At the Regional Sites

The Trail of Lights: A TTU at Junction Tradition

The Llano River Field Station at Texas Tech University Center at Junction

by Timothy Howard, Digital Media Coordinator

With many unique regional teaching sites located across the state, Texas Tech University offers one-of-a-kind learning experiences outside the City of Lubbock. The Llano River Field Station at Texas Tech University Center at Junction recently held its fourth annual "Trail of Lights." Every December, the TTU at Junction Staff decorates its Discovery Point Trail with over 1600 lights and luminaires for community members to enjoy as they take a walk along the path. The TTU Center at Junction Outdoor School also provided plenty of fun and entertainment for the children in attendance.

"We had approximately 165 attendees," said Robert Stubblefield, the TTU Center at Junction Director of Operations. "The Outdoor School provided materials to give the children an opportunity to build and design their own Christmas ornaments. Hot chocolate and cookies also drew our guests to an open fire pit that served as a place for them to visit with one another."

"The Llano River Field Station's Trail of Lights captured the spirit and magic of the holidays," said Director of the Llano River Field Station Dr. Tom Arsuffi. "The kids laughed as they walked the trail, the older guests reminisced on holidays past and our Junction staff took pride in a job well done."

"It was truly a magical evening as the trail glowed by the light of the luminarias and softly lit the guests' smiles as they walked along, visiting and laughing," said Karen Lopez, the Assistant Advisor at TTU at Junction. "We loved getting to see the community be able to come together to celebrate the season in such a peaceful environment."

Though many community members experience the beauties that TTU Center at Junction has to offer during the Trail of Lights, the staff hopes that more visitors come to see the site for themselves during other times of the year too.

"The Discovery Point Trail is open to the public throughout the year and is used as a curriculum unit for environmentally based subjects taught at the Outdoor School," said Stubblefield. 

Click on one of the above images to see a larger version. Use arrows to navigate through slideshow.

All photography by Robert Stubblefield. 

ABOUT TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY REGIONAL SITES

You don't have to live in Lubbock to pursue a degree from Texas Tech University. Seven unique regional teaching sites extend our reach across the state so that your educational goals can be achieved from anywhere. With the programs offered, you can prepare for a variety of careers without leaving your home community. The degrees earned from Texas Tech regional sites are the same as those earned on the main campus in Lubbock.