Eisenhower State Park on Lake Texoma has a string of short, ranger-led nature programs on the next two weekends, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's events calendar for the park outside Denison.
Most sessions last 30 minutes to an hour and end with a hands-on activity or take-home craft. Park staff member Haylea Jacobs is listed as the contact for each, at (903) 465-1956.
Oct. 9 and 10
- Skull Detectives, Friday, Oct. 9, 2 to 3 p.m.: participants study animal skulls and use the teeth, eye sockets and size to work out which animal each one came from.
- If Trees Could Talk, Saturday, Oct. 10, 10 to 10:30 a.m.: a look at the clues trees record about seasons and weather, followed by a tree-themed craft.
- Birds of Eisenhower, Saturday, 2 to 2:30 p.m.: why the park draws so many birds, with a bird feeder to build and take home.
- Texoma Tarantulas, Saturday, 4 to 4:30 p.m.: how the area's tarantulas live and what they eat, plus a spider craft.
Oct. 16 and 17
- Art in the Park, Friday, Oct. 16, 2 to 3 p.m.: a nature-inspired art project. The listing says no art experience is needed.
- Nature Hike to Lover's Leap, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2 to 3 p.m.: a ranger-led walk ending at an overlook of the lake.
- Night Sky Journaling, Saturday, 4 to 5 p.m.: using the Big Dipper to find other constellations and recording them in a journal.
- Night of the Nocturnal Hike, Saturday, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.: a Halloween-season walk looking for animals that are active after dark.
For the night hike, TPWD says visitors arriving after 4:30 p.m. should buy a day pass at the self-pay station, which takes cash only, and should leave pets at home.
