Upcoming Time Change!

Lake Crabtree County Park will begin closing at 7 pm 

on Monday, October 17th.

Keep an eye out for future announcements as our closing time changes to keep up with sunset. Reminder that boats will need to be off the water 30 minutes before the park gates close.

Creepy Crabtree!

Our Halloween celebration, Creepy Crabtree, is back in a smaller but still fun size! Just like last year, those that plan to attend must register before hand. There will be three different windows to pick when you want to attend. Our themes this year are Creepy Crawlies and Mysterious Mammals! All three shelters in the park will have different games, crafts, and activities all about these fun and freaky themes. Costumes are encouraged. Make sure to come for a great time that you don't want to miss!

Fall Big Sweep

Help clean up Lake Crabtree at the Fall Big Sweep on Saturday, October 15th from 9 am to Noon. Registration ends on Wednesday, October 12th. Individuals, families and groups can register to participate in this event. Anyone under the age of 18 and all high school students will need to be accompanied by an adult chaperone. Thank you for helping keep our park clean and safe for visitors and wildlife! 

Crabtree Nature Crafts



Next time you bring the kids out to the park to enjoy the playgrounds, trails, or other facilities, be sure to stop by the Manager's Office for a free craft! Look for signs posted at the restrooms and playgrounds indicating that the craft is available that day (generally Mondays through Thursdays from 10 am to noon). 

Each month we will feature a different craft and theme. This month's feature is spiders! Stop by to make your very own spider- themed craft. 

Join the LCCP Biodiversity Project

Lake Crabtree County Park's Biodiversity Project is now open for anyone to contribute to. You can participate by joining on iNaturalist. This is a way for citizen scientists just like you to contribute data and allow us to track things like what species we are seeing at different times of year and adding new records to our database. All you need is to create an account and use either a smartphone or camera to take photos and upload them to your account. By joining the LCCP Biodiversity Project, any observations you make in the park area will be automatically included. See how you compare with others and get help from the community to identify what you find. Plus, it's a great way to get excited about spending time in nature!  

UPCOMING PARK PROGRAMS 

Come out to Lake Crabtree and discover more about the natural world while exploring the park. Click the links (program titles) for more details and to register. Spaces are limited to allow for social distancing at in-person programs, so register today. For a full listing of all programs visit our website.

All public programs are FREE!

Lake Crabtree also offers group programs! If your group is interested in booking a program, contact Colleen Bockhahn at [email protected].

In-Person Programs for Everyone

Nature Nerds: Fish

Friday, October 7th from 1-2 pm

Join park staff on an afternoon of exploration in the park as we "nerd out" over a group of animals, plants, fungi, or other natural things each month. This month we are focusing on fish, using seine nets and fishing rods. Ages 8 and up. 

Lake Life: Semiaquatic Mammals

Thursday, October 13th from 6:30-8 pm

Beavers, Otters, and Muskrats all call Lake Crabtree home and we want to tell you all about them. Come join us for a presentation and see some trail camera footage as well as other evidence they leave behind as we learn more about these awesome animals! Ages 6 and up. 

Fall Big Sweep

Saturday, October 15th from 9 am - Noon

Volunteer to cleanup Lake Crabtree's shoreline and other areas around the park. Ages 8 and up. 

Creepy Crabtree Mini Event: Session 1

Saturday, October 29th from Noon - 1 pm

Creepy Crabtree Mini Event: Session 2

Saturday, October 29th from 1-2 pm

Creepy Crabtree Mini Event: Session 3

Saturday, October 29th from 2-3 pm

Join park staff at a smaller version of our popular Halloween event! We will have three shelters full of games, crafts, and other activities based on the spookier side of nature. Bring the whole family for a fun afternoon. Costumes are encouraged! Space is limited, so register early. Please choose the best time slot that works for you! Ages 5 and up.

Birding with Vernon

Saturday, November 5th from 8:30-10 am

Join our bird enthusiast, Vernon, for an easy walk while looking and listening for our feathered friends. Discover different types of birds and their habitats. Bring your own binoculars and field guides if you have them. Beginners and experienced birdwatchers are welcome! Ages 8 and up. 

Storytime for Tots & Homeschool/Track-out Programs

Storytime for Tots: Miss Spider's Tea Party

Wednesday, October 12th from 10-11 am

Bring your 18 month -5 year old for a story, craft, and spider search, and learn why spiders aren't so scary after all. 

WILD SIDE: Myriapod Madness!

Many of you may know about myriapods, the group of bugs including centipedes and millipedes. These many legged bugs were just featured at BugFest last month. There are nearly 13,000 species of arthropods classified as Myriapoda. The name Myriapoda comes from the Greek words murios meaning “ten thousand” and pous meaning “foot. ”These “many-legged ones” usually have anywhere from ten to nearly 200 pairs of appendages, though one species of millipede has 1,306 legs! They range in size from almost microscopic to 30 cm in length. All Myriapods are terrestrial. 

Myriapods are sorted into four major groups. Two of the groups, Symphyla and Pauropoda, are less known. They consist mostly of tiny arthropods that live in leaf litter and the soil and resemble centipedes. The other two groups are more well known. Chilopoda are true centipedes and Diplopoda are millipedes. Centipedes have only one pair of legs per body segment. They are predatory, with their first pair of legs being modified into a pair of claws with poison glands which they use to capture prey. Millipedes on the other hand have two pairs of legs per body segment and for the most part feed on decaying vegetation. 

Myriapods in general live in moist forests where they play an important role in breaking down decaying plant material. A few species of centipedes and millipedes are bioluminescent, capable of producing their own light. While millipedes are not generally considered dangerous to humans, they do have a defense mechanism that you might be aware of if you’ve ever handled one. When threatened they may produce noxious secretions to make predators spit them out and think twice about eating another one the next time they see one. Large centipedes however present more of a potential threat to people. While not very deadly, their bites may cause intense pain and discomfort. 

This month at Lake Crabtree, our Halloween event Creepy Crabtree is back in a mini format. Come learn about myriapods and other creepy crawlies as well as some mysterious mammals. We will have all three of our shelters set up with games, crafts and educational activities. Join us on Saturday, October 29th between 12 and 3 pm for the

Creepy Crabtree Mini Event! There are three sign up windows, so choose the one that works best for you. Bring the whole family for a fun afternoon, costumes are encouraged! Space is limited, so register early.