FRANKFORT, Ky. (May 30, 2018) – Children across the Commonwealth have an opportunity to learn about and assist in scientific work at Kentucky State Parks while helping make a positive impact on our environment.
On June 9, state parks across Kentucky will hold a “BioBlitz” – a short period of time when students, teachers, scientists and others conduct an overall count of animals, plants and other organisms in a designated area. Park naturalists and other experts will be on hand to help.
“The bioblitz will help open your eyes to the diversity of the natural world around you,” said Carey Ruff, special events coordinator for Kentucky State Parks. “These citizen-scientists will help our parks build a database of the plants and animals in the parks.”
Participants will learn about plants and animals at the parks as well as meet other people who know and teach about them.
Participating state parks include:
* John James Audubon State Park
* Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
* Nolin Lake State Park
* Lake Barkley State Resort Park
* Lake Cumberland State Resort Park
* E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park
* General Butler State Resort Park
* Kenlake State Resort Park
* Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park
* Natural Bridge State Resort Park
* Carter Caves State Resort Park
* Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park
* Pennyrile Forest State Resort Park
* Pine Mountain State Resort Park
The BioBlitz is also part of one of the quests in the Kentucky State Parks’ Family Adventure Quest program, which provides a set of questions or “quests” to teams and families who visit state parks. Prizes are available to teams that correctly complete enough quests.