Earth Day Texas is hosting a trip to John Bunker Sands Wetland Center on Oct. 15. Photo courtesy of John Bunker Sands Wetland Center.
Oct. 4, 2016
Earth Day Texas brings environmental programs to North Texans yearround not just on Earth Day. Now they’re hoping to get more people out in nature with the new Earth Day Texas Expeditions series.
The half or full-day trips will be held at a variety of outdoor destinations in the region, with guidance from an area expert who will discuss the local wildlife, history and the environmental significance of each place visited.
“Each trip will be different,” said Augustine “Tino” Jalomo, director of Marketing and Communications for Earth Day Texas. “We are reaching out to several potential hidden gems around North Texas and coordinating their involvement with Expeditions.”
Eastern meadowlark at John Bunker Sands Wetland Center by Chris Jackson. DFWUrbanWildlife.org.
The first expedition will be on Oct. 15 and will take up to 50 intrepid explorers, 18 years or older, to John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville. The Wetland Center is a unique system sitting on man-made wetlands and located 25 miles southeast of downtown Dallas.
According to the John Bunker Sands Wetland Center website, the Center serves as the hub of environmental and social interest of man-made wetland habitats on the Rosewood Seagoville Ranch property. This also includes the North Texas Municipal Water District's 2,000 acre East Fork Wetland Project and an additional 1,200 acres of bottomland hardwood forest restoration as part of the Bunker Sands Mitigation Bank.
“Participants will take part in an interactive exhibit, a fully equipped research lab to study the landscape, animals and boardwalks extending into the living wetland,” Jalomo said.
The center offers a prime birdwatching site. Courtesy of John Bunker Sands Wetland Center.
Initially planned for every quarter, the expedition response has been so positive, organizers said they might end up partnering with other organizations for trips in the future.
“It's very encouraging,” Jalomo added.
Future possible destination include visits to Caddo Lake, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Trinity River Audubon Center and the Great Trinity Forest.
The cost for an adventure varies depending on the destination, but organizers said the Oct. 15 expedition is $35 and includes lunch.
Earth Day Texas Expeditions to John Bunker Sands Wetland Center
About: Guided trip to John Bunker Sands Wetland Center in Seagoville hosted by Earth Day Texas.
When: Oct. 15, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Meet at Earth Day Texas office, 4311 Oak Lawn Avenue, Dallas.
Cost: $35, includes lunch
Contact: Expeditions@EarthDayTX.org
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Author
RITA COOK
Rita Cook is a DFW-based award-winning journalist and world traveler who writes or has written for the Dallas Morning News, Focus Daily News, Waxahachie Daily Light, Dreamscapes Travel Magazine, Porthole, Core Media, Fort Worth Star Telegram and many other publications in Los Angeles, Dallas and Chicago. With five books published, her latest release is “A Brief History of Fort Worth” published by History Press. Contact her at rcook13@earthlink.net.
