Environmental education is top bill at LCRA parks

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

October 31, 2002 -- While the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) has established parks along the 58 counties within the lower Colorado River basin, their concentration is turning more and more to the environmental education of children and adults, along with the various forms of recreation offered at the parks.

"We have a series of environmental learning centers, now," said Beth Banks, environmental education program supervisor.

A wildlife biologist, Banks is in charge of all educational programs at four sites developed by LCRA: Canyon of the Eagles, near Lake Buchanan; McKinney Roughs between Bastrop and Austin; Westcave Preserve, west of Austin; and Matagorda Bay, which is being developed.

The Canyon of the Eagles includes a lodge and facilities for group meetings and educational programs. McKinney Roughs continues to be the "centerpiece of LCRA's commitment to environmental education," and is the first LCRA learning center to "focus on teaching teachers."

This past summer, dorms, a dining hall and an amphitheater were opened at McKinney Roughs, and school children were offered the opportunity to stay at week-long camps.

"As far as summer camp, we're going to have some traveling camps that, basically, stay in our dorms and do day trips away," said Banks. "In the summer, our priority is the kids."

As the educational centers continue to expand the environmental learning possibilities, LCRA is concentrating on presenting the present parks as "environmental learning centers," according to Banks.

"We're running raft trips, now. We put 2001 kids on the River in 2001. This year, we're putting 3000 kids on the River (at McKinney Roughs)," explained Banks.

The raft trips are a big lure to adults as well as children, and with over 18 miles of trails included in the 1,100-acre nature park, 12 of these miles can be used by horses.

Dorms at McKinney Roughs offer housing for 128 people and the new dining room can feed 150 people in one seating.

While the major focus for most of the year is on youth environmental education, Banks said that during December through about February, the facilities plan to offer the accommodations for rent for family functions, wedding receptions, business retreats and other adult activities.

"We have a low ropes course, a challenge course, that we use a lot, and we're building a high ropes course, next year, so we're excited about that," stated Banks.

Boy and Girl Scouts programs are available, including a Junior Naturalists "kids' club" that meets once a month for ages 7 through 9, among programs.

Coming up, this month, is the "Trick or Treat at the Roughs", which will offer bobbing for apples, a haunted trail, music, storytelling and lots of treats, according to the fall edition of EcoVentures, the calendar and resource guide published by LCRA.

The new amphitheater at McKinney Roughs overlooks the Colorado River and has hosted a bluegrass concert and classical quartet, so far this fall.

Evening hikes are also available for both adults and children, as well as special trips out to Big Bend National Park.

"This past summer, I took a group of Girl Scouts out to Big Bend. We spent a whole week there ... I didn't want to come home," laughed Banks. "We have a Nature Heritage Program ... the first time was this year ... and it's for people 25 and older, too."

For teachers in the McKinney Roughs area, LCRA is providing "state-of-the-art" teacher training programs that have been approved by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Association of Gifted and Talented and all LCRA workshops carry State Board of Education Certification credit, according to the literature.

For more information concerning programs, certifications and recreational opportunities, call LCRA at 800-776-5272, ext. 2338.