Make Your Own Nature Challenge
Cedar Park Sculpture Garden – Letterboxing & Scavenger Hunt 2015
The Cedar Park Sculpture Garden is located adjacent to the Cedar Park Recreation Center (in the Town Center at 1435 Main Street, Cedar Park, TX, 78613).
The Cedar Park Sculpture Garden features 12 sculptures by Central Texas artists. The sculptures’ media range from bronze, to steel, to painted cedar. For more information, go to the following website: http://www.cedarparktexas.gov/index.aspx?page=820
This challenge is a combination Scavenger Hunt/Letterboxing Activity, so bring along your camera (or sketchbook) and a letterboxing stamp.
Scavenger Hunt
1. Find three sculptures that include animals. What are their names? (Bonus: Find the imaginary animal sculpture.)
2. One sculpture makes sound, another uses light. What are these two sculptures called?
3. Find the sculpture that is part of the artists’ Drought Art series. It was created using Hill Country Cedar that didn’t survive the 2011 drought. What is the sculpture called?
4. Pose with the sculpture "Life is a Balancing Act." Take a picture - or draw yourself posing with the sculpture.
5. Take a photo (or a draw a sketch of your favorite sculpture).
Letterboxing Activity
Note: Remember to avoid muggles (people who are not there to letterbox), and re-hide the boxes well after retrieving them. Please sign, date, and stamp the booklet. Please do not remove the stamp and stamp pad. Also, look out for snakes and other wildlife.
1. Take a rest on the bench facing the "Cedar Park Sculpture Garden" sign. Behind that sign is Letterbox #1. Clue: Irregular Border
2. Walk through the sculpture garden to the "River Totem" sculpture. Across from it, you will find the entrance to the lake trail loop. The path will become paved. Count out eight pavement sections. Between sections 8 and 9, look to the left. Letterbox #2 is hidden in a crack between boulders. Clue: Look Through the Tunnel
3. Continue down the path to the bridge. Before you cross, look for the sign "Marine Bridge & Iron." Letterbox #3 is hidden below the sign. Clue: Lie Down, Look Down, Don't Climb Down
4. Go over the bridge, and continue on the path to the fork. You'll see a tree surrounded by a number of boulders. One boulder is taller and rectangularly shaped. Letterbox #4 is located by this boulder. Clue: Pile of Rocks
Remaining Loop
There are some sights to see if you take the fork to the right and continue along the loop, toward the tunnel, by the lake.
This path has changed a lot in the past two years, as you will see as you walk through the tunnel under the road. What do you see ahead of you? This area has been developed recently. The sights and sounds on this side are very different. (If you are hungry or thirsty, there are many choices of places to stop for a break.)
Look for the ducks who call this lake home. How many can you count? Try to see rainbows in the two fountains as you make your way along the loop.
At the Costco sign, compare the flowers and trees on the two sides of the path.
To continue on the loop, don't go across the crosswalk. Instead, turn right and go over the water. Look for the herons who frequent this spot.
Turn right again to continue on the loop. Rest on the bench under the tree to the right of the path. Imagine how this area will look in another year. Go back through the other tunnel. If there's been rain, enjoy the waterfall.
Listen for the sound of red-winged blackbirds and other birds in the dense bushes and trees. Look for hawks. Smell for skunks. What do you see swimming in the shallow water?
The path will loop around to the Cedar Park Recreation Center and the Sculpture Garden again.
Hope you enjoyed this challenge. Team Parker-Derasari