Both service learning and entrepreneurship can increase students' feelings of self-worth and accomplishment. Above is a photo of the pool at Balmorhea State Park, one of the area's tourist attractions. Currently the RD CAT has plans for or has started 16 programs, including a very successful school-based rural health clinic. Miles from the nearest doctor, the community joined forces with Texas Tech University Medical School and Dr. Lawrence Voesack. The clinic is run by the school nurse.
Students man the phones and schedule appointments.
Dr. Voesack comes once a week. So far the clinic has been seeing 15-25 patients a day. Another example of Balmorhea's effort to integrate the school and the community for mutual benefit is the community weather station recently set-up at the school which can be used for science classes. When the school library was remodeled, it was constructed to double as a tornado shelter. The RD CAT is planning and implementing a summer recreation program, a mentoring program which will connect older and younger students and community members with students, a drug education program, and a parent involvement center.