Help us chronicle pollinator species at Garey Park this September!

From experts to novices, all curious naturalists are welcome. The goal of this BioBlitz is to document as many different pollinators as possible in Garey Park throughout September.

Participation is as easy as taking a photo and recording a date, time and location (your phone does this automatically via geotagging) and uploading to iNaturalist.org via the phone app or website. You can explore and make observations on your own time and pace, and as often as you’d like!

What is a pollinator?

A pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from a male plant to a female plant. This allows the plant to grow and produce. Examples include: bees, flies, wasps, ants, butterflies, moths, sawflies, bats, hummingbirds, dragonflies and damselflies.

What is a BioBlitz?

A BioBlitz is an event where participants take/upload photo of wildlife to learn about the pollinators in our area. Participation is of the utmost importance! The more observations made, the greater the positive impact had on the scientific community. You might find something nobody has ever documented at Garey Park before!

How do I participate?

1. Download the iNaturalist app on your smartphone.
2. Create an account and familiarize yourself with the program. Practice looking at the Explore, Activity, and Observe tabs on the app.
3. While in the app, navigate to the project page: Parks for Pollinators 2020: Garey Park (https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/parks-for-pollinators-2020-garey-park) Once on the page, click “Join.”
4. Visit Garey Park anytime in September, and make an observation – or make many! You can submit findings in real time using the iNaturalist app on your smartphone or save the photos and upload them later.

Why should I participate?

• Parks are essential to the health of pollinators and help make a difference in saving these critical species. Parks help pollinators in several ways – including documenting the species present within their boundaries.
• Pollinators are a vital component of our ecosystem, and an essential link to the world’s food supply.
• The United States has seen a steady decline of pollinators – a rate of about a 30% decrease annually. These projects help scientist (and citizen scientists, like you!) better understand where there is a greater need for preservation efforts. 

Questions?

Give us a call at 512-930-6800 or email gareypark@georgetown.org. Or, stop by the gatehouse on your way in for a quick tutorial.

Check back for more info.!

• Alphabet Challenge – Find plants, wildlife and more for each letter of the alphabet.
• Color Challenge – Find plants, wildlife and more for each color.
• Garey Park Bingo (easy + answers)
• Garey Park Bingo (hard + answers)
• Play Ranch Bingo
• Garey Park Wildflower Bingo – Did you know there are 24 varieties of wildflowers at Garey Park?
• Nature Scavenger Hunt – How many can you find?
• 10 Things to Do at Garey Park while practicing physical distancing.
• BioBlitz – Help us chronicle the biodiversity of the park by using your smartphone!

Family Fishing Fun

Join us for a morning of fishing fun at the Garey Park ponds. We will provide fishing equipment, instruction, and bait. Children under the age of 12 must have an enrolled parent to participate in the program.

All ages
$15 Resident/$20 Nonresident
8-10 a.m.

Saturday, April 24
Saturday, May 15

Bring your own mat, water and towel and come get your yoga on at Garey Park!

Stay tuned for more classes!

Garey Park has more than seven miles of trails spanning the entire park, giving hikers and horseback riders an opportunity to explore the park’s beautiful natural areas.

Guided Walks

Join Garey Park staff for an introduction to the Garey Park trail system and get answers to all of your burning questions about Garey Park. Appropriate for all ages. Pre-registration required. Participants 12 years old or under must be accompanied by a registered adult participant. Registration includes park entry for the day.

All ages
$2 Resident/$4 Nonresident
Wednesdays in April and May
6-7 p.m.

Interpretive Hikes

Join Recreation Specialist Rowan Prothro for a series of interpretive hikes. Participants will go on guided adventures and learn about what makes Garey Park special!

Appropriate for all ages. Pre-registration required. Participants 12 years old or under must be accompanied by a registered adult participant. Registration includes park entry for the day.

All ages
$8 Resident/$10 Nonresident
9-10 a.m.

Saturday, March 13 – Birds
Saturday, April 10 – Wildflowers and Pollinators
Saturday, May 8 – Trees

Wildlife 101

Ages 4-12
$5 Resident | $10 Nonresident
Registration only required for youth participants. Fee includes entry into Garey Park for participant and guardian.

Everything is bigger in Texas, including our biodiversity! Texas is home to 651 species of birds, 180 species of mammals, and 210 species of reptiles and amphibians. If your child loves to play outside, they just might meet some of these cool critters! Wildlife 101 will teach you about some of the interesting and unique animals you might meet out at Garey Park.

All sessions take place from 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Stay tuned for more classes!

Loose Parts Nature Play

Entry fees are required. 

This fun outdoor activity is the perfect opportunity to fuel your child’s curiosity and appetite for learning. Join us for some playtime with natural elements found right here in the park! Located inside the Play Ranch.

All sessions take place from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Stay tuned for more classes!

Stargazing

Come enjoy the stars at Garey Park! In partnership with Southwestern University and the Williamson County Astronomy Club, Garey Park will be host public viewing nights under the stars. Registration is limited and pre-registration is required. Fees are $2 for Georgetown residents and $3 for nonresidents. Walk-ins will not be accepted at the gate.

Stay tuned for more classes!