Field Trip: Tour of Armstrong Test Facility’s Natural Areas

Prairie biologist John Blakeman will lead a caravan of cars with registered visitors from Lakeside on a 2.5-hour car tour through the massive natural areas of NASA’s Armstrong Test Facility (ATF) south of Sandusky on Thursday, Aug. 22 starting at 1 p.m.

Up to 50 people will be allowed on the tour, where from on the many miles of interior highway, tour visitors will see massive prairie meadows, oak forests, eastern deciduous forests and the wildlife of these habitats, including white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, birds of prey (red-tailed hawks, bald eagles) and others.

The prairies are managed and restored by NASA to resemble the original prairies of the site before settlement. They have many species and populations of rare prairie wildflowers, butterflies and other insects.

The tour will stop at eight points where Blakeman will speak about the prairies and animals of the site while also explaining how prescribed fire is used to restore and maintain the prairies — just as is now being done with Lakeside’s small, restored prairie plot on Sixth Street across from the pool.

On the tour, the car caravan will pass a number of the giant NASA test facilities, but there will be no visitation inside those buildings.

Blakeman will briefly explain the space device testing that happens in them. NASA allows and encourages visitors to take pictures. Only those who are properly pre-registered will be allowed on the visit.

IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Pre-registration is mandatory. The cost is $7. The deadline to register is Thursday, Aug. 15. Registrants full name, address, phone number and email address are submitted to NASA in advance.

Guests of all ages must be U.S. citizens. A valid government issued photo ID must be show at the gate on the day of the visit for those ages 18+. Guests younger than age 18 must also pre-register but are not required to show ID. REGISTER NOW!

Guests are responsible for driving to the site and need to be at the gate by 1 p.m.