Temple University Harrisburg and Let’s Go Outdoors will offer free outdoor activities during our Big Adventure Day through our Healing Ourselves Outdoors Together (HOOT) Program.

Families will become “nature explorers” and team up with scientists and local experts in a 90-minute mini-bioblitz --- a race to count as many plants and animals as possible in the park plus join us in wildlife activities! 

Our HOOT Big Adventure Day will be hosted Saturday, May 13 at Reservoir Park from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Program Partners include the City of Harrisburg and Dauphin County Parks and Recreation who will contribute to our HOOT activities.

“We should all have regular access to natural areas. HOOT is making sure that urban communities that may not have traditionally benefited from such exposure, can more easily seek out and enjoy these critical spaces for our health and the global environment.” said Dr. Matthew Banks, Temple University, College of Science and Technology.

Family friendly HOOT activities will include a tree and woodland walk to hunt for plants and animals.

Participants will team up with a local scientist and experts in a race to count as many plants and animals as possible during our mini bioblitz.

Teams will track data on datasheets and upload pictures to iNaturalist, a widely used app from National Geographic and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University.

By gathering data together, we will get to know the park better and contribute our findings to the park’s land management plan.

The 85-acre Reservoir Park is the largest municipal park in Harrisburg and features urban woods, tree lined trails, and amenities including picnic pavilions, benches, a greenhouse, and other recreational assets.

This urban park is an ideal place to work with the community to document urban biodiversity.

Everyone is welcome to join our HOOT program to appreciate nature and become “nature explorers” to support community science.

In 1845 the City of Harrisburg established Reservoir Park for residents. The park offers scenic views of the Blue Mountains and the State Capitol.

In addition to the park overlooking downtown Harrisburg and the Susquehanna River it boasts a 20-mile trail section of the Capital Area Greenbelt.

Today Reservoir Park remains the city’s largest park deserving of greater recognition for the size of its urban green space that offers access to recreational opportunities to the community and visitors to the region.

Click Here to register for our HOOT Big Adventure Days.

This project was funded by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

For more information or questions about the BioBlitz contact Lydia Martin at lydia@letsgo123.org. 

Visit Temple’s Healing Ourselves Outdoors Together (HOOT) Program webpage to learn more about this program.

[Posted: May 3, 2023]

5/8/2023