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Enjoy Texas hospitality at its finest during early-arrival events the week before the Lowell Thomas Awards Dinner. From once-in-a-lifetime opportunities like caving with Explorers Club Citation of Merit Recipient Bill Steele, FE’79, to visiting the Sea Turtle Catastrophe Response Center with Wendy Knight, MN’ 24 Texas Explorer Club members are rolling out the red carpet to all registered Lowell Thomas Award Dinner guests. Texas bonus – most of these events are at no charge. Bragging rights are reserved for those who do four or more events. Please RSVP directly to the host for each event.
Marine biologist Mary Wicksten will host a visit to The Meadows Center and a glass-bottomed boat tour of Spring Lake, the crystal-clear spring-fed lake at the headwaters of the San Marcos River. Spring Lake is one of the largest artesian springs in the world, and is the oldest continuously habituated location in North America. Formerly a spa resort from the last century, the facility is now a nature research center and preserve, but still has the glass-bottom viewing boats for which it became famous.
Image from The Meadows Center, by Scott Bauer
Take a private tour way up to the top of the Texas Capitol inside the dome and right up to the historic cupola. These areas are usually off-limits to the general public; however, through gracious permission granted by the Capitol Preservation Board to the Texas Chapter of The Explorers Club, we have a rare opportunity to pull back the curtain and go behind the scenes. Not for the faint of heart. Wear comfortable pants and shoes.
Come to the beautiful South Padre Island, the Texas Riviera, to engage with and tour the conservation non-profit that responded to the two largest cold stun events in recorded history. Sea Turtle Inc. is a non-profit in South Texas focused on conservation, rehabilitation, research and education around endangered sea turtles. The afternoon on the island will include a private tour of the conservation center and museum, as well as a tour of the construction of the largest fully enclosed sea turtle hospital in the world. The visit will also include a fireside chat about the response measures taken in the 2021 cold stun event that impacted more than 5000 sea turtles in 8 short days. Time onsite will include patient feedings, conservation program reviews and rehabilitation and surgical efforts of sea turtles.
The hike will be on trail in an urban preserve. There will be some rocks, some vegetation overgrowth, and, if we get rain, your shoes may get wet. If we get any rain before then, there will hopefully be 3 small waterfalls. The hike should be about 1 – 1.5 hours.
Running shoes or light hikers will be fine. Bottled water and snack bars will be available. Do not leave any valuables in your car. There is road construction in the area.
Join us to see a part of Austin that not many people get to see!
This free Close-Range Photogrammetry Workshop provides attendees with a hands-on introduction to cutting-edge techniques for capturing high-fidelity 3D models of objects in the field. Participants will learn basic principles of optics and photography as they apply to photogrammetry and digital curation, focusing on using portable cameras with specialized open-source and free software to create detailed “digital twins.”
The workshop covers best practices for image acquisition, including proper lighting, camera settings, and capture strategies for various subjects ranging from small artifacts to large geological formations. Attendees will gain practical experience with data processing workflows, exploring how to generate accurate 3D models, textures, and measurements from their captured images.
By the end of this fully hands-on session, explorers will be equipped with valuable skills to document and preserve their discoveries, enhance scientific analysis, and share immersive visual records of their expeditions. These skills are immediately applicable to archaeology and the cultural heritage sector, with potential applications in other fields as well.
Don’t just document your expeditions – bring them to life. Join us and unlock the power of photogrammetry.
Visit the two best spots in the Texas Hill Country: Enchanted Rock, and Fredericksburg. Enchanted Rock is a pink granite mountain located in Llano, and Fredericksburg is a German town at the heart of the Texas Wine Country. Fredericksburg is also the location of the Pacific War Museum. Your day will include transportation to/from downtown Austin, Enchanted Rock entry fees, light snacks and refreshments, an expert speaker on the geology and formation of Enchanted Rock, and admission to the Pacific War Museum in Fredericksburg.
Appropriate for all ages, bring sturdy shoes and comfortable clothing. Hiking poles not required but might be useful.
Mobility restricted individuals are welcome to join, however they will likely not be able to hike up Enchanted Rock itself. There are flat trails around the rock that can be enjoyed by all.
Transportation and cost will depend upon the number of people who sign up. If there is just a handful, then we’ll carpool and ride and total cost will be $75.00 per person. If we get many, many people, then we’ll charter a bus and the costs will be about $150.00 per person. Cost excludes lunch and wine tastings in Fredericksburg.
Schedule:
Grant Fowlds, a dedicated conservationist hailing from a family committed to rhino protection, pioneered a significant wildlife protection program at Amakhala Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. This initiative, known as Project Rhino, has evolved into a prominent tourism brand. As the project’s ambassador, Grant has successfully raised awareness about wildlife conservation across multiple countries, including key wildlife contraband consumer nations in Southeast Asia. Click here for more information.
Join legendary caver Bill Steele, FE’79 on this superb adventure into the depths of the Natural Bridge Caverns, the best cave in Texas, and one of the best in the United States. Natural Bridge Caverns, located near I-35 between Austin and San Antonio, was discovered in the 1960s. It was explored, mapped, and improved with paths and lighting, and is available for us to see its wonders. This natural marvel is still being explored, and Explorers Club members are involved. See a video about recent discoveries at here.
Guests can do one or two tours, back-to-back. The Discovery Tour is the original tour. See the cave as the original explorers did in the 1960s, but now with sidewalks and state-of-the-art LED lighting. Want to see more, then also take the Hidden Wonders Cavern Tour, which just opened last year. Arrive at the Visitor’s Center of Natural Bridge Caverns no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 30. Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a light sweater.
Photos provided by Natural Bridge Caverns.
An evening of exceptional jazz and sparkling conversation in a superb listening room. We will explore the themes of identity, purpose, and the ethics of decision making as we appreciate the skills of some of the best musicians in Central Texas.
Join West Hansen, ultra-marathon canoe racer and expedition leader, along a stretch of the pristine “River of the Innocents” for a leisurely autumn morning paddle. West led expeditions down the entire 4,200-mile Amazon, the longest (or second longest river system in the world — disputed with the Nile), and 2,100-mile Volga River, the longest river in Europe. Most recently, in 2023, West led the first expedition to kayak the entire 1,600-mile Northwest Passage, so there may be a story or two along the way.
Wear clothing and shoes that you don’t mind getting wet. We’ll arrange for transportation and all the boats/gear. No experience necessary.
Tour the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston with NASA Astronaut and Explorer Club Fellow Jessica Meir. This behind-the-scenes tour will include stops at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab (where astronauts train for spacewalks), the Mission Control Center, and the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (life size mockups of the International Space Station, Orion capsule, Soyuz capsule, etc. used for astronaut training).
Tour size currently starting at the first 20 to RSVP, but may be possible to increase numbers if there is significant interest.
Come sketch some of Austin’s beautiful scenery while admiring professional art and sculptures on the grounds of The Contemporary Austin’s Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park at Laguna Gloria. The Contemporary at Laguna Gloria, a 12-acre sculpture park on the shores of Lake Austin, is home to works by acclaimed contemporary artists from around the world. Explore the art as you wander along the trails and throughout the wooded grounds.
Bonus self-guided side activity: Enjoy nearby historic Mayfield Park on your own. Mayfield Park is not unlike stepping into a tranquil oasis. Towering palm trees, lush gardens and brilliant peacocks surround lily and koi fish filled ponds. The 23-acre park also boasts a historic, picturesque cottage available for wedding and event rentals. In addition to the home and impeccable gardens, there are 21 acres of scenic hiking trails teeming with wildlife that surround the estate. The trails’ access points can be found near the historic cottage.
Small sketch pads and shared colored-pencils to be provided.
Join former Texas Chapter Chair and renowned global circumnavigating sailor and story-teller Ben Edelstein and a multitude of Texas Chapter explorers at Ben’s house overlooking the autumnal Texas hill country for a relaxed evening to celebrate explorers who wore out this existence living life to its fullest. Raise a glass or four as the Texas Chapter welcomes explorers from around the world to enjoy the sunset and feed the deer that wander up to share the show.
The Little Longhorn Saloon is an iconic hole-in-the-wall dive bar that warms the cockles of my liver every time I darken its doors. Famous for its classy game of bingo whereupon patrons place bets onto which square the chicken will drop an organic souvenir. It’s an artform. A mostly live (a bit long in the tooth) country and western band fills the air with music as the weekly festivities ramp up and dancers fill the floor.
Image of the Little Longhorn Saloon.
