The Oak Loop Trail walks are celebrating 10 years! This walk series, held on the fourth Saturday morning from January through October, was developed by the Alamo Area Sierra Club to introduce walking in the park to novice walkers. The length of the Oak Loop Trail made it the ideal choice.

“We wanted to engage the new walkers in nature and nature learning,” said Wendy Drezek, one of the founders of the walk series and long-time volunteer at Phil Hardberger Park. “The Sierra Club Outings encouraged people to get out and explore nature by bringing together an array of expert naturalists to share their knowledge. I introduced each walk by sharing that I considered the Park ‘my best friend’—a place I could rely on for serenity and comfort.”

Each of the 10 walks, which run from January through October, explores the park through the expertise of an excellent group of naturalists. Topics include geology; the relationship between soil and plants; birding at sunrise; identifying trees, wildflowers, grasses, and wildlife in the park; family-friendly insect observing; landscaping with native plants; writing poetry in nature; how plants adapt to heat and drought; and ecosystem services.

By 2012, the walks became an official Master Naturalist, Alamo Area Chapter event series, co-sponsored with the Sierra Club, the Phil Hardberger Park Conservancy, and San Antonio Parks and Recreation. Since then, hundreds have learned more about their park.

When the pandemic forced us all inside, the walks moved online. Now that in-person events are returning, we are very excited to announce the return of these walks to the park. They will have one more online talk, about Phrenology from Jon Zeitler of the National Weather Service, you can sign up for it here. Then, starting in February, you will be able to attend the walks in the park once again and learn from this great line-up of presenters.

We look forward to seeing you in the park!