As summer approaches and you may find yourself looking for something fun for the kids -check out Merrill Creek Reservoir’s Sensory Trail and Tree Finder Game!
What is a sensory trail you say? A sensory trail is a path designed to engage multiple senses, often used to enhance accessibility, and provide a multi-sensory experience, particularly for individuals with disabilities or sensory processing challenges, but beneficial for all ages and abilities! The trail features a series of experiences along a short route that is designed to engage the different senses, such as touch, sight, sound, smell. The Sensory Trail is located in the pine forest adjacent to the Visitor Center.
Also, along the trails at MCR (and maybe one in the Sensory Trail “wink”) there are 9 different individual trees that have FACES, whose job is not only to provide essential ecological services, but they are MCR’s Ecosystem Ambassadors!
Click on the link below to see their names, where they reside along the trails, information on how to identify them, where they live and what they provide to help benefit communities throughout the region.
https://merrillcreek.com/mcrs-tree-finder-game/
Keep your eyes open for them as you walk the trails – and when you see one, STOP. Take in the how the tree looks, its bark, its leaves, and branches, what other vegetation do you notice around it, what kind of habitat does it live in, are there any animals you can think of that would use this tree?
Remember, you can’t look for them on the trails if you are on your phone! Lose reception – gain perspective! How many of the 9 can you find out on the MCR trails?