Croaks & Calls: Frogs on the Night (IC@MOP)
About this Event
CROAKS & CALLS:
Frogs on the Night Shift
A nighttime nature experience where we decode frog calls, explore a new listening location, and discover what the changing season reveals.
Date & Time
Sunday, November 8, 2026
6:30 p.m.–8:30 p.m.
Location
Intrenchment Creek at Michelle Obama Park (IC@MOP)
1600 Constitution Road SE
Atlanta, GA 30316
Meeting Location: Newly reopened park trailhead entrance.
What to expect
A FAMILIAR GREENSPACE. A NEW PURPOSE. WHO MIGHT BE SINGING?
For the first time, Croaks & Calls: Frogs on the Night Shift is heading into Intrenchment Creek at Michelle Obama Park! We're bringing a new intention to this greenspace—exploring its nighttime soundscape through the lens of amphibian observation and discovering what this location might teach us.
And we're doing it in AUTUMN!
As the seasons change, so does the chorus. Many of the familiar frog calls of spring and summer have quieted, and cooler temperatures, changing daylight, rainfall, and species-specific breeding cycles can influence whether frogs are calling at all.
Will we hear frogs? Maybe. Maybe not.
That's part of the experience!
Croaks & Calls is a guided nighttime exploration designed to introduce participants to frog identification through listening and observation. While we'll practice recognizing a select handful of frog calls, this particular outing is just as much about becoming acquainted with a new potential monitoring location, listening to the broader nighttime soundscape, and noticing what the changing season reveals.
DeKalb County is home to a rich diversity of frogs and toads. While we won't cover them all, we'll focus on a select handful of species to hone our listening skills, build confidence in identification, and gain a better understanding of what amphibian monitoring can look and feel like.
Inspired by regional amphibian monitoring efforts, this series begins with listening. Before meaningful data can be collected, we first need to develop our ears, sharpen our observation skills, and experience how frog activity changes from park to park and season to season.
Moving at a slow, intentional pace, we'll pause at several locations to experience the nighttime soundscape, practice identifying frog calls, explore why frogs call and what those calls communicate, and begin connecting sound with species, habitat, and behavior.
We'll divide our time between stillness and movement, allowing the landscape to reveal itself as we tune in more deeply.
Even silence has something to teach us.
Our first Croaks & Calls visit to Intrenchment Creek at Michelle Obama Park is an opportunity to explore the possibilities of this location together—not to guarantee an encounter with its amphibian residents.
Because whether the frogs join us or not, there is always something worth noticing.
This isn't about getting it perfect. It's about learning to notice what's already here—with intention.
Program leader
Your guide will be Naturalist Tasha Messer, DeKalb County Parks Naturalist with DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs.
Where to meet
Meet Naturalist Tasha at the newly reopened park trailhead entrance at Intrenchment Creek at Michelle Obama Park.
1600 Constitution Road SE, Atlanta, GA 30316
We'll begin with a brief introduction at the trailhead before making our way onto the trails for our first nighttime listening experience at this location.
What to bring
Wear weather-appropriate clothing and sturdy walking shoes suitable for natural surface trails with exposed roots and uneven terrain. November evenings can be chilly, so dressing in layers is encouraged.
Participants are encouraged to bring:
• Flashlight or headlamp; red-light mode is preferred if available
• Refillable water bottle
• Phone for notes, if desired
• Curiosity and a willingness to listen, observe, and contribute
Restrooms
There will be no restroom access during this program. Please use the restroom before arriving and plan accordingly.
Recommended ages
This program content is designed for adults and older youth, though all ages are welcome. Participants should be comfortable walking outdoors after dark and remaining quiet for periods of listening and observation.
Dogs
To help everyone hear frog calls and minimize disturbance to wildlife, this program is not appropriate for dogs. Please leave your furry friends at home.
Weather contingency
This program will be held rain or shine unless weather, trail, or other environmental conditions are deemed unsafe by DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs (RPCA).
Rainfall may encourage activity in some frog species, but autumn conditions can also mean little or no calling activity. Frog calls and sightings are never guaranteed.
Walking distance
Approximately 1–1.5 miles of slow-paced walking with frequent stops for listening and observation. The route and distance may be adjusted based on trail and environmental conditions.
Exposure
This program takes place within Intrenchment Creek at Michelle Obama Park, where participants will experience wooded areas, creek-associated habitats, and the sights and sounds of the natural landscape after dark.
Participants should expect low-light conditions, mosquitoes and other insects, wildlife activity, cool evening temperatures, potentially damp vegetation, and other environmental conditions associated with nighttime exploration.
Trail surface & accessibility
Our route begins along the newly constructed, fully paved concrete trail at Intrenchment Creek at Michelle Obama Park. Although the surface is smooth and firm, participants should be aware that certain sections feature steep inclines and declines that may present mobility challenges, particularly after dark.
We will also transition onto natural surface trails, where conditions change considerably. These sections may include exposed tree roots, rocks, uneven terrain, loose soil, muddy or slippery areas, and changes in elevation. Participants should be prepared for varying trail conditions as we move between paved and unpaved sections.
Because this is our first Croaks & Calls exploration of this location, the route may be adjusted based on trail conditions, environmental factors, and participant safety.
Questions about whether this program will work for your mobility? Contact Naturalist Tasha at [email protected].
Program Photos
We love documenting our programs and may share photographs on DeKalb County Recreation, Parks & Cultural Affairs' websites, publications, and social media platforms. While participants are welcome to take their own photos, photographs taken by staff are generally intended for County documentation and promotional purposes and are not routinely distributed to participants.
Waiver & Release
By registering for this activity, each participant hereby acknowledges and agrees that he/she is participating in this program at his/her own risk and holds DeKalb County and all its officers, agents, servants, and/or employees harmless from and against any and all claims, loss, damage, charge, or expense to which they or any of them may be put or subjected by reason of participant’s participation in this program. You further acknowledge that DeKalb County is not responsible for the acts of others participating in this program and the other participants may include, but not be limited to, interested individuals, members of civic groups, religious groups, or community group, and/or persons convicted of crimes and/or violations of County ordinances and ordered to provide community service. I give permission that all photographs, films, video recordings, and sound recordings of me and/or my child(ren) made by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs during this Naturalist program may be used non- commercially by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs to promotion and educational purposes. I understand and acknowledge that neither my child(ren) nor I will receive any compensation whatsoever for appearing in any photograph, film, video recording, or sound recording made by the DeKalb County Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs.
Good to know
NEW LOCATION. NEW POSSIBILITIES. SAME CURIOSITY!
Croaks & Calls is currently in its listening-and-learning phase. These early sessions are opportunities to experience different DeKalb County parks after dark, attune our ears to frog voices, strengthen identification skills, and better understand what consistent amphibian monitoring will require before formal data collection begins.
Our first visit to Intrenchment Creek at Michelle Obama Park adds another location to that learning process. Every park offers a different combination of habitats, seasonal conditions, and opportunities for observation.
Frog calls and sightings are never guaranteed. Autumn conditions may mean little or no calling activity during our visit. This experience emphasizes listening, observation, seasonal discovery, and learning together as we explore this location for the first time with amphibian monitoring in mind.
Whether you've joined us on a previous Night Shift or this will be your very first, you're welcome to be part of the discovery.
No previous frog identification or amphibian monitoring experience is required.
Look • Listen • Learn • Return • Participate
~ Naturalist Tasha
404-927-4227 (Cell)
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 0.00
