Dry Wooded Swales
This ecosystem is similar in appearance to the Wooded Draws, except the soil is drier and shallower. A "swale" is a low-lying area or depression. The Dry Wooded Swales area occurs to the west of the Arboretum gardens north of Wolf Creek, and on the south side of Wolf Creek near the Wooded Draws. As we think about the Arboretum's ecosystems, it's important to note that much of the Arboretum was once prairie. Prairies are maintained by fire - either natural, such as lightning, or burning by man. While this may seem odd, fire on a true prairie removes unwanted vegetation - such as woody shrubs and even trees - that crowd out the prairie grasses.
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 <<< This cache
GeoArboretum Trail #3 - Riparian Woodland
GeoArboretum Trail #4 - Mesic Oak-Hickory Forest
GeoArboretum Trail #5 - Old Field
GeoArboretum Trail #6 - Wooded Draws
GeoArboretum Trail #7 - Dry Oak-Hickory Forest
GeoArboretum Trail #8 - Dry Oak Savanna