🥾Guides:
Andrea Julian, Central Texas Mycological Society
Gina Ruiz, Forest Bathing and Wellness
📍Where: Lower Purgatory Trailhead
💚 Donation: $7+ (Members get 30% off)
What You’ll Learn:
We explore the lichen population of central Texas during a leisurely hike in New Braunfels. Lichens are integral members of the ecology, creating soil while providing a host of benefits to wildlife. We will discuss the natural history of lichens, the role they play in the ecology of the region and tips for identification.
About Your Guides:
Gina blends ecology, art, and mindfulness to help people slow down and reconnect with the land. Drawing from her work in Alaska, Texas, and Colombia, she leads experiences that unite scientific insight with the restorative power of presence. A Texas Master Naturalist, lifelong educator & world explorer, Gina believes mindful time in nature strengthens creativity, compassion, and our capacity to serve others. She is also the creator of Lichen Pathways and the forthcoming book Lichen Life.
Andrea is a naturalist, educator and myco enthusiast with an interest in the relationship between living things and the environments that shape them. Her work is rooted in the ecologies of the central Texas creeks and canyons she was raised in.