The Big Give 2025
This month, TBGers across all four offices rolled up their sleeves for The Big Give — our annual day of service dedicated to supporting local environmental and community organizations. The projects reflected our shared values of stewardship, connection, and care for the landscapes and people that shape our communities.
Austin — Shield Ranch
The Austin team spent the day at El Ranchito at Shield Ranch, a camp that connects underserved youth with nature through immersive outdoor experiences. Nearly 30 TBGers headed out to the edge of the Hill Country to help with brush removal, roadside restoration, and campsite organization. The stunning off-grid setting yielded high energy and enthusiasm throughout the day. The team enjoyed lunch provided on-site by Shield Ranch chef Addie Broussard and conversation with Executive Director Andrea Mellard, who shared details of the recent ranch master planning effort with Andropogon, Andersson Wise, and Ten Eyck Landscape Architecture. Teams earned playful nicknames inspired by the movie Holes while showing off impressive shoveling and seeding skills. Supporting a camp that makes outdoor exploration accessible to all felt deeply rewarding, and the team wrapped up at nearby Jester King Brewery with renewed appreciation for each other and our local ecology. 
Dallas — Lewisville Lake Environmental Learning Area (LLELA)
Dallas volunteers partnered with LLELA, an expansive 2,000-acre preserve focused on restoring native Texas ecosystems. Twenty-seven TBGers divided into nursery and prairie teams. The nursery crew planted over 600 little bluestem grasses, while others tackled the tough job of cutting back encroaching trees to help re-establish Blackland Prairie habitat. The group enjoyed visits from two box turtles and their “turtle guy” handler, learned about local wildlife release efforts, and wrapped up the day celebrating together at The Truck Yard. Despite a few thorn pricks and sore muscles, everyone left proud of their visible contribution to restoring one of North Texas’s most unique ecological areas.
Houston — Bayou Preservation Association
In partnership with the Bayou Preservation Association, Houston’s team made a big dent in cleaning and restoring a local bayou near Moody Park. The team removed an estimated 700 pounds of debris, including everything from plastic bottles and Styrofoam to a couch, pool, and even a small oven. They also pruned 75 trees and filled a 20-cubic-yard dumpster with branches to improve tree health and park safety. Community members, park users, and local organizations stopped by to express thanks, and even a few neighbors joined for snacks and water. The day underscored the power of teamwork and the value of all citizens stepping in to make Houston’s waterways cleaner and healthier. 
San Antonio — River Aid San Antonio (RASA)
The San Antonio office joined River Aid San Antonio (RASA) for a watershed cleanup at Kardon Park, their first event at this location. TBGers joined several community groups, including a team from Whole Foods, and filled roughly three trailer loads of waste from the site. RASA’s enthusiasm and thoughtful organization made the effort especially memorable, and connections forged during the event have already led to plans for a future cleanup at Huebner Creek, near an active TBG project. The team enjoyed working together while also meeting new friends, all committed to restoring San Antonio’s river ecosystems. 
One Firm, Many Voices
Whether clearing a trail, planting a prairie, or hauling a sofa out of a bayou, The Big Give reminds us of what binds us together: a collective care for people and place. Every glove, shovel, and laugh shared across our offices this year reinforced that our work in and out of the studio begins with empathy, teamwork, and stewardship.