Teresa King

For our final trip to the Nature Center, my group decided to explore the trail on Greer Island. Before we left the service center, we were warned about the legendary Goat Man — a big, white, ape-like creature supposedly spotted on the island in the 1960s. The story goes that he would jump out of trees onto the hoods of unsuspecting teenagers’ cars. Luckily, we didn’t encounter any monsters on our hike — or even any other hikers. It was a quiet, peaceful day. At the start of the trail, we crossed a man-made land bridge, which was really pleasant. There was a nice breeze, and the sun wasn’t too harsh. We spotted a blue heron and got to enjoy beautiful views of Lake Worth. Once we made it to the island, we took a quick detour off the trail to explore the levee, where we saw the intersection of the Trinity River and Lake Worth. The entire trail was mostly shaded, which made for a comfortable walk. We passed a small gazebo and several benches scattered along the lakeside. They seemed like p...

April 10th at the Nature Center, my group took on the Oak Motte Trail. At just two miles long, it's a short and easy hike—ideal for beginners. With plenty of benches scattered along the path and virtually no elevation, it’s especially well-suited for older visitors or those who may have difficulty walking longer distances.      We had perfect weather for the hike, and the wildflowers were in full bloom. At the beginning of the trail we saw where the prairie dogs had been relocated. They had a little tent for shade and were playing together. Along the way, we spotted a bunny scurrying through the brush and butterflies dancing around us. The trail winds past prairie lands, which looked especially serene and beautiful this time of year. We also noticed a few sections where controlled burns had been conducted to manage invasive privet. Thankfully, the privet didn’t seem too overwhelming in this area. Near the start of the trail, we saw a patch that had been both...

  Our first hike on Canyon Ridge Trail was definitely one to remember. The elevation was intense, but the effort was completely worth it for the sweeping views at the top. We couldn’t have asked for better weather—clear skies, a light breeze, and just the right amount of sun. Along the way, we passed some really interesting landmarks, each adding to the character of the trail. The 1.5 hours we spent out there felt grounding. It was a much-needed break to disconnect from the noise of daily life and just breathe in the fresh air, surrounded by nature.    Saturday’s paddle was also such a blast. The morning started off with a cool breeze, which made the experience even more refreshing—though it did get a bit windy at times. As we made our way along the water, we spotted a few gators stealthily watching us with just their eyes above the surface, plenty of ducks, and a couple of groups out fishing. I was a little nervous about getting into the kayak a...

  On March 6th, we tackled our second round of cutting back invasive privet—and this time felt much smoother than the first. I had a better idea of which clippers worked best, and wearing long sleeves definitely helped minimize the scratches. In the weeks since, I’ve started to recognize areas along our hikes where controlled burns and mulching have been used to combat the privet. It’s encouraging to see those restoration efforts pay off. At the same time, I’ve also noticed spots where the privet is still creeping into the prairie, standing out sharply against the native landscape—like a sore thumb.   March 13 also brought a couple of surprises when we arrived at the service center. The biggest one? A group of new prairie dogs had just arrived after a long journey to their new home! On my most recent hike, I was excited to spot where they’d been relocated—right near the bison viewing deck at the start of our trail. Then, we were invited to witness a gator hunt. The team had ma...