Last Updated on January 30, 2024
In our quarterly RIVER CAMP! Series, we invite younger supporters of the San Antonio River (and those young at heart) to learn more about this precious freshwater resource. Tune in for educational information, river-centric activities, great videos, and ways families can take personal actions for a sustainable river!
IN TODAY’S RIVER CAMP, We’re going to the River for Spring Break!
Spring is here. Can you feel it? Flowers are blooming, insects are buzzing about, and there’s no better time to get outdoors and enjoy springtime in Texas!
For many of our younger readers, this is also the time for their annual Spring Break. On today’s blog, we’ll share outdoor adventure opportunities for families in the San Antonio River Basin during Spring Break 2023. For most schools in our area, this falls from March 11-19, 2023. From kayaking and camping to biking and birdwatching and even photography and painting, we have a calendar full of activities to keep you and your kiddos busy!
For the Kayaker
Does your family like to take adventures to the water? Kick off your Spring Break by heading to the San Antonio River for kayaking fun! Just south of downtown, you’ll find the King William Paddling Trail. It is a flat, peaceful 2-mile section perfect for beginners or those looking for a little Zen. You can bring your kayak or rent one from one of the River Authority’s approved vendors.
Want to see a different section of the San Antonio River? Starting March 18, you can paddle the Museum Reach on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard (SUP). This is the northernmost section of the River Walk, and there are many excellent works of art to see as you paddle this 2-mile stretch.
Finally, we would like to invite the community to a special paddling event! Grab your friends and family and head to Downtown River Walk on March 18 to watch the 2023 Race the River Paddling Race. In this exciting event, you can watch professional canoeists and kayakers from all over Central Texas compete in a 5-mile sprint through the iconic River Walk.
For The Camper
Calling all campers! For the first weekend of Spring Break (March 10-13), the River Authority is opening Helton Nature Park for FREE camping! So, break out your camping gear and enjoy the great outdoors. All campsite reservation fees are waived throughout the weekend. Book your site now!
For the Biker
Did you know San Antonio’s Southside is home to a world-famous biking trail? The Mission Reach of the San Antonio River Walk has over 16 miles of riverside trails for you and your family to explore! It was crowned the Best Biking Trail for San Antonio Magazine’s Best of the City 2022. Among the many things to explore along the trail are the San Antonio World Heritage Mission Sites and their large portals, beautiful works of art, breathtaking views, and Confluence Park, which just celebrated its 5th birthday!
For the Birdwatcher
Do you love observing birds and learning more about the nature around you? Then, birdwatching might be your new favorite activity! You don’t need fancy supplies to get started; just an outdoor space and five senses. You can even use your backyard or neighborhood to begin your birding journey. For bird nests, you might check the ledges or nooks of buildings, including windowsills, gutters, and railings. One of our education team members even found a family of barn swallows near her front door. If you want to learn more, we created this nifty Birding Basics guide to help you get started.
For the ARTIST
Thanks to the San Antonio River Foundation and its partners, youth have great opportunities to spend this upcoming week involved in hands-on art activities! Check one of them out below!
Does your kiddo love to paint? Join us for a Community Paint Day at the Mosaic Multiplex on Saturday, March 18, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM. Meet San Pedro Creek Culture Park artists Tyson Davis and Jocelyn Van Taylor and help create a work of art! From 1:00-3:00 PM, visitors of all ages are welcome to make a mark on two new additions of public art coming to San Pedro Creek Culture Park this Spring. This event is free and open to the public with free parking at the Mosaic Multiplex (146 N WW White Rd, San Antonio, TX 78219)
Be sure to check out the River Foundation’s Events Calendar to check out many other events being held during this week!
While enjoying Spring Break, give the River a helping hand!
Litter can have some big, bad consequences for our river. Plastic bags and bottles, Styrofoam cups, and other junk left on the street or sidewalk can get carried into your local creeks and the San Antonio River during a rainstorm. Once this trash gets in the river, fish can swallow small pieces of plastic they mistake for food, and birds can become entangled in plastics.
So, what can we do about it? The first is to put your trash in the trashcan, but before you do, think about trying to reuse it by up-cycling it into something useful. Second, you can pick up any litter you find on the ground. Check out this video from Northside Independent School District’s Stevens High School where students turned their litter finds into beautiful, fashionable trash couture! Last but not least, help your friends and family to do the same. By doing these three things, we can ensure that trash stays trash and doesn’t end up in our beautiful river.
Let’s work together this Spring Break to give our River a helping hand!
