To learn more about the educational programs listed, call 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 4740, or send an e-mail to matagordabay@lcra.org. (Most outdoor programs can be scheduled ahead to suit the needs of your class, youth group or organization.)

Learn about using a seine to catch fish in the Living on a Beach program.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
All education programs are grade-level appropriate and support the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) objectives.

Estuary investigation
Life for a vast array of aquatic organisms starts where the saltwater and freshwater mingle. This unique habitat is the nursery or first home for fish, crab, shrimp, oysters and other marine organisms. Degrees of salinity determine where marine organisms prefer to breed and live. Participants investigate saltwater/freshwater interaction, determine salinity levels at several locations and using various tools collect, examine and release organisms of the estuary.

A slice of the watershed
Historically, watersheds and river basins have determined where people live and work. Texas droughts and floods teach that water management has become vital for reliable water supplies to municipalities, agriculture and industries. In this activity students will have the opportunity to build a surface and ground water model and then apply water systems concepts.

Birds of a feather  
Every wonder why some birds remind you of dinosaurs? That’s because they are very distant relatives. In this program, students will learn about the adaptive physical features that birds have inherited from dinosaurs, as well as get a close up look at some of their other unique features, such as feet, beaks and feathers. Students will also get a chance to apply auditory and observation skills to identify birds, compare/contrast a compass to a bird’s migratory skills, and determine habitat needs and requirements

Water Coursing Through History
Water is used by all members of a community. In this activity students simulate changes in a watershed over several time periods. In each round, the students represent different water users whose demands exceed the resource. This program promotes students to practice math skills, evaluate scientific thoughts and social behavior and discuss environmental concerns in their own home towns.

Students learn about wind power during the Ride the Electric Wave program.

Ride the Electric Wave
The Lower Colorado River Authority provides various sources of energy to Texans.  Learn about how energy is transformed through hydroelectric, solar and wind generators. Students learn the forms of energy, how to identify renewable and nonrenewable sources and compare methods for transforming energy in devices.

Trapped in Chains and Webs
Every living creature is unique but tied to each other by food chains and food webs.  Students will learn about the delicate balance among producers, consumers, and decomposers in the saltwater ecosystem. Students will also learn about habitat zones, and learn to identify the fish that stir the ocean and wetlands at Matagorda.

A Class of Their Own
The variety of living organisms on Earth is the result of adaptation. Students utilize the taxonomic classification system of living organisms to examine phylum. This program gives students a chance to observe organisms up close and compare their anatomical adaptations, unique behaviors and habitat requirements.

GPS on the Trail
Learn how to use a global positioning satellite (GPS) unit and then apply what you have learned while kayaking in East Matagorda Bay or while walking along the beach. This technology is far reaching and has numerous applications. For example, students will use the GPS units to collect data along a kayak trail or an outdoor walking trail system.  Afterward, students can download the data and plot it on a topographical map.

Salt Marsh Munchers
Texas wetlands serve as nursery grounds for more than 95 percent of the recreational and commercial fish species in the Gulf of Mexico, many of which are threatened and endangered. Students will analyze and define wetland characteristics, identify the roles of the biotic and abiotic components of a salt marsh and investigate how organisms adapt to life in this unique environment.

Adaptations of Reptiles Amphibians and Bony Fish
In this activity students will distinguish the characteristics of reptiles, amphibians and bony fish of Matagorda County. Students get a chance to interact with living specimens and compare adaptive characteristics of these organisms. This program analyzes and describes adaptive characteristics that help them survive.

Shelling out Fun
Finding shells on the beach is a fun activity for all ages. Scientifically identifying shell involves the process of sorting and classifying. This process groups organisms which share physical characteristics, then separates organisms based upon their unique physical characteristics. Students will have the opportunity to gather, sort, create and use a dichotomous key to classify shells found on the beach. 

Clear Into the Future: Water Quality
How do the waters of the Matagorda wetland differ from the Gulf of Mexico or the Colorado River? This program provides the participants with a hands-on water testing opportunity of the various coastal ecosystems. Participants will understand the seasonal variation in water quality and local organisms’ survival tactics.

Dune Defense & Beach Processes
Dunes are valued as the first line of defense against powerful ocean waves. To understand dunes, one must understand beach processes. Using appropriate tools and skills, this activity highlights beach processes such as shoreline slope, wave formation, wind direction and other beach processes which create the intricate relationship between dunes and the beach.

For additional information, contact matagordabay@lcra.org.