Paw Paw Foray #2 - Great Falls, MD

Gather Paw Paw fruit (the largest native fruit in North America) and natural history walk. Sept. 14. (Note: This is a duplicate of the Sept. 7 walk to accommodate the high interest.)

Pace - naturalist shuffle to normal walking pace.
Children (w/ their parents) are welcome as long as they are old enough to do the walk/hike.

Location: Great Falls Park, MARYLAND side, 11710 MacArthur Blvd.,
Potomac, MD 20854. Please note that the Park entrance fee is $15.
Our Meeting Spot: the Washington Aqueduct observation deck
From the Great Falls (“Tavern”) Visitor Center cross the canal and turn right (river upstream), walk a short distance to the observation deck (the large cement platform overlooking the river), we will meet/gather on the observation deck.

Please be sure to read important information contained in the rest of this announcement.

Bring a plastic shopping bag for collecting the pawpaws (or grab one of the trash bags provided by the park), bring water, and extra water for washing the fruit, food/snack that can be eaten standing in necessary, hat (for both sun & any problems with gnats/flies). Optional: field guides, camera.

IMPORTANT: Please note the Meetup organizer and nominal leader of this walk is severely allergic / chemically sensitive to fragrances, petrochemicals, etc., participants are requested to restrain from using perfumes/colognes, scented sunscreen, and other scented personal care products; and with regard to bug spray please, please only use if it becomes absolutely necessary and minimize (also, fyi, I have a coconut based mixture that would like to test).

Ending time is approximate (2 to 3 hours) depending on how much discussions, and how hot it may get.

Inclement weather - the walk will be cancelled in the event of forecasted rain/inclement weather, OR the forecast of extremely hot weather, notice of cancellation will be sent to those who RSVP’d and posted on the Meetup group site by 8:30 am the day of the walk.

Contact: Warren Black
E-Mail Contact: w.black@verizon.net
Cell: 301-785-2090 [call, not text] (IMPORTANT: Please note that this cell phone is normally turned off, this number should only be used the day of the walk if you are having a problem finding the location or meeting up with the group).

SAFETY & COURTESY
RSVPs - As these types of walks necessitate limiting the number of participants, please take your RSVP to attend our Meetup walk seriously and change it promptly if your plans change, so that others who might want to attend may do so. We may have a waiting list of others who want to attend.
By replying "Yes" to attending this event, you acknowledge that you are responsible for your own safety and agree not to hold the organizers / hosts responsible in the event of an accident or personal injury. Participating in the walk is done at the participants' own risk.

Foraging cautions and ethics: See main page write-up.

Please note Meetup now charges $180 per year to setup and up run a Meetup group, if you wish to support the continuation of this group/activity, please kick in $5 or so, via the “donate” button for this group.