The Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center houses the Splash! into the Edwards Aquifer exhibit, rotating exhibits in the central rotunda, and partners with the Austin Nature & Science Center to offer educational programs. Our mission is to foster stewardship of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer through education.
In light of recent public health concerns, the Beverly S. Sheffield Education Center remains closed. Read more here.
| We want your feedback about the Beverly Sheffield Education Center and the Splash Exhibit. Please fill out a survey here. Additional info located here. | Available now |
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Sheffield Education Center Receives BSEACD 2017 EDUCATION AWARD At its December 14, 2017 meeting, the Board of Directors of the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District selected its 2017 Groundwater Stewardship Award winners. The District presents these stewardship awards every two years to deserving individuals, organizations, companies or agencies that have invested exemplary effort towards the protection and conservation of water resources in the District. |
Please see their press release for details on all of the 2017 winners. |
- Plan your Visit
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Admission
Free! Parking fees vary seasonally.
Hours of Operation
Monday - Closed
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm
Location
Barton Springs Bathhouse
2201 William Barton Dr., Austin, TX 78746
- Education
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Programs are scheduled through the Austin Nature & Science Center
Phone: (512) 974-3888
Email: anscprograms@austintexas.gov
On Your Own Tours
It’s free! A water fountain and restrooms are just outside our entrance. The Zilker Playscape and picnic tables are close by. Please note that the site is small and can only accommodate one class at a time comfortably.
Introduction
Define “aquifer” for your group—an underground storage place for water. Since the exhibit is designed to look like an actual limestone cave, challenge younger students to imagine that they are a drop of water entering into the aquifer. For older students, point out the “Aquifer Recharge Zone” sign at the entrance of the exhibit and ask if they have seen these signs around Austin. Explain that sign alerts people that they are entering a sensitive recharge area for the Edwards Aquifer.
Theater
On the touchscreen menu, choose the heading “Science” and the video “Carved in Stone.” This 4-minute movie illustrates the geologic processes that formed the aquifer and Barton Springs. Discuss the large span in geologic time and how Austin used to look.
Strata Cave
This passageway shows the rock layers of the aquifer that exist below us in Central Texas. Encourage students to touch and describe the differences between each layer. How does the physical make-up of each rock layer impact the movement of water through the aquifer?
Watershed Model
How does water enter the aquifer? Each button and corresponding animation show the journey water must take to enter the Edwards Aquifer. Have students take turns pressing each button from left to right.
Aquaria
Each of the 4 aquaria represents a different part of the local watershed; upper Barton Creek, Barton Springs Pool, lower Barton Creek and the Colorado River. What differences do students note between each aquarium?
Pollution Tubes
These tubes represent the different kinds of impacts human actions can have upon waterways. Discuss with students causes and effects of each type of pollution, especially in regard to the aquatic critters that live in Austin’s creeks.
Water Science Room
Allow students 5-10 minutes to explore the interactive games and models. Challenge them to: enter the name of their school to find their school’s watershed, test Barton Creek’s water with light to measure for nitrates, use a dichotomous key to identify an aquatic insect and determine if storm water flows faster over pavement or parkland.
