2023 Summer Aquatic Science Adventure Camp Scholarship Essay/Art Contest

Application Deadline: March 22, 2023

The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District will offer several scholarships to attend the 2022 Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center’s Aquatic Science Adventure Camp at Texas State University in San Marcos.

Scholarships are open to children ages 9 through 16 who reside in one of the eight school districts which overlap the Aquifer District boundary (ELIGIBLE ISD’s: Austin, Del Valle, Dripping Springs, Eanes, Hays, Lockhart, San Marcos, & Wimberley). Interested students must submit an application and a one-page essay entitled “Why I want to attend the Aquatic Science Adventure Camp!” Also include a one-page artwork that captures “Science and Outdoor Adventure.” As an example, artwork could include a drawing of river rafting, scuba diving, exploring a cave, fishing, or anything related to science and outdoor adventure. Artwork should be done on a separate page from the essay.

2023 Aquatic Science Adventure Camp Application and Rules

Please staple your essay/artwork to this application and mail/deliver documents to: Camp Scholarship Contest, Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, 1124 Regal Row, Austin, TX 78748. You can also email your essay/artwork and application to edu@bseacd.org with the subject line “Camp Scholarship Contest”. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Scholarship winners will be chosen by a Board Committee. Only completed applications with essays/artwork will be eligible for the scholarship contest.

For more information on the camp, its activities, and registration, please visit https://www.eardc.txstate.edu/camp/session.html.

ELIGIBILITY
a) The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District’s Camp Scholarship program will provide:
• $1000 scholarships to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center’s Week-Long Overnight Expedition Camp
• $500 scholarships to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center’s 5-Day Aquatic Investigators and Explorer Camps
• $60 scholarships to the Edwards Aquifer Research and Data Center’s Discovery Day Camps.
• For more information on the camp and its activities, please visit: https://www.eardc.txstate.edu/camp/session.html

b) Scholarship contest is open to children ages 9 through 16. Students must reside in one of the eight school districts within the District boundaries. These school districts are: Austin, Del Valle, Dripping Springs, Eanes, Hays Consolidated, Lockhart, San Marcos Consolidated, and Wimberley.

c) Students must attend a public, private, or other accredited school located within the boundaries of those school districts. Home-schooled students living within these boundaries are also eligible.

d) Students who have previously been awarded a BSEACD Camp or Groundwater Essay Contest Scholarship are not eligible.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
A completed application form that contains contestant’s name and contact information should accompany each essay/artwork entry. Essays/artwork must be completed by the applicant and address why the student would like to attend the camp and what they hope to learn/do while there. Artwork should capture “science and adventure.” Essays cannot be longer than one page. Artwork should be included on a separate page.

Applications and essays/artwork must be received in the office by 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. The Board of Directors reserves the right to refuse distribution of funds if minimum guidelines are not satisfied.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Scholarship winners will be chosen on the basis of level of effort and creativity; only completed applications with essays/artwork will be eligible. Parents will be notified in April 2023 if their child’s name is chosen. District staff will arrange for the appropriate paperwork to be completed, and parents will be expected to provide registration materials in a timely fashion. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of the scholarship.