Program Calendar: Spring/Summer 2008

Star Nights

March 15, 2008
April 12, 2008
Tour the night skies at Westcave Preserve, a dark sky location convenient to the surrounding metro areas. Program includes slide show and sky-viewing through a high-quality telescope and is led by Bill Tschumy with Think Astronomy, www.thinkastronomy.com. Call 830-825-3442 for weather updates.

Registration required
Hours: 7:30 p.m. — 9:30 p.m.
Fee: $5 adult; $2 child

Native Plant Landscaping

March 29, 2008
Find out which native plants of Central Texas make excellent additions to residential landscapes and the advantageous of planting them as well as basic landscape requirements and the proper use of irrigation and water. Program will be presented by Elizabeth Drozda-Freeman, conservation landscape specialist for the Lower Colorado River Authority.

Registration required
Hours: 10 a.m. to noon
Fee: $5 adult

Girl Scout Programs: Plantastic!

Session: April 5, 2008
Session 2: April 26, 2008
Discover a wide variety of native Texas plants at Westcave Preserve. Take a hike into the canyon, which acts as a natural terrarium and enjoy plantastic activities in the Environmental Learning Center while earning your Plants Try-It. Joint program between Westcave Preserve and Girl Scouts of Central Texas. To register visit www.GSCTX.org or phone 512-453-7391.

Registration required
Hours: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Fee: $8 per girl; $8 per Safety-wise adult

Morning Birding Tour

April 12, 2008
Join us on a rare opportunity to view the variety of birds at Westcave Preserve during their most active time of day. Possible sightings include golden-cheeked warblers, Cooper’s hawk, canyon wren, painted bunting and rufous-sided towhee. Binoculars are recommended for best viewing.

Reservations required
Hours: 8 - 10 a.m.
Fee: $5 adult

Know Your Neighborhood: Plants of the Texas Hill Country

May 4, 2008
Learn about the plants of the Texas Hill Country at Westcave Preserve, one of the most ecologically diverse sites in Central Texas. Topics covered in this one-day workshop will include the following:

• An overview of Texas Hill Country plants by ecosystems (grass savannah, canyon and riparian zones);
• Identification tips for various trees, shrubs, grasses and wildflowers;
• The Preserve’s 30 year history of habitat restoration and habitation restoration strategies for small or large landowners;
• The role native plants play in improving soils and increasing water infiltration;
• Native plants which will attract wildlife to your property;
• Interesting facts about and uses of native plants.

Registration required
Hours: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Fee: $8 adult

Project WILD Aquatic

Summer 2008
Date to be determined
Learn how to teach young people about aquatic ecology and aquatic wildlife using fun, hands-on educational activities. During the six-hour training workshop participants will sample activities and receive a curriculum and activity guide. Activities are adaptable for all grade levels, integrated with core subject curricula and aligned to the TEKS. Teachers, informal educators and youth group leaders may take the training. SBEC credit available for teachers. Project WILD Aquatic is sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Registration required
Hours: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fee: $10

Registration

To register for a program, except where noted, call (830) 825-3442 or send an e-mail to info@westcave.org.

...Discover Westcave!

Visitation to the grotto is only by guided tour to minimize the impact on this beautiful and fragile site. Tour rates are $5 per adult, $2 per child (under 12), or $15 per family. Free tour admission is offered for Westcave Preserve members.

Weekday tours for organized groups and schoolchildren can be arranged by calling the preserve at (830)825-3442. Additional information on school groups is available in our Teacher’s Resource Guide, available here on our Web site.

Public tours are offered year-round (weather permitting) on Saturdays and Sundays only at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., and 4 p.m.