2025 BSU Keynote Speaker: Charles "Chuck" Foster Jr.
President of Capital Area Master Naturalists Chapter and Community Educator
Charles “Chuck” Foster Jr. is a dedicated outdoor specialist and community leader whose career spans more than a decade in urban design, water conservation, arboriculture, and sustainable landscape management. A graduate of Texas State University with a B.S. in Urban and Regional Planning, Chuck has built a career that bridges technical expertise with hands-on stewardship of Texas’s natural resources. He is the owner of Kelly’s Gardens, Lawns & Outdoors, where he partners with schools, nonprofits, and conservation groups to design, install, and maintain landscapes that support education, pollinators, and Austin community. His work includes major projects with the Hill Country Conservancy, Austin Parks Foundation, and Partners for Education, Agriculture, and Sustainability (PEAS).
In addition to his professional achievements, Chuck is deeply engaged in civic and environmental leadership. He serves as President of the Capital Area Master Naturalists, is a board member of the Zilker Botanical Gardens, and chairs the Friends of Springwoods Park. He has also contributed his voice to Austin’s cultural and educational landscape as a former President of the Austin PBS/KLRU Community Advisory Board. With certifications as a Master Naturalist and Urban Forest Steward, Chuck brings both knowledge and passion to his work, inspiring others to care for the land and waterways that sustain us.
As the keynote speaker for Barton Springs University, Chuck will share his unique perspective on how urban planning, community action, and ecological stewardship intersect to shape a more resilient future for Austin and beyond. His lifelong commitment to protecting and nurturing green spaces reflects the very spirit of BSU Day, where nature, community, and education come together.
About Barton Springs University
Barton Springs University is a year-round series of educational events and classroom presentations, highlighted by a full day of outdoor learning and fun at Barton Springs Pool on October 28th. The Barton Springs University day is designed primarily for high school students but includes college students and the general public. It features lectures, hands on activities, an interactive community fair and training by leading academics, professionals, and policy makers on central Texas water science, public policy, history and sustainable living.
Barton Springs University is produced by Save Our Springs Alliance in partnership with:
Save Barton Creek Association, City of Austin Parks & Recreation, Watershed Protection, Texas Mycological Society, Water Utility and Austin Resource Recovery, University of Texas’, Environmental Science Institute, Texas State University, Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Texas Parks & Wildlife, and TreeFolks
Check out photos from the 2024 Barton Springs University Day!