EARDC FLOWPATHS Newsletter

BSEACD Scholarships Available

Happy New Year! It’s that time again! Aquatic Science Adventure Camp registration opens at 8am on Monday, January 12, 2026. There are lots of great sessions to register for and once again this year the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District will be providing five full scholarships to Overnight Camps! The application can be found HERE. Children ages 9-14 who live within a school district that overlaps the BSEACD’s aquifer boundaries may apply for the scholarship. This includes the school districts of Austin, Del Valle, Eanes, Hays, Lockhart, San Marcos, and Wimberley. Interested campers will need to submit a completed application, a one-page essay entitled “Why I Want to Attend Aquatic Science Adventure Camp”, and a single-page artwork that captures “Science and the Outdoor Adventure”. In order to be considered for this scholarship, all application materials must be submitted before 5pm on Tuesday, March 10th, 2026.

Aquatic Science Adventure Camp Update

ASAC Registration Opens At 8:00 am on Monday - January 12th, 2026    Get ready to register on Monday!  Registration info here.

Overnight Expedition Camps (Registration Deposit-$250)
Dive into an adventure like no other! Join us for experiences like river rafting, scuba diving, and wild cave exploration! Campers will also engage with our expert staff to delve into scientific investigations related to water. Set on the vibrant Texas State University campus and University Camp, our campers get to explore university spaces and beautiful San Marcos. Camps run from Sunday afternoon to Friday afternoon. Don't miss out on this epic adventure!
Total Cost: $1,199.
Explorer Day Camps (Registration Deposit $150)
This is a week of action-packed activities, running from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Campers will conquer the rapids during river rafting, uncover hidden secrets in caves, learn about life in the river, and so much more! Each Explorer session is open to 9 – 14 year olds, once all spots are filled, campers will be put in A or B group based on age. Lunch is NOT included.
Total Cost: $549.
Nature Adventure Half-Day Camp
Calling all young nature enthusiasts! Nature Adventure Half-Day Camp is tailor-made for curious minds aged 6-8 who crave exploration and adore the outdoors. Get ready for a whirlwind of science and nature activities that are all about fun. Join us as we go critter-hunting, craft new creatures, and embark on outdoor escapades. Camp runs Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Total Cost: $150.

Donations

Do you love ASAC? If so, consider supporting us. Camp expenses continue to rise, so we have entered a new phase of fundraising with a long-term vision of establishing a permanent support fund to make ASAC affordable to everyone. Click here to donate and support the Aquatic Science Adventure Camp Support Fund  For questions, contact Kellie Donajkowski at EARDC_education@txstate.edu or 512-245-6176.

Research Spotlight – The Aquifer Biodiversity Collection: A Growing Asset

The EARDC Aquifer Biodiversity Collection surpasses 10,000 specimens! In addition to an awesome education and outreach program, productive scientific research projects, and a water-quality analysis lab, the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center also hosts the world’s largest collection of preserved specimens from Texas groundwater habitats. Thanks to a grant from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, information about 10,000 of those specimens has now been digitized. That means that occurrence data like specimen identity, collection location, and date are now available to researchers and conservation managers around the world. Although thousands of samples remain to be digitized, this is an important milestone for establishing the Center as a small but crucial resource for understanding and protecting the state’s unique and imperiled groundwater resources. Already, over a dozen researchers from around the world have used our curated specimens and associated database to describe new species and answer questions about who’s living in our groundwater. The collection is projected to grow by about 1000 specimens annually and the public can see most of the digitized data at the Global Biodiversity Information Facility website: Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center (EARDC), Aquifer Biodiversity Collection.

Analytical Lab Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 5 pm, closed for lunch 12-1:15pm, bacteriological samples are not accepted on Fridays, only by special request.

Website: https://www.eardc.txst.edu/ 

ASAC Instagram: @aquaticsciencecamp

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