Parklands Madness
The annual NCAA basketball tournament is a tradition unlike any other in our country. All the drama and action, upsets and buzzer beaters, nail biters and blowouts keep us on the edge of our seat for three glorious weeks each year.
This year, there is no basketball, but that does not mean March is without madness! That same drama and action plays out every day between the plants and animals of The Parklands as they survive and thrive in nearly 4,000 acres of forest, prairie, and stream! Hawks versus mice, coyotes versus fox–the match ups are endless!
To quench your thirst for March mayhem, we are introducing Parklands Madness! 64 of your favorite native Kentucky species compete in a visitor driven tournament that will crown one eventual Parklands Champion!
YOU-the park visitor and supporter- will determine the winner of each match up through social media polling. Parklands Interpretive Rangers will provide “Player Bios” that guide you as you fill out your bracket. A new round of games and visitor voting will take place each week beginning Thursday March 26 until a winner is crowned on May 2, 2020. Game and action recaps for each round will be available at theparklands.org.
So, fill out your bracket and email to Director of Education Curtis Carman at ccarman@21cparks.org for a chance to win a free week of Parklands Summer Camp! Entries must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday March 25 to be eligible for the prize.Then RSVP to our Facebook event for regular updates and to vote on your favorite species!
Good luck to everyone and Go Cardinals! Or wait…
CLICK HERE for a printable PDF version.
Use the Player Bios below to help you make your picks!
Tournament Voting Schedule
Round 1 (64 players): March 26 – March 29: Read First Round Recaps
Round 2 (32 players): April 2 – April 5
Round 3 (Top 16): April 9 – April 12
Round 4 (Top 8): April 16 – April 19
Round 5 (Top 4): April 23 – April 26
Round 6 (Championship): April 30 – May 2
*Need more Madness? This idea is modeled after March Mammal Madness developed by our peers at the Kentucky Association for Environmental Education and Arizona State University. For more information go to https://twitter.com/2020mmmletsgo?lang=en.
About the Author
Curtis Carman
As Director of Education, Curtis Carman oversees The Parklands Outdoor Classroom, promoting STEAM-based education through engaging, hands-on learning both outdoors and inside the classroom. Each year, his team of Education Specialists, Interpretive Rangers and Camp Counselors guide nearly 20,000 participants of all ages through school field trips, camps, Parklands Explorer, Junior Explorer and Wednesday Wonders. Prior to his promotion to Education Director in May of 2018, Curtis first joined The Parklands team as an Interpretive Ranger and led the department as Education Coordinator for three years. A native of Louisville and a graduate of Ballard High School, Curtis returned to his hometown after having worked as an environmental educator in Maine and Colorado at Acadia and Rocky Mountain National Parks. Curtis also served as Membership Manager at the Rocky Mountain Conservancy. Curtis enjoys hiking, biking, camping and kayaking.