This 4th of July, The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University will host a weekend-long celebration at Spring Lake full of family fun, outdoor learning, and hands-on activities fun for all ages. Spring Lake Hall will open Discovery Hall exhibits from 8:30-10:30 p.m. on July 4, and at 9 p.m., the rooftop will be opened for an exclusive view of the San Marcos fireworks show. Concessions will be available, and donations of $5-10 will be accepted at the door. All other events will take place July 2-4 and are open to the public.
Photo: Courtesy of The Meadows Center
This weekend’s programs and specials include interpretive nature hikes 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on July 2-4. Participants will experience the 251-acre Spring Lake Natural Area that sits just above the headwaters of the San Marcos River. From tall Live Oaks to Mexican buckeye, this guided hike will explore some of the amazing plants that call this area home. A $5 donation is suggested.
Kids’ activities will run 11 a.m.-3 p.m. July 2-4 at the Discovery Hall, where hands-on activity stations specially designed for kids and their families will include face painting and handmade feather hair accessories. There will also be a “bug picking station,” where children can discover what insects live in the water at Spring lake by exploring water samples. A $1 donation is suggested for materials.
A free screening of the film “Written in Water” will run 3-4 p.m. daily in the Discovery Hall. This hour-long movie focuses on the Ogallala Aquifer and examines the conflicts, politics, economics, and groundwater depletion in the High Plains region. The film follows farmers and a West Texas community struggling to survive as the wells run dry and highlights the tension between property rights advocates and state-mandated pumping limits.
All donations will directly support The Meadows Center’s education programs. For more information, visit events.txstate.edu or call 512-245-7570.
About The Meadows Center
The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment was named following a generous gift from The Meadows Foundation in August 2012. The Meadows Center is dedicated to environmental research, stewardship, education and service, and is led by Executive Director Andrew Sansom, Ph.D.
