Mermaid Society SMTX

Living in a town that is defined by the body of water that runs through it can be a double-edged sword. The San Marcos River is a 75-mile-long stretch of bluegreen, spring-fed waters that is the lifeblood of the local tourism industry and home to numerous threatened and endangered flora and fauna.

But how do you engage younger generations to go further than just enjoying the recreation the river provides and actually protect it? The Mermaid Society’s answer is you give them the education and motivation via mascot and role model, Maya the Mermaid.

In 2017, Mermaid Society launched their youth initiatives with the SPLASH Patch Program and Mermaid Chats. Both programs aim to raise the next generation of San Marcans to become river guardians.