Nature loves can enjoy a wide range of activities this summer at Jesse Jones Park.
Tai Chi. Wednesdays, July 4, 11, 18, and 25 at 9 a.m.
Interested in trying a new healthy outdoor activity? Doug Ebeling, volunteer Tai Chi instructor, leads this class based on the 24-step Yang form of T’ai Chi. The one-hour class includes low-impact stretching, breathing, and range of motion exercises held in the outdoor classroom near the Nature Center.
Texas Bound! Thursday, July 5 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Children ages 7 to 12 are invited to find out if they have what it takes to survive the settler-era and create a homestead of their own. Participants form teams, use props, and complete hands-on activities that mimic the struggles of settlers as they journeyed through Texas. Ages 7 to 12. Reservations required beginning Wednesday, June 27.
Junior Canoe Training. Friday, July 6 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Children are invited to earn a Jones Park Paddler’s card. The card allows participation in future park-sponsored canoe trips with an accompanying adult. Ages 10 to 15 only. Reservations required beginning Wednesday, June 27.
iNaturalist. Saturday, July 7 at 10 a.m.
Citizen science programs have gained popularity in recent years for documenting and monitoring plants and animals in an area. Join park staff to learn how to use iNaturalist, a free program that allows users to record what they see anywhere in the world. Learn how Jones Park uses the program to monitor the various plants and animals in the park. Ages 8 and up.
Second Sunday Pickers. Sunday, July 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Sing or strum along with the Second Sunday Pickers as they bring the Nature Center to life with acoustic music, including country-and-western, bluegrass, folk, gospel, Cajun, and blues. Visitors of all ages are welcome to listen, sing along, or bring an instrument to join in the fun
Period Clothing Workshop. Saturday, July 14 at 9 a.m.
Learn about the Texas pioneer family and how their life struggles influenced clothing choices. The abundancy or scarcity of many supplies played a large role in what a family wore and how they wore it. Reservations required beginning Wednesday, June 27.
Second Saturday Settlers: Hunter Trapper. Saturday, July 14 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Hunting and trapping were a way of life for early Texas settlers. It provided a way to collect meat and furs for their family and for trading as well. Visitors can stop by the Akokisa Indian Village to learn about 19thcentury hunting and trapping techniques and experience other aspects of early settler life through demonstrations by park staff and volunteers.
Wildlife Rehabilitation. Saturday, July 21 at 10 a.m.
Wildlife rehabilitators provide a valuable service in helping to care for injured and orphaned wildlife. Judith Odell, a licensed wildlife rehabber, will discuss wildlife rehabilitation and how humans can coexist with wildlife. All ages.
Invasives Beware. Saturday, July 28 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Join Jones Park staff and the Jesse Jones Park (JJP) Eradicator’s to assist in finding, documenting, and removing invasive plant and animal species as well as conducting other habitat management tasks in Jones Park. Closed-toe shoes required, gloves and long pants are recommended. Ages 16 and up or accompanied by adult.
Native Tree ID Walk. Saturday, July 28 at 1 p.m.
Join Jones Park Forester David Jamar for a leisurely guided walk to learn about the diversity of trees in the area. Learn how to identify and distinguish different species of trees, the benefits of native trees in the ecosystem, and the native species that thrive in home landscapes.
