Attendance for most field trips is limited, and consequently the field trip selection made during event registration is final and cannot be changed at the Symposium. Please review possible choices below and ensure you are comfortable with the option you are choosing (there is also an option for no field trip). Printed field trip information will be available at the symposium.
Transportation Change & Start Times: There will be no bus transportation! Distance and travel times are estimated from the Salado Middle School. With the exception of the F9 Berry Springs Park & Preserve, trip start times are based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.) F9 will start at 10 am as stated below.
Please read the description carefully for associated fees, which are not included in your registration fee and must be paid onsite.
For assistance or questions, email admin-assist@npsot.org. (Please note response will be fastest during office hours.)
F1 Gault School for Archaeological Research Site Tour
Address: 3451 FM 2843, Florence, TX (provided bus transportation required due to limited parking)
15 Miles/20 Minutes
Description:
The Gault site is a gem of Texas history! Investigations at the Gault site have helped establish that people were in the Americas as early as 20,000 years ago, far longer than many archaeologists had believed. Visitors to the site will find a landscape with vegetation much like it appeared to the early inhabitants of the area. Guides will provide history of the site itself, as well as information about what has been learned through artifacts that they have uncovered.
Links
https://www.gaultschool.org/
Field Trip Leader: Provided by Gault
Difficulty: Rugged, unpaved terrain with uneven footing over sometimes rocky surfaces, some elevation changes.
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: No
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 2 Hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 80
Fees: $20 to be paid on site
Facilities: Yes. Vault toilets provided
Other: Transportation provided due to limited parking.
F2 Mother Neff State Park
Address: 1921 State Park Rd 14, Moody, TX 76557
35 Miles/45 Minutes
Description:
Mother Neff State Park became the inspiration for the Texas State Park system when Isabella Neff, mother of Governor Pat Neff, donated 6 acres of land along the Leon River to the people of Texas. Now 400 acres, the park is located at the convergence of 3 ecological zones-Lampasas Cut Plain, Washita Prairie and Blackland Prairie–to form 4 distinct habitats from Leon River bottomland to upper prairie. This diverse geography draws rich biodiversity with numerous species of plants, insects, birds, and animals.
Links:
https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/mother-neff
Field Trip Leader: Becky Roe
Difficulty: Trails are unpaved, vary in difficulty. Prairie Trail is mostly smooth, grassy surface; Tower and Bluff Trails have uneven, rocky footing with some elevation gain.
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: GRIT wheelchair available for use in the park
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 3 Hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 20
Fees: $2.00 per person over the age of 12 to be paid on site.
Facilities: Yes. Restrooms located at the headquarters building and in campground near trailheads.
F3 Salado ISD Earth Science Teaching Garden, Historical Cabin, & Church
Address:601 North Main Street, Salado
(behind the Salado ISD Administration Building)
Miles/Minutes: 1 Mi/5 Min
Description:
Salado ISD Earth Science Native Plant Teaching Garden
The gardens contain a Monarch Migration Garden, a Four-Season Garden, the Salado Public Library Story Path Garden, a Pocket Prairie Garden and raised beds for student research projects. All the gardens are planted with Texas native plants, shrubs & trees. The gardens have been planned by teachers, students, and members of the Tonkawa NPSOT Chapter and financed by grants from various local organizations, members of the community and proceeds from the Tonkawa Chapter plant sales. Plans are in place to add a weather station and a pond with Salado Creek native plants planted in the pond.
Ted Smith, Director Facilities, Salado ISD, a featured plenary speaker Saturday morning, will talk about the outdoor classrooms. This field trip gives you a chance to see the real gardens in person!
Church Medicinal and Culinary Gardens
The historic 1908 Old Church Place in Salado was successfully moved from Main Street to a new location at 601 Main St in April of 2024. After reconstruction, the church will now serve the community as an event location. The gardens surrounding the building are planted with culinary and medicinal Texas native plants and shrubs along with a Monarch Migration Waystation Garden.
Historical Cabin and Grounds
The cabins restored by the Salado Historical Society are located on the grounds of the Salado ISD Administration. The site includes two cabins relocated from Salado’s village center, an Authors Writing Cottage and a small family cemetery. Texas native trees and plants surround all the historic buildings.
Links
Teaching Gardens: https://npsotcentx.org/outdoor-classroom
Field Trip Leader: Tonkawa Chapter leaders and Salado ISD staff; docents at historical cabin
Difficulty: Paved access for gardens along with ADA Accessible crushed granite paths.
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: Yes
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 1.5 Hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 30
Fees: No
Facilities: No
F4 Blackland Prairie Replication Site & Gene Bank at Granger Lake
Address: Granger Lake – 30°42’42.7″N 97°19’22.0″W
Miles/Minutes: 33 Mi/45 Min
Description:
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in cooperation with US Army Corps of Engineers and others, created a gene bank to preserve wild, native species of the Blackland Prairie in 1991. In the fall of 2024 (verify date), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and the Corps of Engineers conducted a prescribed burn of this 60-acre site. Now, native grasses and plants are returning and flourishing after the burn.
Field Trip Leader: Cullom Simpson
Difficulty: Uneven, unpaved surfaces.
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: No
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 3 Hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 60
Fees: No
Facilities: Yes
Other: Travel by bus only
F5 Fort Hood Wildlife Management Site
Address: 332 761 St Tank Battalion Ave, Fort Hood, Texas
Miles/Minutes: 27 Min/35 Mi
Description:
Fort Hood (formerly Fort Cavazos) is one of the largest military bases in the United States in terms of population and area. The installation’s Natural Resources Team is committed to demonstrating sustainability and conservation on the post. They have established and maintain an extensive native plant garden and pocket prairie to demonstrate sustainability practices. In the expansive training range, they also monitor golden cheeked warblers, black capped vireos, grasshopper sparrows, and Northern Bob-white quail, working to maintain habit for these birds. This task is carried out in a way that coincides with the mission of the United States Army and other armed services who utilize the training range. After viewing the gardens, we will visit the range and see how the habitat was impacted by fires in the past.
Field Trip Leaders: Scott Summers and Gil Eckridge
Difficulty: Medium
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: Some paved areas other crushed granite paths with wheelchair width
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 3.5 Hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 45
Fees: No
Facilities: Yes/No
Other: Current valid, government issued identification is required, i.e. driver’s license or passport. Due the fact that this is a military base, pre-screening of attendees is required. A link to fill out the pre-screening form will be sent to you after September 15th.
F6 Monarch Migration Waystation – Bell County I 35 Safety Rest Area, South Bound
Address: I-35, Salado, TX 76571, Latitude/longitude: 30.9137, -97.5508; Mile marker: 282
Miles/Minutes: 4.5 Mi/10 Min
Description:
Gardens designed 7 years ago by the Native Plant Society of Texas and maintained with help from Tonkawa chapter members. Spring and fall plants chosen to sustain Monarch Butterflies during peak migration times are thriving in gardens at the safety rest areas.
Links
https://www.txdot.gov/discover/rest-areas-travel-information-centers/safety-rest-area-list/bell.html
Field Trip Leader: Tom Olsen
Difficulty: Easy
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: Yes
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 1-1.5 Hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 20
Fees: No
Facilities: Yes
F7 Five Acre Residential Native Plant Landscape
Address: 1414 Pecan Creek Road, Killeen, Texas
23 Miles/30 Minutes from Salado Middle School
Description:
Five acres with 18 rock gardens, open prairie, and wooded glens filled with natives and adaptive Texas natives. Gardens filled with a decade of rescued and collected varieties of native plants loving cared for. Calm and peaceful, the gardens offer examples of landscaping for personal enjoyment.
Field Trip Leader: Chris Mayo
Difficulty: Easy
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: Yes
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 2 hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 20
Fees: No
Facilities: No
F8 Salado Creek Guided Tour
Address: 380 S. Main Street, Salado, TX 76571
2 Miles/6 Minutes from Middle School
Description:
Tour of the vegetation of Salado Creek, a beautiful creek nestled in the Blackland Prairie region of Texas. Hindrances to proper functioning of a healthy creek will also be discussed.
Field Trip Leader: Ricky Linex
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate with varied terrain, walking some parts near the water, crossing on wet rocks, no established path. Tour length will be 200 yards or slightly less.
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: No
Start Time: Field trip start time is based on leaving the Salado Middle School parking lot at 9:00 am. (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: 2 Hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 25
Fees: No
Facilities: No
Other: Park at the Stage Coach Inn Parking Lot. Meet at the Sirina statue at the parking lot near hotel or walk from hotel to parking lot.
F9 Berry Springs Park & Preserve
Address: 1801 County Road 152, Georgetown TX
26 Miles/30 Minutes from Middle School
Description:
Located on Georgetown’s outskirts along Berry Creek, this 300-acre park features a century-old pecan grove, riparian areas, meadows, and wooded trails. It is also the first park with Interpretative Plant Signs installed by the Williamson County Chapter.
Field Trip Leader: Sue Wiseman & Kathy Galloway
Difficulty: Easy, on well-maintained trails
Wheelchair/ADA Accessible: No
Start Time: 10:00 am (Pick up your continental breakfast with juice and water and grab-and-go lunch in the parking lot between 8:30-9:00 am.)
Estimated Duration: Approximately 1.5 hours
Maximum Number of Attendees: 40, in two groups of 20
Fees: TBD
Facilities: Yes – restrooms and water fountains.
