A Season of Connection at Mitchell Lake.

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center serves more than 3,000 K-12 students each year with a small team of educators led by Erin Magerl, Senior Education Coordinator. This summer, she is joined by two Seasonal Education Assistants, Emma Stimson and Jay Lauritsen, who support not only K-12 programming, but also family-friendly events and hands-on learning opportunities like invasive plant removal walks.

Although each educator came to Mitchell Lake by a different path, they share a common passion: connecting people to nature.

Erin’s love for the outdoors began at a young age while fishing with her father. When she wasn’t learning how to bait a line, she was wandering the shores of rivers and lakes, exploring and learning about the wildlife she encountered. Today, at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, she continues that passion by helping build lasting connections between people and the outdoors, nourishing a lifelong appreciation for birds, wildlife, and nature. 

Jay has been birding since childhood. In intermediate school, they took a class with Ms. Heron, who taught birds and reptiles. Ever since that first birding trip to the drainage ditch behind the school, Jay has been hooked. As an aspiring educator, they love helping students and adults alike take an interest in the environment around them.

Emma is also a lifelong bird and nature enthusiast. Her early curiosity about the natural world led her to the Texas coast, where she gained hands-on experience studying marine ecosystems and wildlife. Through her work with Texas A&M University at Galveston, she taught marine biology to students of all ages, from summer programs for youth to laboratory and field experiences on Galveston Bay for college students. Now, she is excited to continue sharing that passion at Mitchell Lake, helping others explore and connect with the natural world while inspiring a lasting appreciation for wildlife and conservation.

Birds are flashy, charismatic indicators of environmental health, and even a brief moment of observation can spark a lifelong appreciation for them. A nature preserve is a wonderful place for students to begin learning about San Antonio’s unique position at the intersection of multiple habitats along the Central Flyway, a migration highway used by millions of birds every year.

At Mitchell Lake, students often meet the enthusiasm of their educator and get to “try out” being interested in something new. On one habitat tour, a large Turkey Vulture swooped low over the heads of a group of elementary schoolers, creating the perfect teaching moment. “Do we have any vulture enjoyers in the group today!?” the educator called out. Nearly all the students shouted “Yes!” and waved their hands in the air, much to the surprise of their parent chaperones. Positive moments of learning like these can be remembered for a lifetime.

If your students or group need a little more nature in their lives, Mitchell Lake Audubon Center would love to host you. From story times for the youngest visitors to opportunities for older students to explore on-site conservation projects, there is something for everyone. 

Habitat Work Team Work at Mitchell Lake

Teamwork has been on full display in Mitchell Lake’s grassland restoration area over the past few weeks.

The effort began with a visit from Audubon Texas Range Ecologist Sarah Galvan, who worked with staff to create an immediate action plan to mitigate invasive plants and encourage native species. One of the biggest takeaways was how to handle the ever-present Rapistrum. Rather than pulling it up by the root and creating the disturbed soil it thrives in, the goal is to cut it at its base after it flowers, but before it has a chance to go to seed. If it is cut after seeds have already started forming, the risk is simply helping more of it grow.

That knowledge carried into the weekend, when volunteers from Ismaili CIVIC and UTSA joined forces for a Habitat Work Day focused on tackling the problem. Together, they hand-cut more than 80 pounds of Rapistrum with forming seed heads before it could spread further. Mitchell Lake staff kept the momentum going by continuing removal efforts and sourcing native plants and grasses for the next volunteer group: International Motors.

When International Motors employees came out for their own Habitat Work Day, they helped wrap up Rapistrum removal and begin the next exciting phase: filling cleared spaces with native plants that can out-compete what remains of the invasive. They planted plugs of Little Bluestem and Switchgrass and scattered Firewheel seeds across the area. With recent rains, these hardy natives are primed for success and will provide important benefits for the grassland and the wildlife that depend on it.

Upcoming Events

Mitchell Lake Audubon Center invites the community out this summer to enjoy free, family-friendly events. Explore upcoming events and register here.

3rd Saturday Litter Bug Clean-Up

Saturday, May 16 | Saturday, June 20 | Saturday, July 18
8:00–10:00 a.m.
FREE | Registration Required

Help take back the phrase “litter bug” by doing something good for birds and wildlife. This community litter pick-up helps keep Mitchell Lake Audubon Center safe and welcoming for the wildlife that call it home. No experience is necessary, and all supplies are provided. Participants must be at least 8 years old, and those under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

4th Saturday Beginner Bird Walk

Saturday, May 23 | Saturday, June 27 | Saturday, July 25
8:00–10:00 a.m.
FREE | Registration Required

There is no better place to learn how to bird. Mitchell Lake Audubon Center hosts more than 300 bird species annually on its 1,200-acre sanctuary, which includes wetlands, woodlands, brushlands, and grasslands. These bird tours are designed for beginning birders and cover bird identification and the proper use of binoculars. The program is family-friendly and best for ages 5+, though advanced birders are welcome too. Visitors can also learn about native plant gardens, how to attract native birds and insects, and how to help scientists learn what is living in the city.

“Shellebrate” World Turtle Day!

Saturday, May 23
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
FREE | Drop-in Activity; Registration Requested

Stop by the education table to touch real turtle shells, learn fun facts about native turtles, and play a turtle shell matching game while discovering how different native species are adapted to their habitats.

FREE Entry for Black Birders Week

Sunday, May 24 | Tuesday, May 26–Saturday, May 30
8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
FREE | No Registration Required

Celebrate Black Birders Week with free entry all week at Mitchell Lake Audubon Center. Last entry is at 3:00 p.m. each day.