Goliad State Park & Historic Site

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History in Lights: Take a walk through the history of Mission Espiritu Santo as lights and shadow transport you back in time.
Rio! Rio!: For centuries people have been settling along the San Antonio River, from native hunters and gatherers to European immigrants. Come see how they lived and changed the surrounding area at this exciting event!
Aranama Nature Trail Hike: Explore the flora, fauna, and history of Goliad State Park on this ranger-led 1/3-mile hike.
Bird Walk: Take a walk with us as we search for some of the many bird species of Goliad State Park!
Mission Rosario History Tour: See the ruins of Mission Rosario and learn about its history on a guided tour of this historic site.
Skins and Skulls: Get up close and personal with some of the animals of Goliad State Park by looking at, and feeling, their fur, talons, and teeth!
Mission History Tour: Enjoy a guided history tour of Mission Espiritu Santo as you learn about life in and around the mission during the Spanish Colonial Era.
Fire Building: Learn how to make a fire, from selecting a location and fuel to lighting it!
Intro to iNaturalist- City Nature Challenge: Learn how to use the free app, iNaturalist, to help identify plants and animals and participate in a citizen science project- the City Nature Challenge!
Plants of the Mission: Explore how Native Americans utilized the plants in the area for food, clothing, tools, and more!
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Atlatl - Ancient Hunting: Test your skills with the atlatl, an ancient hunting tool once used across the globe.
Creepy Crawlies: Learn to love, or at least appreciate, the creepy crawly critters all around us!
Ranching & Roping: Learn why Goliad is considered the Birthplace of Texas ranching and try your hand at roping!
Story of Saint Francis: Learn the fascinating story of Saint Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order of friars who would cross the globe to convert Native Americans to Catholicism.
Corn Husk Dolls: Get creative with corn husks! Make your own corn husk doll to take home and learn about the history of corn husk dolls.
Nature Trail Hike: Explore the plants and animals of Goliad State Park on a walk down the Aranama Nature Trail.
Pinch Pots: Learn about Native American pottery making while making your own pinch pot!
Wonders of Weaving: Get an introduction to weaving, a skill that was once very important to the mission inhabitants!
Native American Games: Sometimes life for Native Americans was all fun and games!
Candle Making: See how mission inhabitants kept the "lights" on with candle making at this come-and-go activity!
DNU Mission History Tour: Enjoy a guided history tour of Mission Espiritu Santo as you learn about life in and around the mission during the Spanish Colonial Era.
Silky, Stealthy Spiders: Ever wondered how a spider makes its web, or why they don't get stuck in their own webs? Learn these answers and so much more about the wonderful world of spiders!
Batty for Bats: Get to know our aerial allies a little better and learn why they deserve our appreciation!
Spring Break Crafts and Activities- God's Eye Weaving: Learn the history behind God's Eye crafts and create your own to take home!
Corn Husk Doll Ornaments: Create a custom doll or angel with corn husks and creativity!
Art in the Park: Embrace your creative side by making nature-themed crafts on the grounds of Mission Espiritu Santo.
Trade Beads: Learn how small glass beads changed the course of history, then make your own bead bracelet!
History of Piñatas: Now a common party activity, piñatas weren't always just fun and games! Come learn the fascinating history of piñatas and their link to Spanish missions.
Mission History Tour: Enjoy a guided history tour of Mission Espiritu Santo as you learn about life in and around the mission during the Spanish Colonial Era.
Mission Trail Ride: Give the Fort Bend County Vaqueros Trail Riders a big send-off as they begin their Mission Trail Ride from Goliad to Houston!
Ranching & Roping: Learn why Goliad is considered the Birthplace of Texas Ranching and try your hand at roping!
Cordage: Discover how Native Americans made rope from yucca leaves, then try it yourself!
Birding 101: Learn how to use a field guide & binoculars before heading down the trail to see what birds we can find!
Nachos for Nacho: Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Tex-Mex! Learn how the blending of cultures around the Texas-Mexico border created a delicious new category of food and learn the link between nachos and Cinco de Mayo.
Fishing 101: Join a Ranger and go fish! On the banks of the San Antonio River, you'll get all the assistance you need to wet a line and try your luck at reeling in a catch!
Mission Scavenger Hunt: Join a ranger on a scavenger hunt as you use your given clues to find "artifacts" in the park, then hear what makes each artifact special to Mission Espiritu Santo!
Night Spider Hunt: Search high and low in the dark of night to find, and learn about, some of the spiders of Goliad State Park!
Night Sky Viewing: Celebrate National Space Exploration Day with a night of stargazing and marveling at the moon from the grounds of Mission Espiritu Santo!
Ranger Coffee Chat: Got questions about local wildlife? Trees? History? Employment with TPWD? The meaning of life? We're here to chat!
Animal Olympics: Can you outrun an opossum? Balance like a squirrel? Jump farther than a grasshopper? Give it your all and see how you compare to animals in the park!
Who's at Bat: Baseball players need to have specialized skills to be good in their sport, just like bats need specialized skills to survive!
Ranger Led Yoga: Start your day with some relaxing yoga on the mission porch!
Stripling's Legacy: Architect Raiford Stripling did more than restore buildings, he brought history back to life.
Sunset Hike: Celebrate the Fall Equinox by reconnecting with nature at Goliad State Park.
El Camino Real- Connecting Heritage: From game trails to highways, El Camino Real shaped the landscape and culture of Texas in ways we still see today.
Pumpkin Decorating Contest: Break out your creativity and paint a pumpkin! Will you be a lucky winner taking home a prize?
Haunted History: Join us for a guided walk around Mission Espiritu Santo under cover of darkness as a Ranger talks about the spooky and mysterious aspects of the mission and its inhabitants.
Find Your Way- Compass Class: Learn the basics of navigating with a compass!
Birding the San Antonio River Trail: Green jays and robins and crows, oh my! With so many birds to be found along the San Antonio River, who knows what we will see!
History in Lights- Activity Nights: Try some samples of hot chocolate before taking a walk through the history of Mission Espiritu Santo as lights and shadow transport you back in time, then try your hand at roping and see how candles were made!
First Day Hike: Greet the first sunrise of the year with a sunrise hike!
Walk and Talk: Join a Ranger on a walk and get a chance to ask questions and chat with a Ranger!
Ants Go Marching: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an ant? In this interactive program*, learn about the intricacies of a leafcutter ant colony and see for yourself how much work goes in to maintaining a fungus farm!
Cattle Branding: Come see why cattle brands were so important to Mission Espiritu Santo and to people across the world, learn some different branding techniques, and make your own brand!
Atlatl: Test your skills with the atlatl, an ancient hunting tool once used across the globe.
*CANCELED* Fishing with a Ranger: **Canceled due to flooding. Join us for Ranching & Roping instead!** Join a Ranger and go fish! On the banks of the San Antonio River, you'll get all the assistance you need to wet a line and try your luck at reeling in a catch!
First Day Hike - Guided Trail Sampler: Join a ranger on a 1.8-mile guided hike around Goliad State Park!
Mitote at the Park: Join us for a campfire, atlatl throwing, roasted pig, yaupon tea, and more at the Mitote with the Market House Museum!
Mission Rosario History Tour: See the ruins of Mission Rosario and learn about its history on a guided tour of this historic site.
Tactile Model Unveiling: Join us as we unveil a tactile model of the mission grounds, designed to be an alternative way for visitors to "see" the mission compound through touch.
Roping Activity: Learn to lasso on the mission grounds! We'll have roping dummies and lariats for kids and adults to practice their hand at this crucial skill of the mission era.
Fishing with a Ranger: A Ranger will be at the Paddling Trail Take-out dock to assist those newer to fishing or just provide a buddy to fish with.
Atlatl: Test your skills with the atlatl, an ancient hunting tool once used across the globe.
Jr. Ranger Station: Learn about our Jr. Ranger program, check out a backpack (limited qty), grab a Jr. Ranger book and ask a Ranger what you'd like to know more about!
Atlatl - Ancient Hunting: Test your skills with the atlatl, an ancient hunting tool once used across the globe.
Sensory Boards: Experience nature through touch and sound! Sensory boards are a way to connect with nature for people with different abilities and limitations, bringing nature to you in a fun, tactile way.
Loteria: The traditional Mexican game of chance - with a twist! Goliad State Park Lotería features images that make this park unique.
Art in the Park- Mother's Day: Happy Mother’s Day, let’s make a bouquet!
Motherhood is Wild: Discover some of the wild and unique ways different animal mothers in the park raise their young!
10 Essentials Survival Game: Think you have what it takes to survive?
Knot Tying: Gain skills and confidence as you learn how to tie knots for all needs!