Black in Nature Week
This week, many Black people are participating in “Black Birders Week” and “Black in Nature” activities. We honor and celebrate you.
While access to our Preserve remains limited due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are offering the remaining reservations on Friday and Saturday exclusively (at no charge) to those participating in the Black in Nature and Black Birders Week activities. If you are a Black nature enthusiast expert or a Black person new to nature and interested in exploring Westcave, please email me directly at trevor@westcave.organd I will confirm your spot and share special instructions related to experiences at Westcave during COVID-19. Please note that space is limited, so if you are interested, we strongly encourage you to be in touch at your earliest. We hope you are well, and we welcome you to Westcave.
Westcave invites you to join community leaders and innovators for the 13th annual Celebration of Children in Nature on Sunday, September 13, 2020. The Celebration of Children in Nature will honor three extraordinary leaders who are changing our community through their pioneering programs that connect local children with the great outdoors.
Sponsorship opportunities are available and this year we are thrilled to host a week long celebration of in-person, small group guided hikes to our iconic grotto for all sponsors as we lead up to our virtual community gathering on Sunday, Sept. 13. For sponsorship information and tickets, please click the button below. All proceeds from this event benefit Westcave's education and wellness outreach programs.
We've broken ground on a new ADA friendly trail that will extend from the Ahrns Grove to the Prairie Trail, terminating at the historic cabin. This trail will allow better access to those using wheel chairs and strollers to Leif's Bird Blind, the Prairie Trail and cabin. It will be composed of the same decomposed granite used on our current stroller friendly trail leading to the Ahrns Grove. We are excited to be able to provide more access to Uplands, butterfly gardens and Leif's Bird Blind!
We are also excited to report that we are the home of three Golden-cheeked Warbler territories. One male, that we affectionately refer to as Pinky, returned after being banded onsite with pink and red leg bands in 2019. Of the two other males at Westcave, one has been banded and the other remains un-banded. Westcave's Golden-cheeked Warblers have been banded as part of multi-year partnership with the City of Austin to track Golden-cheeked Warbler return rates, lifespans, nest success and territory. The two banded males and their mates have been spotted feeding their fledglings! These sightings confirm two successful Golden-cheeked Warbler territories at Westcave.
Wellness is our Priority: A Temporary Membership Perk “Your Own Private Preserve”
Westcave is grateful for our members and donors who know the value of finding comfort in the outdoors. To extend our thanks, Westcave is offering some unforgettable private wellness experiences for our members to escape into nature at a reduced group rate. You and your family will be the only group on property under the guidance of a staff member that will provide trail and safety directions from a distance. Along your wellness walk various reflection/meditation stations have been placed on the trail to enhance your relaxation and enjoyment of Westcave’s beautiful canyon and Grotto areas.
Each private preserve wellness experience lasts 1.5 hours and is available to reserve though our members only calendar. Not a member? Consider joining through our website reservation system. We hope this intimate outdoor experience of Westcave Preserve will support your wellness needs and continue to inspire you to develop lifelong practices of enjoying and protecting nature.
We also have a "Walk Through the Grotto" experience for non-members who wish to enjoy some much needed nature healing through a relaxing walk through our beautiful canyon and grotto areas.During the approximate hour long experience, our naturalists will guide you and your party into our sheltered canyon where a stunning 40-foot waterfall stands, replenishing the grotto pool below. There you will have time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the grotto area from different viewpoints. Our naturalists will facilitate the Grotto experience to promote safety and distance between groups who might be on the hike.
The experience is available only through our website reservation system. You can learn more about this tour and our new safety protocols in place in response to COVID-19 by visiting www.westcave.org
Thank you Andrew Fisher for the beautiful photograph of our grotto!
The Pillow Park Project is navigating through the COVID landscape and making progress towards activation. The project, spearheaded by Westcave’s Executive Director and the CiNCA program in collaboration with Dr. Jade Florence and UT-researcher Megan O’Connell, is transforming Pillow Elementary School in Austin ISD into a Green School Park based on community-driven ideas for what they would like to see in their park and “rooted” strongly in improving biodiversity on the campus.
The St. David’s Foundation “Parks with Purpose” initiative is improving access to nature for all people in the greater Austin area, an idea at the core of our mission. Currently, our team is conducting biodiversity surveys on the campus and working closely with the school to conduct surveys in seven different languages to gather input on the ultimate park design.
Gabby Caraballo, a Concordia student working at Westcave is supporting the effort and said “I am blessed to be working with professionals on a project that is relevant to the needs of society today: spaces that are accessible and provide natural areas that promote mental and physical health." At a time when everyone is looking to maximize their experiences outdoors, we cannot agree more, Gabby!
Photo caption: Mr. Raul Vallejo, Parent Support Specialist at Pillow Elementary gathering input from students prior to COVID.
The staff of Westcave Outdoor Discovery Center would like to thank our volunteer Tom Hausler for the use of his beautiful photographs!
Thank you Tom.
