Community

Community Picnic

    • Performances

    • Activities

    • Volleyball

    • Swimming

    • Great food!

Headwaters families are invited to our annual Community Picnic on Sunday, May 7, 2023 from 2 to 5 p.m.

The picnic brings together families past, present, and future for a celebration of our community at the end of the school year. Join us for food, music, swimming, games, and more! Your ticket purchase includes entry to the venue, activities, and an mmmpanada or Gluten-free sandwich from Dream Bakery.

When you purchase your ticket, you also have an opportunity to add on specially priced Headwaters-branded items that will be available for pick-up at the picnic. Don't miss the limited-time pricing!

Headwaters Community Picnic is TODAY (Sunday, May 7) from 2-5 p.m. at Shady Springs Party Barn! Here are some reminders for tomorrow: 

A big thank you to all who came out on Sunday for the Community Picnic! It was so much fun to be together under the shady trees as we listened to music, played, swam, colored, and more! 

Another huge thank you to our sponsors who helped make this event possible: Mmmpanadas, Palomino Landscape Construction, Dream Bakery. Austin Family Counseling, Honor Roll, Rhythm Foods, Steve and Kates, Kids Acting, Zocalo Design, and South Austin Chiro. Check them out!

Thank you to our hosts Oliver Steck and Michele Solberg for keeping the party going with great sound all day! A big thank you to our performers Levon Allen Flores & Josh Allen, Liza Buchler, Lauran Janes and the Creek Kids, Suzanna Choffel, Mount Rushmore, and Charlie Faye & The Fanimals

Thank you to our volunteers Katie Calvillo, Erin Lawder, Luca Munoz, Labib Ahmed, Laila Khair Kanak, Akib Ahmed, Mindy Maloney, Brendan Maloney, Declan Maloney, Rebecca Merino, Bridget Brown, Elizabeth Vickers, Avé Luke-Simpson, Tiffany Goodman Bilbe, Jote Khalsa, Krista Phillips, Gus Dexheimer, Emily Frost, Bobby Bullard, Leslie Hirsh, Ted Graf, Jennie Glass, Erin and Mike Moffitt, Michael and Lisa Furrh, Christine Edwards, Thomas Weidler, and Elise Weidler.

It was our best-attended event yet! We’re so glad that so many of you were able to come together for a lovely Sunday together.

Presale Merch

Did you pre-order some merch and not get it? Fear not! We will be reaching out to get it to you this week. 

Lost & Found

If you are missing any of these items, please reply to this email to collect.

Shared Photo Album

We invite everyone to add photos to share with the community at this link. You can upload and download as you wish! Please note, any photos in this album may be used for marketing purposes for the next picnic.

Post Event Survey

We invite you to fill out a quick, anonymous post-event survey to see how we did, what we did well, and how to make next year even better. We appreciate your feedback. Click here to complete the post-picnic survey

See You Next Year!

Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 5, 2024 for our next community picnic!

Thank You To Our Sponsors

The Community Picnic is a large gathering for our community to connect with one another and celebrate another school year nearly completed. This is a great opportunity for brand visibility to the hundreds of families that will be attending.


Frequently Asked Questions

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  • Tickets

    Your ticket purchase includes entry to the venue, most activities, and your meal.

    Tickets costs:
    • $15 for ages 6 to adult
    • $10 for ages 3-5
    • Free for ages 2 and under
    Your advance purchased ticket helps us plan for food, drinks, and activities, so buy today!
  • Volunteer With Us!

    Yes! We have lots of short day-of opportunities for volunteers to help make this picnic a success. Thank you in advance!

    Click this link to sign-up.
  • Weather & Emergency Text Alerts

    As a reminder, the picnic is rain or shine, but if there is serious weather, we will use our Emergency Text Alert System to reach out via the email or phone number you provided when purchasing your ticket. If the weather is severe, look for a text, email, and on social media the morning of. 

    For current community members who already receive our Emergency Text Alert Message, there is nothing further to do. If you are a new community member who purchased tickets, please opt in by texting "YES" to 79041. Learn more about our Emergency Text Alert system at this link.
  • What is Shady Springs Party Barn?

    Shady Springs is a 20-acre property located about 15 minutes from downtown, close to the airport. The location includes a large indoor dancehall with stage, swimming pools for all ages, sand volleyball courts, a basketball court, horseshoe pits, a playscape with a slide and swings, a bounce house, 8-hole miniature golf course, tons of shaded picnic tables, and a large field for games and sports.

    There is an on-site bath house with two restrooms inside. There is also a stand-alone ADA-compliant bathroom.

    There are plenty of shaded picnic tables and indoor picnic tables for attendees. Keep an eye out for a flag with your class! There is also a big field perfect for a picnic blanket.
  • Performances at the Picnic

    We are grateful for the expertise of Olivier Steck and Michele Solberg for graciously helping coordinate entertainment!
  • Food Provided by mmmpanadas & Dream Bakery from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

    We are so thankful to our sponsor mmmpanadas and owners Cody and Kristen Fields for generously donating  empanadas for the picnic! We will have hatch chili chicken, spicy bean (vegan), sloppy joe, and  pineapple cinnamon.

    Gluten-free options will be provided by Dream Bakery

    If that option won't work for you or you think you may be hungry for something else, you are welcome to bring any food or drinks you wish. All we ask is no glass, no nuts, and no alcohol
  • What to Bring & What NOT to Bring

    What to Bring:What NOT To Bring:
    • Sunscreen
    • Sun glasses
    • Hat
    • Insect repellant
    • Refillable water bottle/cup
    • Swimsuit
    • Towel
    • Chairs/picnic blanket if you want to hang out in the field area
    • Hair Tie
    • Snacks
    • Anything with nuts
    • Pets
    • Glass
    • Alcohol
    • Cigarettes, e-cigs, vaporizers
    • Weapons, firearms, or fireworks
  • No Pets Allowed

    No pets are allowed on site.

    Please notify us at picnic@headwaters.org if you plan on bringing a service animal (no emotional support animals permitted).
  • Navigating to Shady Springs


    Using Google Maps or Apple Maps are both efficient way to navigate to the venue. We will also have a few signs letting you know that you are headed the right direction. We also have this map that was provided by Shady Springs
  • Getting There & Parking


    Other local businesses nearby are Callahan’s General Store, Hi Sign Brewery, Live Oak Brewing, a P. Terry’s, and Carson Creek Ranch.

    We will have parking attendants to help maximize the parking area to it’s capacity. Please drive slowly down the driveway and at the fork, please take a left towards the parking lot. If the main lot fills, we have an overflow lot that we will direct guests to on-site. 

    There will be limited handicapped parking at the venue. If you require handicapped parking, please bring your placard.

  • Swimming & Life Guards

    At the larger fenced-in swimming pool (3 ft to 9 ft) there will be a lifeguard provided by Shady Springs staff. At the two smaller water areas (wading pool and splash pad), there are no lifeguards on staff.

    We ask that parents supervise their own children anytime they are near water.
  • We're a New Family, Should We Come?

    Yes! We welcome our new families to join us at the Picnic for a fun casual way to meet community members. We'll even have up signs for each current grade level so you can find some people in your child's grade.
  • First Aid

    We will have a first aid table with basic first aid at the Welcome Table. Stop by if you need something!
  • ADA Considerations

    Accessibility:
    There are handicap parking spaces available, and a ramp into the barn. The ground is uneven and gravelly in spot. Please let us know if you would like to make a plan.

    Service Animals
    Service animals are allowed, but please let us know if you plan on bringing your service animal. The ADA defines a service animal as "dogs that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities." Further, "A service animal must be under the control of its handler. Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered, unless the individual’s disability prevents using these devices or these devices interfere with the service animal’s safe, effective performance of tasks."

    We request any service animals are clearly marked with a proper vest. You will also be asked these two questions:
    1) is the dog a service animal required because of a disability?
    2) what work or task has the dog been trained to perform?

    Please note, no pets allowed are allowed at Shady Springs. Per the ADA, "Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability. Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the ADA." At this time, emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are not covered by the ADA.
  • Illness Policies

    If you are feeling unwell, please do not attend.
  • More Questions?

    Contact us at picnic@headwaters.org.
    • Under the trees at Shady Springs

Spring Campus

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Creek Campus

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River Campus

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As a 501(c)3 non-profit school, Headwaters School does not discriminate because of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other classes protected by federal, state, or local law in its admissions, hiring, or board membership processes.