Thursday, March 28, 2024

Bob Jones Nature Center & Preserve Has Big Future

What’s ahead for the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve? A lot. The City of Southlake has big plans to take the fun outdoors in 2019.

“The recent shift in the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve management is a rich opportunity to extend our award-winning programming,” said Community Services Director Chris Tribble. “While we are keeping popular programs such as the Cross Timbers Forest Preschool, City staff is also working on some great ideas to take advantage of the more than 750 acres of Cross Timbers habitat.”

Dan Friedman, City of Southlake

The popular Cross Timbers Forest Preschool program will continue to be led by Dan Friedman. Dan has worked at the Preserve for the past two years and says he “is passionate about educating people about the environment.” The preschool will continue to be influenced by the European-style Forest Schools philosophy.

Friedman noted that there is space available for more students. Visit the City’s Cross Timbers Forest Pre-School page on ExperienceSouthlakeTexas.com for registration information. Or you can call (817) 748-8272.

The Preserve will also be the setting for MusicMaker- Mommy & Me -Exploring Nature’s Symphony classes, Family Fun @ BJNC on April 6 and May 18, The Cross Timbers Nature Camp – Spring Break Recycle Earth March 11-15 as well the Youth Explorer’s Saturdays on March 23, April 27, and May 18. For more information on all of these programs visit ExperienceSouthlakeTexas.com/NaturePrograms.

The Bob Jones Preserve also boasts more than 20 miles of hiking trails.  Tribble notes that the Walnut Grove National Recreation Trail is also accessible at several points along White Chapel Boulevard and near the end of E. Bob Jones Road.

Kids Hiking at the Bob Jones Nature Center

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The Preserve, will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. every day,” said Tribble.  “When the City established The Preserve, we did as a way to preserve an important part of Southlake’s history as well as keep a beautiful piece of land passive and development free. We want people to enjoy the trails, take pictures and show the world what they are experiencing in nature.”

Tribble also noted that the Bob Jones Nature Center would be open to the public during programming hours.  “While the Nature Center building will operate a little differently than it has in the past, it will be the home to much of our outdoor education programming.”

For more information about what’s ahead for the Bob Jones Nature Center and Preserve and how you can get involved in the great outdoors, please visit www.ExperienceSouthlakeTexas.com/NaturePrograms or you can contact us at (817) 748-8272.