, and that comparing and contrasting, yes, that's science, but it's also a lot of observation skills that are going to help them other places. Their language skills are just on fire. They're talking about all the differences that they see, and it's a way to bring all the different subjects together. Um, one of the things that um Dr. Ellen Ravkin talks about is um what the forest provides that would bring animals there to live, but also what brought people there to live, because we have our whole city and our whole North Texas area because of the Trinity River and this um big forest around it. So this brought life to us.

Nature For Health And Access

SPEAKER_02 18:55

You know, it's funny funny is um I just thought that about this just now, but all this education about nature, right? And so I think that business owners and and just corporate people, we get lost in uh the fact that um we're we're doing our day job, we're working here, um, but we're also living here, right? And so to to know that, hey, you're you're you're not alone, right? And we gotta take care of our environment uh because it's what's surrounds us, right? And we're living a part of it. And so uh oddly enough, being a part of it, you all allow the second graders to participate as well. So why is accessibility so central to the mission for you guys?

SPEAKER_00 19:38

Well, nature is good for us. It lowers your blood pressure, lowers your levels of stress, decreases depression, it fights um diabetes, which is an epidemic in our kiddos now, and um obesity. Um it I've got ADHD, I don't know about anybody else in here. I think I do too. But just being in nature decreases the um problems that come from ADHD. It helps you focus, it helps bring up those levels of of chemicals in your brain that help you function at your best, no matter what you have. So it's a great thing for everybody. Nature is for everybody. But there's no ad on TV that says, hey, do you want your kid to be successful? Um get them out in nature. You want your kid to really learn and be creative, let them play with dirt. That's a good advertising for River Legacy just now.

SPEAKER_02 20:29

Just say one more time, one more time, do them again, do it again.

SPEAKER_00 20:32

Well, and I really do think that. You know, another thing is that we do um for our second graders, we help them understand the the seasons and the changes in the seasons and the way the animals change, the way the forest changes, and how they change also. And so change and um uh really having resilience is something that they can learn from nature. Um and I think we all need that, don't we?

SPEAKER_02 20:58

Uh you know it's funny, I I you know, you you talk about the creator, and I just had I just had a a a meeting right before this talking about animals, right? It is another society that working with animals and how important it is for us to take care of animals, and now we're talking about it's almost like a sign is going on in this this today.

SPEAKER_00 21:17

And speaking of, you know, your business, we do um retreats and we do um uh a corporate retreat that's in a beautiful setting, but also we can bring in an animal, we can take you on a little guided hike. Um one organization that was there um had they were really working on some change, and uh they came and said, Hey, can we have our break a little early because we're kind of stuck? And we did a forest bathing activity with them. Oh, okay. Um, which is a Japanese practice. Um, no towels are required, um, no water. Um, but you use all five senses to experience the forest or whatever ex whatever environment you're in. In. But forest bathing really calms you down. It centers you and it helps you get back to that calm, focused way of thinking. It probably helps you be more creative. And uh they came back in, and this was in July, so it was hot. And they were happy that they did it, and they came back in and they worked through this change, and everybody was like, that was the thing we needed. So I think, you know, what you were saying about businesses that this is part of it.

SPEAKER_01 22:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:33

Um, and something we try and teach businesses, second graders, fourth graders. We have um programs from three to ninety-three. Um what we want to say is that this is a beautiful, precious resource. We have it because 30 years ago, people decided that we needed this and they preserved it for a future generation. We're living that now.

SPEAKER_01 22:57

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 22:58

And it's our job to preserve it for the next generations to come. Because Brian, if we lose this 1,300 acre oasis in the middle of all the concrete, we don't get to rebuild it. It doesn't come back. Yeah. It's a very precious resource that we have.

Animal Ambassadors Power Hands-On STEM

SPEAKER_02 23:15

Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely. You just gave me an idea about uh maybe a company retreat for ourselves, but love that. You talk about talking about animals. We talk about animal ambassadors. I'm telling you, it's almost like something is going on here, right? Uh with hands-on STEM education. So why is that so powerful?

SPEAKER_00 23:35

Well, I mean, in marketing, what do you say? Eyes and teeth, right? People like to to see those faces. Well, you bring out an animal, you've got the best smiles, it's the kids are engaged, adults are engaged. Because seeing an animal up close, you really start to appreciate them. You know, not everybody loves an opossum. They have more teeth than any other mammal in North America, but they're pretty cool. They're marsupials.

SPEAKER_02 24:05

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:05

That's neat, right? They have um the ability to eat about 6,000 ticks a season. Who loves ticks?

SPEAKER_02 24:15

Not me.

SPEAKER_00 24:16

Not me. So are you starting to love an opossum?

SPEAKER_01 24:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 24:20

Yeah. And you know, they look kind of wiry, but they're really very soft. They have um really cool paws, they have a neat tail, and people start to think, wow, these are kind of cool. And it just engages people. And then they start asking questions. Well, what does a marsupial need here in North America? What does this mammal have that's different from a reptile? It's it's the kind of thing that really gets the brain going. So hands on, minds on. That's what we're going for at River Legacy.

SPEAKER_02 24:54

That's so awesome. And so, you know, you you have Instagram that's become your strongest marketing channel, especially Reels featuring animal ambassadors. And why do you think that works?

SPEAKER_00 25:05

Well, again, the animals are so engaging. And like you said, it's it's kind of a theme we've got going on, but it's a theme for River Legacy. That's something that we have that most places don't have. We have over a hundred animal ambassadors at River Legacy. Um now, what we put on display there, um, these are native animals, but we also have some non-native animals that we bring out so that we can compare and contrast what makes an animal um perfect for this environment as opposed to that environment. Animals just engage people, and also there aren't a lot of people who get a chance to um get to know the personality of a turtle because they do have special personalities. They do. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 25:47

They do. I think all animals have personalities, right?

SPEAKER_00 25:49

Yeah, I think you're right.

SPEAKER_02 25:50

I think it's important that uh um, you know, that we because it you know, w we have a puppy, right? My wife and I just had a puppy and not had a puppy, but dogs adopted a puppy, and they just have their own character, they just have their own personality. Um and it's just interesting, right? And something uh odd happens when even though you can't speak to them, and they don't speak the you speak the same language, but you don't speak the same language, right?

SPEAKER_00 26:20

Right. It's that inside. Well, I tell you what, we have um a turtle who is uh kind of still and quiet until the kids come around. We have a great big corral with clear sides that the kids sit around, and I'm telling you, when the kids get there, he's just strutting around looking at everybody, and it makes the kids feel so engaged and special because Winston looks at them. Isn't that neat?

SPEAKER_02 26:47

Yeah, I mean they they they have souls, right?

SPEAKER_00 26:49

Like they're like you just feel that connection.

SPEAKER_02 26:52

That's so awesome. So um you've helped raise 2.5 million to renovate the Discovery Room. Uh what did that campaign teach you about community partnership?

Community Partnerships And Fundraising Lessons

SPEAKER_00 27:04

Well, again, we can't really do what we need to do for River Legacy, for Arlington, for North Texas alone. Um, and so it really takes making those partnerships, developing those relationships, learning what our partners really have as their goal, as their desires, um, and then figure out a way to connect them to what we do at River Legacy. A lot of times it involves really getting to know the partner and to say, who do you want to send this message to? What is it you want to say and who do you want to say it to? And then we can figure out because we have festivals that are community festivals that we offer um at no charge. I would say they were free festivals, but you know, they're not free. We have to have sponsors help us pay for those. Um another thing that we do is we have some fundraisers, and so those are an opportunity for team building, for um our our sponsors to really get a time with their clients, and it's a way that we can build those relationships and also say thank you to say what your donation, what your sponsorship has done for now a million kids. So that's what we try to do.

SPEAKER_02 28:28

And that's awesome. Like, you know, I always tell people no matter what business you're in, you're doing business with people, right? And so having that relationships and having those relationships is is crucial and important to grow anything, right? Um and it's funny, it's going back to the Instagram thing that we talk about animals, it's like um people just connect with animals, right? Uh and then uh you have to have kind of like a balance. So, you know, when people are trying to do social media, sometimes I get I think people get caught up in oh, we need to sell, sell, sell. And it's like no, it's it's it's about the experience, it's about, you know, the personalities. You just said it, animals have their own personalities and people want to see that. Um but also like dealing with people, we all have different personalities. And um we I just had a meeting before this. It's like um um it was funny because uh our new customer was like, um the reason why we chose you was completely how we felt doing business with you. Uh we were making jokes on the Zoom call and it was like I just connected with you. Yeah and I think that people forget about connection, relationships, and anything that we do, um and it's important, right? And as you you you said, hey, uh partnerships, partnerships is relationships, partnerships is relationships, and if we're not all on the same mission, you know, and uh united um to for s you know a goal that we want to do together, then nothing matters, right?

SPEAKER_00 29:58

Right, right. Well, and I think you're really good at that. Um because you do make people feel comfortable, then they feel comfortable expressing those needs to you, those goals that they have. And so then your brain goes to work about how are we gonna get that done.

SPEAKER_02 30:17

I'm like a counselor, you know. It's like a business counselor. Sometimes I'm like a business counselor.

SPEAKER_00 30:22

I how much do I owe you for this session?

SPEAKER_02 30:26

You know, we make jokes about that. Everybody, uh my staff makes jokes about that all the time. They're like, uh, did you have a business therapy session? I said, Yes, I did.

How To Support River Legacy

SPEAKER_00 30:34

Yes, it is. Yes, it is.

SPEAKER_02 30:35

If someone listening wants to support the next generation of environmental stewards, what role can they play?

SPEAKER_00 30:42

Oh, I'm glad you asked. Um we are looking for donors to connect to us so that we can expand the mission. We want to reach out to more and more people all over uh North Texas. We're looking for sponsors. We definitely uh need sponsors to help us. So you can go to www.riverlegacy.org and we have a donate button. We also have a sponsorship area. Um that's really important, and that's my job is fundraising. But I also want to talk about friend raising, and it goes back to the relationship that you were just saying. If anything that we've said really resonates with our listeners, I would love for them to connect with us on our social media. Um, on riverlegacy.org, they can sign up for our e-newsletter. We won't sell or give their information to anybody else, but it just helps them understand what we're doing and what opportunities there are for them to come and connect to nature. Um, Instagram has been huge for us, Facebook is still happening for us, and those are ways that people can communicate with us and also see what's happening and get those cute animal videos.

Closing Thoughts And Thanks

SPEAKER_02 32:02

Yes, absolutely. Everybody loves animal videos and cute animals. Well, well, it's been a pleasure, Becky. Uh, once again, we've had Becky with River Legacy. You know where to find her. It's been a blast. Once again, my name is Brian. Uh, thank you guys for listening to the Market It With Atma podcast, and we will see you guys next time.