I can’t think of any place better to help students understand the fascinating Edwards Aquifer than The Meadows Center at Aquarena Springs in San Marcos, Texas.
“Back in the day,” Aquarena Springs was sort of an educational amusement park. Families could ride in airborn gondolas called “Sky bubbles,” buy rocks…and rock candy, and go to shows featuring dancing chickens, a swimming pig, and MERMAIDS! Ah…I remember it well! 🙂
You can get a taste of what it was like through this video:
Fast forward, and you can see how the Texas State University has tried to preserve the best parts of a visit to the Springs at The Meadows Center.
You can arrange educational field trips or private group tours by phone or through their website, or you might want to take a glass-bottom boat tour. (As a child, I LOVED these. I was admittedly a bit geeky even then, but I think it’s fair to say most children would enjoy the boats that let you look down to see endangered fish species, unique water plants, and underwater springs that bubble up through the sandy bottom.)
A work-in-progress for many years, I’m pleased to see that The Meadows Center has a great website that will let you explore Spring Lake until you can go in person. Here’s a sample:
