Education at Bamberger Ranch

For more than a decade, the Bamberger Ranch Preserve has been providing custom-designed educational programs for school groups from all over central Texas. Our current objective is to prepare the students with the knowledge to master the TEKS requirements. We are able to accomplish this through a state Board of Education certified staff and one incredible classroom. In 2006, the Bamberger Ranch Preserve was honored by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Governor Rick Perry with the Texas Environmental Excellence Award in Education.

The ranch has on-site:

• Cretaceous-period dinosaur tracks
• Marine fossil beds for collection
• Fresh-water creeks and lakes for aquatic studies
• A nature trail system with wide range of biodiversity
• A herd of endangered species of African antelope, the Scimitar Horned Oryx
• A man-made bat cave
• Heritage Conservation at Hes' Country Store
• Livestock and ranching demonstrations

Topics specific to TEKS requirements can be addressed. All activities at the ranch support TEKS requirements for all age groups regarding safe practices, choosing wisely the disposal or recycling method of materials/resources and developing scientific inquiry and constructing hypotheses. Below is a brief sample of TEKS qualifications for a variety of lessons BRP offers:

• Earth Sciences are supported with hands-on activities and lessons on soils, geology, astronomy and change over time with dinosaur tracks, fossil collections, and star gazing: (2.8, 3.11, 3.6, 4.8, 4.10, 4.11, 5.11, 5.12.)
• Lessons with watersheds, water cycles and aquatic collections used to analyze a body of water's biotic health qualify for 2.9, 2.10, 3.8, 4.5, 5.6.
• Life Sciences are strongly supported at the ranch with lessons on beekeeping, pollinators, bird watching, native plant identifications, bats, and much more. (5.8, 5.9, 4.8, 4.9, 3.9, 2.9, 2.8, 2.6).

The ranch has a corps of talented volunteers:

• Texas Master Naturalists
• Astronomers
• Wildlife rehabilitators
• Plant experts
• Amphibian and reptile experts
• Birders

The educational staff of three have academic credentials in:

• Wildlife management
• Biology
• Native plants
• Environmental Studies

The length of stay and the depth of interpretation can also be custom designed. Day-trips of the ranch can be as short at 3 hours or as long at 8 hours, depending on the school's requirements. Pricing for all programs is based on amount of staff and time required, as well as the school's budget. Day trips are generally $6-12 per person, including adults and teachers. Overnight field trip prices are based on number of meals provided, lodging requirements and staff time and participation. Reservations tend to be booked 9-12 months in advance and space is extremely limited.

Lodging is available for schools who have the ability to spend the night. Lodging is at the Center and can sleep 46 people in bunk bed style. 20 camping cots are also available if needed.