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Student Field Experience in the Texas Hill Country

Experiential learning through Texas' ecosystems

By St. Edward's University

April 30^th, 2025

Learning Central Texas Ecosystems

Amy Concillio, Associate Professor of Environmental Science, created a new Texas Ecology course housed under The School of Behavioral and Social Sciences. Throughout the semester, students learn how to identify state plants and animals and study adaptable organisms that have survived Texas ecosystem’s changes.

Conservation Science and Naturalist Skills

In addition, students discover how things such as climate, different soils, geologic formations and disturbances have contributed to the ecosystem we have today. Because this course is a part of the Environmental Science and Policy major, students also get practice on engaging with stakeholders to discuss necessary conservation science needed for agricultural restoration.

Students take take photos of plants on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

A sign reads — A sign reads "Welcome to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area," with the granite dome visible in the background.

Dr. Amy Concilio leads a group of students on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

Cacti on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

Dr. Amy Concilio leads a group of students on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

Dr. Amy Concilio holds a dry, grass-like plant on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

A student points out a type of plant to fellow students on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

Dr. Amy Concilio leads a group of students on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

Dr. Amy Concilio stops at an informational marker and chats with students on the Enchanted Rock Interpretive Loop Trail.

Experiential Learning

Perhaps the most unique aspect of the class is the number of field trips students have the option of participating in. Dr. Concilio provided her class with nearly a dozen experiential learning opportunities in the field, ranging from visits to state parks near and far and places neighboring to the hilltop. These photos showcase trips to Enchanted Rock State Natural Area and Water Quality Protection Lands in the Edwards Aquifer Recharge Zone.

Dr. Amy Concilio and students walk up stairs on a trail at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

Students read informational signage at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

Students bird watch at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

Hannah Pickens, Interpretive Park Ranger at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, talks to the class about the history of Enchanted Rock.

Hannah Pickens, Interpretive Park Ranger at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, holds a piece of granite as she talks to the class.

A student takes notes as Hannah Pickens, Interpretive Park Ranger at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, talks to the class.

A student takes notes as Hannah Pickens, Interpretive Park Ranger at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, talks to the class.

A student looks at a Geology of Texas map as as Hannah Pickens, Interpretive Park Ranger at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area, talks to the class.

The clear blue sky is reflected in a stream at Enchanted Rock State Natural Area.

“I feel what drew me to (the class) the most is...to go out in the field and to different environments around Texas and learn how to be a naturalist through real life situations instead of just sitting in a classroom and learning through a lecture.”

An Enchanted Rock Summit Trail sign is in view as students walk up Enchanted Rock.

Dr. Amy Concilio and members of her class stand together on Enchanted Rock, with a view of the Enchanted Rock Summit Trail sign in the background.

Mariah Olivarez, St. Edward's web content manager, hikes the Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Three birds fly in a circle above the Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

A view of a neighboring rock formation from Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Dr. Amy Concilio talks to students as they hike the Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Dr. Amy Concilio looks for fairy shrimp through a magnifying glass in a small pond of water atop Enchanted Rock.

A spider is seen standing atop a small pond of water on Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

A view of the hill country from atop Enchanted Rock.

Field Trips

A student sits by a small pond of water atop Enchanted Rock.

Dr. Amy Concilio, students and park visitors hang out at the summit of Enchanted Rock.

Mariah Olivarez, St. Edward's web content manager, lies down after summiting Enchanted Rock.

Dr. Amy Concilio and students hike down Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Dr. Amy Concilio and students make toppers up hand signs as they stand on the summit of Enchanted Rock.

Dr. Amy Concilio and students hike down Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Students hike down Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

A view of Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Students hike down Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Enchanted Rock State Natural Area

While Enchanted Rock State Natural Area became a state park in 1978, its namesake -- the massive pink granite dome -- has drawn people to this Central Texas spot for thousands of years. More than 400 archeological sites have been found in the park, with some findings tracing human interaction with the land as far back as 12,000 years ago.There are 11 miles of hiking trails within the park, with the Summit Trail being the most popular, as hikers are rewarded with expansive hill country views atop the dome.

Park visitors hike up and down Enchanted Rock Summit Trail.

Edwards Aquifer

The Edwards Aquifer is a unique groundwater system that serves the diverse agricultural, industrial, recreational and domestic needs of millions of South Central Texans. This particular aquifer is characterized by the presence of sinkholes, sinking streams, caves, large springs and highly productive water wells. Even though the Edwards Aquifer is one of the most productive in the United States, it has been strained in recent decades due to massive population growth in the region, which makes the work of the Water Quality Protection Lands program all the more vital.

A student walks through the Water Quality Protection Lands.

A student walks through the Water Quality Protection Lands.

A student walks through the Water Quality Protection Lands.

A mossy tree branch on Water Quality Protection Lands.

Students walk through the Water Quality Protection Lands.

Trees frame a dry creek bed on Water Quality Protection Lands.

Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talks to students about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

A student holds a notebook and listens to Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talk about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

A metal cage sits atop a cave entrance to the Edwards Aquifer in a dry creek bed on Water Quality Protection Lands.

Water Quality Protection Lands

Because the Edwards Aquifer's water travels through porous limestone, it's vulnerable to pollution from activities on the surface. The Water Quality Protection Lands program was created in 1998, when Austinites voted to purchase easements to protect both the water quantity and quality in the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer, running from the Buda/Kyle area and emerging in Barton Springs, Austin's beloved natural spring-fed pool. Currently, the program includes more than 34,000 acres of conservation lands, with the majority of these lands being restored to or maintained as native grassland savannas.

A hill country view of Water Quality Protection Lands.

Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talks to students about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

Dried plant and grass in a field on land part of the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

A student listens to Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talk about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

A few berries on a small tree on land part of the Water Quality Protection Lands.

Dr. Amy Concilio talks to students.

Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, points to a graphic as he talks about the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone.

Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talks to students about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

Trees and grasses on Water Quality Protection Lands.

Networking Beyond the Hilltop

Through this class, Dr. Concillio creates and facilities networking opportunities and relationship building for her students with industry professionals. Each field trip, students learn from guest speakers who are doing the work in their field, and have the opportunity to ask questions about their careers as well as connect on potential job or internship opportunities. This kind of personalized interaction is a testament to the kind of learning opportunities St. Edward's students receive in small class settings, better preparing them to take on their world both on and off the hilltop.

Students walk to a quarry on Water Quality Protection Lands.

An active quarry on Water Quality Protection Lands.

Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talks to students about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

A portion of the Edwards Aquifer is visible from Water Quality Protection Lands.

Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talks to students about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

Students take notes as Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, talks about the Water Quality Protection Lands program.

Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, walks through Water Quality Protection Lands.

A feather rests on ground atop a quarry on Water Quality Protection Lands.

A bird rests atop a tree branch on Water Quality Protection Lands.

“I’ve noticed how the ENSP majors are able to dip their toes in different things...Someone who wants to do business might want to do it sustainably...or [someone] in biology might want to learn about policy communications. I think it’s a great consideration if you have any desire to help the world.”

Students stand with Dr. Kevin Thuesen, Environmental Conservation Program Manager for the City of Austin, and Dr. Amy Concilio at an active quarry on Water Quality Protection Lands.

Footnotes

Story by Nina Martinez. Photography and videography by Chelsea Purgahn.

FootNotes

Story by Nina Martinez. Photography and videography by Chelsea Purgahn.

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