It's the time of year to get outside (finally!!) and have some fun, and Great Rivers Greenway's Greenway Quest is just the adventure your family needs. This year, they partnered with the Saint Louis Zoo for Greenway Quest, a TOAD-ally awesome greenway hunt throughout the month of April.
Great Rivers Greenway volunteers have hidden painted frogs and toad rocks across the 135 miles of greenways in the St. Louis metro area and families are invited to search for them. To participate, look for rocks along the greenways during the month of April and if you find one you can take it with you. Then, log your rock at GreenwayQuest.com for a chance to win prizes from the Saint Louis Zoo and Frogwatch, including a grand prize winner of a guided Frogwatch walk with the Saint Louis Zoo staff!
As a bonus, STL Parent readers can get an extra entry to win prizes here!
"We teamed up with one of St. Louis’ most beloved institutions - the Saint Louis Zoo - to help them spread the word about FrogWatch Community Science Program. April is the month you can start hearing the frogs and toads across our region," said Anne Milford, communications coordinator for Great Rivers Greenway.
Rocks have been hidden along the edges of the greenways or at trailheads, not too far from the paths and not on private property. There will be no rocks hidden at the Saint Louis Zoo.
“We’re hiding rocks along all the greenways, but if you also want to listen for real frogs and toads, be sure to check out greenways that are near ponds or wetlands,” said Elizabeth Simons, Community Program Manager for Great Rivers Greenway. “We can’t wait to see photos from your adventures!”
While you’re out, LISTEN for the southern leopard frog, American toad, and spring peeper and share what you’ve heard through the FrogWatch Community Science Program. Your listening can make a huge difference in helping the Saint Louis Zoo protect these amazing amphibians.
“Frogs and toads are so important to our ecosystem, and we need your help to understand exactly where they are thriving and where they’re missing in our area, so we can understand what we can do to help keep their habitats in good shape,” said Michael Dawson, Conservation Education Liaison for Saint Louis Zoo.
Wondering what kind of frog or toad is on your rock?
Rocks with #1-100 are the southern leopard frog
Rocks with #101-200 are the American toad
Rocks with #201-300 are the spring peeper
See images of all three of these and hear their calls now at greatriversgreenway.org! You can also learn how you can participate in the FrogWatch community science project.
Milford added: "There are 135 miles of greenways across St. Louis City, St. Louis County and St. Charles County. We encourage families to get out and explore a new greenway while they look for painted rocks and toads. And if you don’t find a rock, you’ll still enjoy discovering a new place for walking, running, riding a bike or just connecting with nature!"
Not familiar with the greenways? Find a map and list of all the greenways in the St. Louis metro area here.
Visit the James S. McDonnell Planetarium in Forest Park and see a star show to experience the largest artificial sky in the Western Hemisphere. Star shows are lead LIVE by one of the Planetarium's educators, creating a new and tailored experience for every audience.
Splash and play with your little one in this fun morning activity. No registration is necessary.
See the Zoo's California sea lions perform acrobatic and athletic feats, including Olympic-style dives on a high-diving platform, flipper walks, frisbee tosses and plenty of surprises. While on stage with the sea lions, the Zoo's trainers explain sea lion behavior and positive-reinforcement training, in addition to the need for conserving the sea lion's ocean habitat.
Enjoy free snow cones and watch as the sun sets on greenways across the St. Louis metro area at Sunsets and Snowcones sponsored by Great Rivers Greenway. This free summer series is designed to connect people to nature and community while highlighting the 135 miles of greenways maintained by the agency.
Thursday Trivia at 9 Mile Garden is designed for all ages. Play trivia, win prizes, and enjoy food from the food trucks. Free admission.
