Old Field
This ecosystem to the south of Wolf Creek is a former prairie which was used by humans for agriculture and grazing. Currently, there is a 10-year restoration project to return this area to prairie as it existed before people settled here. Before human settlement, prairies existed across much of central North America and featured grasses as the dominant vegetation because there wasn't enough rainfall to support the forests found in the eastern part of the continent. Currently, only 1% of the original prairie still exists, although there are several efforts to preserve and restore prairie remnants, such as the one at the Arboretum.
This letterbox hybrid geocache is within the boundaries of the Overland Park Arboretum.
To reach this geocache, you will need to enter the Arboretum through the main entrance gate which is immediately adjacent to the visitor's parking lot.
Click Here to find information about the Arboretum including a link to current hours and fees.
Friends of the Arboretum always have free admission!
**Entirely Optional Bonus Activity**
This is an *entirely optional* bonus activity and its completion is not required to find or claim any of the geocaches within the Arboretum.
For anyone who wishes, stampbooks are available for use while finding the eight GeoArboretum Trail geocaches. If a visitor stamps all eight pages of the stampbook with the letterbox stamps found within the eight GeoArboretum Trail letterbox hybrid geocaches, they can then present their completed stampbook at the Visitor's Center to receive a limited-run wooden Arboretum Coin (while supplies last).
The stampbooks can be found in a mailbox labeled with the Geocaching logo at the front door of the Arboretum Visitor's Center.
The GeoArboretum Trail Geocaches
GeoArboretum Trail #1 - Dry Mesic Prairie
GeoArboretum Trail #2 - Dry Wooded Swales
GeoArboretum Trail #3 - Riparian Woodland
GeoArboretum Trail #4 - Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest
GeoArboretum Trail #5 - Old Field <<< This cache
GeoArboretum Trail #6 - Wooded Draws
GeoArboretum Trail #7 - Dry Oak-Hickory Forest
GeoArboretum Trail #8 - Dry Oak Savanna