Coming Up in ELC:

Daylight Savings Time

• Sunday, March 12 at 2:00 am
• Clocks are turned forward 1 hour.
• To remember which way to set our clocks, Americans often use the expression “spring forward, fall back.”

Spring Break

• No Classes!
• Monday, March 13 – Friday, March 17
• The ELC office is open during regular hours.

Scholarship Application: Summer 2023

• Application available online HERE
• Submission Deadline: Monday, April 3 @ 5:00 pm
• Two (2) scholarships are typically awarded: one for AEP and one for ELP
• Award will cover $1700 towards intensive tuition for the Summer I 2023 (10–week) session in either AEP or ELP.

Continuing Student Applications

• For Summer 2023
• Application available online HERE
• We would love to see you again!

Upcoming Social Events:

Family Feud Social

• Join your friends in the ELC to play this beloved quiz game!
• Monday, March 20
• 12:45 – 1:45 pm
• CBA 3.304

Talk Time

• Practice your English conversation skills with native English speakers!
• Tuesday, March 21
• 4:30 – 5:30 pm
• MEZ 1.212

Outdoor Adventures

Austin is known for all the beautiful outdoor activities you can do here! We have tons of hiking trails, and places to swim, kayak, and paddleboard. You can be minutes from downtown and enjoy the peace of being outdoors.

Barton Springs Pool

• Natural spring-fed water.
• It’s COLD! 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit (20-21 degrees Celsius)
• Federally protected habitat, which is home to the Barton Springs Salamander.
• Hours: Guarded Swim- 8 am to 10 pm, every day except Thursday.
• $5 entry
• Check for prohibited items

The Barton Creek Greenbelt

• We just call it “the Greenbelt”
• 12.68 miles of gorgeous trails
• Located just a few minutes South of downtown!
• Considered one of the top hiking trails in Texas
• Great for hiking, mountain biking, several swimming holes (when there’s water), and even rock climbing on the limestone bluffs!
• Honestly, it can be a little confusing to find the access points. Click this link for a guide.

Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake

• Austinites often call the river-like water bisecting Austin either Town Lake or Lady Bird Lake, but it’s actually a reservoir of the Colorado River!
• 10 + miles of trail that meanders along the water’s edge.
• You’ll pass by skyscrapers, neighborhoods, ball fields, and cultural attractions.
• There’s even a Boardwalk portion of the Trail!
• Read more and find maps of the trail online here.

Kayaking & Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP) on Lady Bird Lake

• These are two of the MOST popular activities to do on Lady Bird Lake in Austin.
• You sit down to kayak, and it can be fun and fast!
• You stand up to paddleboard, and it can be a fun way to work out your abs!
• There are several places to purchase rentals along the Hike-and-Bike Trail, check out these two popular locations: the Texas Rowing Center and the Rowing Dock.
• Price: $15 – $30 per hour or $35 – $65 for the day.

The Violet Crown Trail

• Take a hike on a tree-lined trail in south Austin!
• The trail is now 13 miles long running from Zilker Park to Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
• Download a trailhead map online here.

Great Hills Park

• Great Hills Park is a City of Austin neighborhood park in a beautiful hill country setting, tucked away in northwest Austin. More than 80 acres in size, the park includes a large natural area with hiking trails, and a playscape.
• Park Hours: 5:00 am – 10:00 pm
• 10801 Sierra Oaks, Austin, TX 78759
• 85 Acres in the Bull Creek Watershed
• 1.7 miles of maintained trails and many more rough trails – see trail map

Zilker Botanical Garden

• Zilker Botanical Garden is nestled within Zilker Metropolitan Park in the heart of downtown Austin. Their themed gardens (Taniguchi Japanese Garden, Hartman Prehistoric Garden, and Rose Garden) are interconnected with pathways for all ages and abilities. With heritage live oaks, streams, and Koi-filled ponds, the Garden offers a peaceful respite in the middle of a busy city.
• Garden Hours: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
• 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, Texas 78746
• Price: Austin resident adults (ages 18 & 61) $6
• Tickets must be purchased in advance.
• Purchase General Admission tickets HERE.
• View the Garden Map
• ADA access is limited.

The Umlauf Sculpture Garden and Museum

• In 1985, Charles and Angie Umlauf gifted their home, his studio, and hundreds of sculptures to the City of Austin. Today, the Umlauf Sculpture Garden & Museum’s Collection consists of over 2000 drawings and 273 sculptures by Charles Umlauf, 59 of which are continuously on view in the Umlauf Sculpture Garden.
• Museum & Garden Hours
• Tuesday – Friday: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Saturday – Sunday: 11:00 am to 4:00 pm
• Monday: Closed
• 605 Azie Morton Road, Austin, Texas 78704
• Price: Students (with valid student ID) $3
• In Texas, there are more Umlauf sculptures in public locations than works by any other single sculptor!
• Umlauf became a Life Drawing and Sculpture professor in UT Austin’s art department in 1941. He taught at UT for 40 years, retiring as Professor Emeritus in 1981.
• You can spot an Umlauf sculpture on the UT Austin campus in front of the GSB building next to CBA!
• Family Day
• Free admission!
• Sunday, March 12
• 11:00 am – 4:00 pm
• Welcome back the return of Daylight Savings with a fun-filled day at the Umlauf Garden featuring their popular Sculpture Searches, arts craft (limited supplies), and free admission for visitors of all ages!
• Featuring a performance from the female leads of Sister Sage (Americana/Folk Rock) at 1:00 pm.
• And local treats favorite Hey Cupcake! will be onsite selling mini-cupcakes, cookies, and beverages.
• Register HERE!