Executive Director

Karla Klay’s passion for the coastal environment, knowledge, skills, and commitment to science, art, and environmental education, led her to form the nonprofit Artist Boat, in 2003. Through Karla’s creation and sustenance of five environmental education programs, all with the Eco-Art hallmark, in a classroom- and field-based experiential learning model, Artist Boat now typically delivers such programming to 18,000 participants (K though Grey), annually. In 2007, Karla embarked on a new initiative to further its mission: a Coastal Heritage Preserve vision of contiguous 1,400-acre barrier island habitats on West Galveston Island, as a platform for habitat preservation, restoration, appreciation, and education.  With 1,039 acres preserved so far, via 14 acquisitions, mostly accomplished through competitively-based public funding sources (for $27 million land value), she is now working toward the Preserve’s last major land purchases. Karla has convinced three different developers to stick through long public funding processes, eventually bringing them to appreciate the multiple and mutual benefits of land conservation of invaluable coastal natural resources.  Once preserved, the lands go through a rigorous habitat restoration and maintenance process, developed by Karla in collaboration with local, state, and federal advisors.  Throughout this combined conservation/education programming, Karla has maintained a targeted focus on predominantly underserved youth populations, instilling a stewardship ethic – a focus ahead of its time in conservation.  Her influence has been felt through dozens of presentations at national environmental education and other conferences, e.g., the North American Association of Environmental Education and the Texas Association of Environmental Educators.