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Kids on the Colorado | River Stewards | Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup | Redbud Center
The Colorado River Foundation believes education is essential to ushering a healthy Colorado River into the next generation. The Foundation raises funds to support natural science education and outdoor recreation, particularly for at-risk and underserved youth, annual river cleanups, and additional community projects that encourage the stewardship, awareness, and protection of the Colorado River in Texas. Our signature programs include Kids on the Colorado, River Stewards, and the annual Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup.
Through a 2-3 hour rafting trip down the river, hands-on experiments, nature hikes, and exciting river presentations, participants explore their role as river stewards and form a lasting personal connection with the Colorado River. The Foundation offers the Kids on the Colorado program in partnership with the Lower Colorado River Authority, who provide the staffing, facilities and logistical support to maximize the regional outreach of the program. Program sites for Kids on the Colorado have included numerous LCRA sites and facilities, including:
At least 65% of the students who participate in Kids on the Colorado programs come from underserved populations and receive scholarships funded by the Colorado River Foundation. It costs only $40 to sponsor one participant's program expenses. For more information about sponsorship, please click here or contact us at 512.458.8844.
Click here for pictures from our latest River Stewards program! For more information about River Stewards or how you can participate, please contact the Foundation at 512.458.8844.
For sponsorship opportunities please email Zach Horton. To download information about sponsorship benefits and levels, please CLICK HERE. How do I participate? Austin Aqua Sports Redbud Center
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The Colorado River Foundation believes that youth who learn and understand the value of the Colorado River as a resource are more likely to take steps to protect it as adults. Through the Kids on the Colorado program, the Colorado River becomes a teaching tool to introduce participants to the following topics and more:
Our innovative River Stewards project, a three-year program for Bay City, Texas Independent School District middle school youth (65% minority and 70% at-risk) uses field-based learning to enhance science performance and environmental stewardship. Three hundred and fifty students began attending two one-day science enrichment excursions in January 2007 to the LCRA's new Matagorda Bay Nature Park, exploring topics in science and conservation such as: marine biology, renewable energy production, beach wildlife and shell analysis, live animal presentations, kayaking, water quality and pollution analysis, seining and dip netting to examine marine and estuarine organisms, profiling of beaches and dunes, and using GPS equipment for measurement. A thorough evaluation of the program is already underway, using the following quantitative and qualitative methods: teacher, parent, and student surveys, pre- and post-tests, standardized assessment scores (TAKS exam results), and academic performance. The comprehensive goal of the evaluation is to gather empirical data that reflects the impact of field-based programs on academic success, understanding of the sciences, and attitudes about the conservation of our natural resources.
Sunday, September 9, 2007 will mark the 13th anniversary of the Lake Travis Underwater Cleanup, a community-driven event that rids Lake Travis of tons of debris and waste each year. More than twelve-hundred shoreline volunteers, dive volunteers, and event volunteers participated in 2006, gathering approximately five tons of trash from the shores and waters of Lake Travis, including some 1,500 pounds of recyclable materials. Please join in this year's mission to help keep the Colorado River clean and safe for future generations! 
In fall of 2007, the Colorado River Foundation and the Lower Colorado River Authority will open Austin's newest public park facility at the Redbud Center. Located at the intersection of Lake Austin Blvd. and Redbud Trail in West Austin, the 4.5 acre grounds will include exhibits that help youth and adult audiences learn about the history, importance, and conservation of the Colorado River in Texas. Interactive water features will demonstrate the operation of the Highland Lakes and dams system, while the site itself with model solutions to conserve water and protect our natural resources, such as rain water harvesting and stormwater management. All self-guided and student tours will be provided free of charge. The Redbud Center will enhance Austin's community spaces, appeal to local schools and neighborhood volunteers, and promote the most vital concern of the present and future: protecting the Colorado River.
