Alachua Conservation Trust (ACT) to Host CrEEK Family Fest on Tuscawilla Preserve

May 21, 2025

Gainesville, Florida – On Saturday, May 31st, 2025, Alachua Conservation Trust will host CrEEK Family Fest, a free, family-friendly event at Tuscawilla Preserve from 10 AM to 2 PM. Attendees will be able to participate in water games and activities, make arts and crafts, meet live animal ambassadors and learn from local conservation organizations. Press is invited to attend.

The Creekside Environmental Ed for Kids (CrEEK) Program, hosted at Little Orange Creek Nature Park, connects students from underserved schools with the basics of ecology and other forms of science education through hands-on learning experiences. Activities are paired with guidance and discussion with ecologists and environmental educators so that students can make lasting connections with the knowledge gained in the surrounding environment.

In between activities, there will be time to walk along the trail to explore Tuscawilla Preserve, which includes a prairie and adjacent uplands with small creeks and mesic forests. Lake Tuscawilla contains open water during periods of high to moderate water levels and can be almost completely dry during droughts.

“CrEEK Family Fest invites families to step outside and experience science in action, side by side,” said CrEEK Coordinator Keara Clancy, “This event is packed with activities that turn learning into play and connect the community to the local environment.”

Representatives from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Santa Fe Teaching Zoo, Ashton Biological Preserve and more organizations will be participating. Attendees are advised to wear closed-toe shoes and long pants, and to bring water, snacks, bug spray, and sun protection.

For additional information about this event, please contact ACT at info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org or (352) 373-1078.