Education Overview

DON’T MESS WITH TEXAS® OFFERS A RANGE OF FUN ACTIVITIES TO INSPIRE STUDENTS TO HELP KEEP THEIR COMMUNITIES LITTER-FREE.

Use your writing skills to win tuition money, showcase your creativity in our annual art contest and download our new educational curriculum! Learn more about how to get involved and make an impact.

Educational Materials

Now educators from across the state can access educational materials that help bring awareness about anti-litter into their classrooms.  Don’t mess with Texas has partnered with Texas educators to create lesson plans and corresponding collateral materials for Pre-K, Elementary, Middle and High School grade levels.  Click here to see the materials.

Scholarships

The 2021 Don’t mess with Texas Scholarship contest, in partnership with Keep Texas Beautiful (KTB), recognizes the achievements of high school seniors who have taken a leadership role to prevent litter in their school and/or community. Any Texas high school senior planning to pursue a two- or four-year degree at an accredited college or university in the Fall of 2021 and who is currently attending public, private, or home school in Texas may apply. One $5,000 Grand Prize scholarship and two $2,000 scholarships will be awarded this May 2021. Thank you to the 2021 scholarship sponsors: iHeart Media and Buc-ee’s.

Darrel the Barrel Litter Catch Game

Oh No! Litter is flying everywhere! Can you help Darrel pick up the trash and keep Texas clean? Drag Darrel across the screen and help him catch the trash before it goes on the ground and becomes litter. The more trash you get, the more points you get. Once you’re done, share your score with your friends and see if they can beat you.

Mural Contest

The 2019 Don’t mess with Texas Mural Contest, recognizes Texans who are passionate about preventing litter in their community. Texas residents of Baytown, Houston, and San Angelo and the contiguous counties who are 18 years of age and older may apply. This includes residents in the following counties: Tom Green, Coke, Concho, Irion, Menard, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Harris, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Liberty, Montgomery, and Waller. One winner will be selected from each of the three markets and will have their original artwork turned into a mural in their city. Winners will also receive a digital camera, an original Don’t mess with Texas® barrel with their winning artwork design, and Don’t mess with Texas swag, valued at approximately $1,100.

Activity Books

Looking for a way to entertain your kids or students that doesn’t involve a tablet or the internet? We’ve got you covered! Our activity books are filled with fun puzzles, word searches and coloring pages that teach kids about keeping their state clean. Click here learn how to order a free box for your classroom or head to the Free Stuff page to download a free copy.