HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024 ACTIVITIES

Master Naturalist Jim Hailey offered outdoor lovers an opportunity to learn how to attract and identify common backyard birds at a Backyard Birding Class held Saturday, November 23, at the Interpretive Center. After the presentation, participants visited the newly constructed bird blind which is located nearby. Jim, a birding enthusiast for over thirty years, currently serves as president of the Williamson Audubon Group.

Members of a Round Rock Girl Scout Troop – along with their moms – got crafty and creative at a Nature Journaling Workshop offered on Sunday, November 10, at the Interpretive Center. The Scouts learned the strategies and purposes for compiling a personal nature journal, which can then serve as a unique pathway to exploring the natural world and discovering your connection to the environment. The class was conducted by FRRCP Board Member and Texas Master Naturalist Betsy Murphy.

The Interpretive Center lawn was the site of an Outdoor Skills Workshop coordinated by Shelley Franklin, FRRCP Board Member and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Natural Resources agent. This “come-and-go” event took place on the morning of Saturday, November 9. Attendees rotated among interactive stations which focused on the following skills: Wildlife Identification; Orienteering; Birdwatching; and Leave No Trace Principles. A guided hike followed the educational component of the workshop.

Volunteers with All Things Wild Rehabilitation Center returned to the Interpretive Center on Saturday afternoon, November 2, to participate in FRRCP’s Second Annual Owl Prowl. ATW representatives introduced members to native Texas ambassador owls and shared interesting facts about these birds of prey. Owl pellet dissection kits were distributed to curious Prowl attendees. Shortly after dusk, John Kendall led a quiet hike along park trails, hoping to see or hear not only owls but also other birds of the night who make their home in RRCP.

"Plants at River Ranch" was the focus of Part 2 in a series of nature journaling workshops sponsored by FRRCP and presented by Texas Master Naturalist and art educator Betsy Murphy at the Interpretive Center on October 5. After learning tips on sketching, the group moved outside to observe and sketch plants and other natural materials found in the park.

Heather Dykstra, LNT Trainer for the Williamson County Conservation

Foundation, introduced 25 local outdoor lovers to the “Seven Principles” of Leave No Trace at the Interpretive Center classroom on Saturday, August 10. Through this customized course, attendees such as FRRCP member Scott Korcz, also earned the special Pass required for entry into Wilco’s protected preserves – including Twin Springs Preserve at Lake

Georgetown.

Patrol Leaders with Scout Troop #3451 in Round Rock learned the importance of water conservation in Williamson County through hands-on activities sponsored by FRRCP and presented by Texas A&M AgriLife agent Shelley Franklin on August 3 at the Interpretive Center. A highlight was the experiment with an Environscape model which demonstrated the effect of pollution on aquifers.

During a Native Plants of Williamson County activity at the Interpretive Center on July 20, FRRCP members participated in several hands-on projects involving plant materials. With assistance from Shelley Franklin, FRRCP Board Member and Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Natural Resources agent, the group learned to craft "living necklaces" and explored the composition of leaf litter.

At the Introduction to Nature Journaling workshop held July 13th at the Interpretive Center, Texas Master Naturalist Betsy Murphy explained strategies and purposes for creating a personal nature journal. Nature journaling is a pathway to exploring the natural world and discovering your connection to the environment. This was the first in a series of free workshops to be conducted on a quarterly basis.

Taking advantage of River Ranch’s extensive trail system and convenient Day Use Area Pavilion, 100 members of the Sun City Hiking Club gathered at the park on April 27th to celebrate the club’s Annual Spring Fling. Although hikers followed four routes of differing configurations and mileages, many of them ended up unexpectedly congregating at the majestic Bell Oak on the Highland Trail.

Joining thousands of viewers throughout Central Texas, visitors to River Ranch CP shared the total Solar Eclipse experience on April 8 from various vantages points within the park. At the Interpretive Center, FRRCP hosted an event coordinated by the Good Water Chapter of Texas Master Naturalists, on official Friends group Sponsor, whose volunteers provided eclipse-themed craft activities as well as brief presentations describing the cosmic phenomenon.

After a lively introduction to the “wonders of birds” presented at the Interpretive Center on February 29 by FRRCP member Jim Hailey (President of Williamson Audubon Group), enthusiastic FRRCP members participated in a Saturday field trip designed to put into practice the techniques they had learned in the birding class. The group was delighted to report that during their outing they sighted 17 varieties of birdlife.

Participants in Nature Walks led on March 23 and April 13 by FRRCP Board Member and Native Plant Society of Texas guru Sue Wiseman learned all about the flora emerging at the park this Spring. Sue not only regularly donates flower and plant reference materials to enhance the IC Library but also devotes personal time to sharing her expertise on flowers and plants through guided nature walks.

Native opossum Murphy Brown, a popular Animal Ambassador from the All Things Wild Rehabilitation Center near Georgetown, charmed twenty-two members of FRRCP at a presentation made by ATW volunteers Roger Rucker and Sharon Dunning at the Interpretive Center on February 10.

Braving strong winds and bitter cold temperatures, six hardy FRRCP members joined hike leader Mark Moen in a three-mile guided hike along park trails on Saturday, February 17. The route included stops at the Canyon Overlook and the 500-year-old Bell Oak. Check the website for details on upcoming FRRCP guided hikes and nature walks.