Austin Independent School District Outdoor Education Program

The Austin Independent School District began the Outdoor Education Program in 1949. From 1949 to 1956, the program brought sixth-grade boys and girls to Friday Mountain Camp for five-days of nature study, hiking and other activities. In 1956 it became necessary to discontinue the Camping Program at Friday Mountain due to a lack of facilities for the increasing school enrollment. The Board of Education and the school administration decided that outdoor learning experiences of the Camping Program were successful and created the Outdoor Education Field Trip Program. The Field Trip Program consisted of daily field trips for fifth and sixth grade students. Examples of sites visited are: Mount Bonnell, Bastrop State Park, Pilot Knob, State Farm Colony, Whitestone Lime Kiln and Quarries, Balcones Fault Zone, Mansfield Dam and the City Power Plant.