TUSTEN, NY — Families can take advantage of a free educational opportunity for all ages to experience the diversity of life on a unique parcel of private property in Tusten on June 24 and 25 at the Ten Mile River Scout Camp. In returning to the site of the 2014 Upper Delaware BioBlitz, the teams will be looking to reconfirm some of the extraordinary findings (including 123 “first occurrences”), discover new species, and tie the event into the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service.

Teams of scientists and amateur naturalists will converge on the site on Friday to begin their 24-hour survey. The public is invited to meet the researchers, see what they have collected, and participate in programs such as walks and talks led by the scientists beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 25 at the head of Rock Lake on Cochecton Turnpike, where the collection base-camp tent will be located. Families can view the specimens, meet scientists of various disciplines and enjoy a tour of the site to learn how different species live and thrive in the context of the overall property. Teams and sponsoring organizations will provide information and offer educational programs on their particular areas of expertise. For more information, including directions and a map, visit www.upperdelawarebioblitz.com. See also this week’s River Talk (page 32).