EDITORS NOTE: To arrange interviews with presenters or participants, please call media contacts Krista Umscheid at (512) 473-3365 or Emlea Chanslor at (512) 473-3342.

AUSTIN – Eleven organizations have come together to host the third annual Groundwater to the Gulf: Summer Institute for educators on June 24 through 26. The three-day, field-trip based program will provide hands-on experiences with local water experts for 50 educators focused on grades 4 through 8.

Participants will follow the path of water in Central Texas from its origins to its final destination in the Gulf of Mexico. Activities will focus on hydrogeology, groundwater, urban watersheds, water quality, water protection and water conservation.

The institute is hosted by: LCRA, City of Austin Watershed Protection Development Review, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, Keep Austin Beautiful, Sheffield Education Center, Texas Cave Management Association, the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, Hill Country Foundation, City of Sunset Valley, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

The Institute starts June 24 at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, where teachers will take part in a mini-cave trip. Staff from LCRA and the City of Austin will conduct the water quality portion of the agenda on Wednesday morning, June 25, at McKinney Falls State Park, where participants will learn about water testing and macro-invertebrate collection. That afternoon, participants will explore the geology of the Edwards Aquifer at Barton Springs’ SPLASH! exhibit.

On the morning of June 26, teachers will investigate how water is managed in Central Texas at LCRA’s Redbud Center.

By learning about the tools and techniques for monitoring water quality, water conservation and water management, educators will be better equipped to teach their students about the potential effects of various pollutants, the acceptable standards or limits of various pollutants, and the impact on the watershed’s water quality. They will return to their classrooms prepared to guide students in environmental investigation.

The 50 educators participating in the institute come from around the state, including Central Texas, San Saba, Dallas and Houston areas. Each participant will receive water-based curricula and resources to take back to his or her classroom, as well as continuing education credits.