Trips
Our fall and spring trips are definitely among many of our Dean’s Scholars’ most cherished college memories! Typically, DS goes to Fort Davis, Port Aransas, and/or Colorado Springs & McKinney Falls, but recently, we have also made non-traditional stops at LIGO in Louisiana and at Independence Creek Preserve in Sheffield, TX. No matter where they are, these excursions are sure to be a breath of fresh air from school, as Dean’s Scholars immerse themselves in the awe-inspiring wonders of nature and build deep, long-lasting friendships.
Independence Creek Preserve
Thanks to Dr. Hillis, we had the very special privilege of staying in cabins for a weekend in Independence Creek Preserve during the October 14, 2023 annular eclipse. The beauty of this otherworldly oasis truly cannot be described with words… you’ll have to see for yourself! All the stars (and shooting stars!) sprinkled across the night sky (shoutout to our amazing astronomy majors), the serene waters and transcendental clouds, the rocky (and cactus-y) hike to see the annular eclipse, and the strange yet exciting feeling of being college students in the middle of nowhere are truly things that will be very hard to forget.
Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) & Tickfaw State Park
Inspired by Dr. Rainer Weiss’s 2019 Distinguished Lecture Series talk, we headed to Louisiana to visit the Livingston location of the famous LIGO Laboratory, where gravitational waves were detected for the first time. While in Louisiana, we also stopped in Tickfaw State Park—there, we relaxed in cabins in the woods, walked a trail with Dr. Hillis, cooked very great food given the circumstances, and sang and had s’mores around a campfire (as we always love to do)!
Fort Davis
One of the highlights of our fall semester is the annual trip to Fort Davis, Texas, where UT operates McDonald Observatory. From hiking through the Davis Mountains and touring the telescopes at the observatory to pick-up soccer and frisbee in the fields and staying up late to play cards and tell stories, the Fort Davis trip always has something for everyone to enjoy and is consistently a student favorite. The dark skies of West Texas offer a phenomenal view of the stars, and there are always a few astronomy majors around to tell everyone else what they’re looking at.
Port Aransas
Port Aransas houses the University of Texas Marine Science Institute, where Dean’s Scholars spend a weekend every other spring semester! Arrival is marked by a ferry trip into town, and a beach expedition typically follows soon after! Sandcastles, races, swimming, and glorious sand sculptures are enjoyed by all this weekend. Saturday activities include either a kayaking or boat trip, with frisbee games, naps, and more beach time filling up the rest of the day. We have a tasty seafood dinner in town, and often end Saturday with one last beach trip before heading back to Austin Sunday morning.
Colorado Bend + McKinney Falls
On years when we’re not visiting the Marine Science Institute, Dean’s Scholars are visiting Colorado Bend State Park for a camping trip! Colorado Bend is a beautiful state park outside of Lampasas along the Colorado River. During the day we go hiking to Gorman Falls, swimming at Spicewood Springs, and spelunking at one of many caving sites! After a (vegetarian-accommodating) barbecue we hang out, make s’mores and enjoy nature. Perhaps most importantly, no camping trip would be complete without a few campfire songs, and someone always leads a few songs. At the end of the long day, you can sleep in the comfort of a cozy cabin or relax under the stars.
