Emory Cares - Gainesville will join the Alachua Conservation Trust for a morning of preserve maintenance at Prairie Creek Preserve in Gainesville, Florida. Together we will be removing old fencing next to Prairie Creek Lodge to help restore the property back to its natural state. While there, we will experience and enjoy the beauty of the Preserve.
You do not have to be affiliated with Emory to participate. There is no minimum age for this event, but we ask that all participants under 18 be accompanied by a parent. All participants will be asked to complete the Alachua Conservation Trust Waiver of Liability, which will be available on site.
WHAT TO WEAR/BRING
Closed-toe shoes, long pants, water, bug spray, hat and full water bottle are advised.
WHERE
Prairie Creek Lodge
7204 SE County Road 234
Gainesville, FL 32641
When you turn into the preserve from County Road 234, follow the signs straight back to Prairie Creek Lodge. Parking is available next to the lodge. We will meet in front of the lodge for this event. Restroom facilities are available inside the lodge.
WHEN
Sunday, November 21st
9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
About the Preserve
Prairie Creek Preserve and the surrounding 1,150 acres were purchased by ACT from 2005 to 2015. Over 500 acres were then added to Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park, while another 96 acres were added to Alachua County Forever’s Conservation Lands Program. The remainder comprises Prairie Creek Preserve, a 606-acre nature preserve that includes Prairie Creek Conservation Cemetery, a natural burial ground that also conserves land. Prairie Creek drains Newnans Lake, one of the largest lakes in north Florida, towards Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park and Orange Lake. The upland areas of the preserve are made up of flatwoods, mesic and hydric hammocks, and wetlands that include cypress swamps, depression marshes, and blackwater streams. The basin provides a corridor along an important flyway through this part of the state. Wildlife seen recently include: bald eagle, swallow-tailed kite, red-headed woodpecker, northern bobwhite, wild turkey, gopher tortoise, American alligator, golden mouse, river otter, and Florida black bear. There is also great floral diversity within the preserve’s boundary, with aquatic plants such as blue-flag iris, water lilies, lotus, pickerel weed and lizard's tail in showy blossom in the spring. Learn more here.
TO REGISTER
Step 1: Click here to go to the Emory Cares main registration page.
Step 2: Narrow your search by region to “Florida”
Step 3: Locate the event entitled “Prairie Creek Preserve Restoration - Alachua Conservation Trust - Gainesville, Florida”
Step 4: Click on the green “Sign up for this activity” button and follow the instructions given to complete your registration. For “relationship(s) to Emory”, select “Community/Friend/Other” unless one of the other options applies.
You can also register using this direct link to our event here.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact Alachua Conservation Trust by phone: (352) 373-1078 or email: info@AlachuaConservationTrust.org.
Banner image by Alison Blakeslee.
