Lowe-Volk Nature Center
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Crawford Park District
2401 SR 598
Crestline, Oh  44827
419-683-9000

Lowe-Volk Nature Center
Hours:
Mon-Sat:8:00am - 4:00pm
Sun:  Noon - 4:00pm
Look What's Happening at the CPD!!!
Teasel Pull
Saturday, June 22 10am Daughmer Savannah
Help eradicate teasel at one of the best natural areas in the Midwest! Teasel crowds out our native plants, affecting Daughmer’s botanical diversity. You’ll be teaming up with members from our partner group, ONAPA (Ohio Natural Areas & Preserves Association) to rid Daughmer of the invasive species. Bring work gloves and bug repellent. Shovels and water will be provided.
 
Viewing the Night Sky
Saturday, June 22 9pm   Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
Join members of the Crawford Park Astronomy Club as they share their knowledge and telescope skills with all who are interested in the celestial sights.  Summer skies are famous for viewing galaxies. We will show you several of them this quarter.
*m-87 is the giant elliptical galaxy that they recently took a photo of its super massive black hole. This black hole is 6.5 billion times the mass of our sun. Unfortunately, we can’t see the black hole with our telescopes.
*m-104 is the Sombrero Galaxy. It is lenticular galaxy giving us nearly edge-on view. They also resemble a lens. The Sombrero Galaxy is 29.3 million light years away. It is found above the constellation Corvus.
*m-44 is an open cluster called the Beehive Cluster. It can be viewed with binoculars or even your naked eye! It is only 520 light years away and found in the constellation Cancer. The Beehive Cluster has been known since ancient times, and was one of the first objects Galileo studied. It is very pretty.
*Mizar and Alcor, also called “The Horse and Rider”, are found in the handle of the Big Dipper. They are a binary star system, which means the two stars orbit around a central mass.
Please dress for the weather. We meet at sunset. If needed, we will meet inside and show videos. Bring your own telescope or allow the volunteers to assist you with those provided. It’s a spectacular universe!   
 
Salem Prairie
Sunday, June 23 2pm Salem Cemetery
Intersection of Lower Leesville Rd & Parcher Rd
Restoration of native habitats is a long process that is fraught with unexpected challenges and complications. Warren Uxley has spent the last decade restoring a tallgrass prairie at the Salem Cemetery and will be sharing the successes and analyzing the problems he has encountered during this project.
 
Purple Martins
Wednesday, June 26 7 pm Unger Park
The Purple Martin colony at Unger Park is a major success story. In addition to learning how to start a Martin colony of their own, participants will get to look inside the Unger apartment complex and take part in the ongoing monitoring program. Meet Warren Uxley in the Unger parking lot.
 
Mud Day
Saturday, June 29 11am-1pm Lowe-Volk Park
Current science points to many positive attributes of playing in the dirt. Why not help the CPD celebrate International Mud Day! There will be opportunities to just get your toes or hands muddy…or to get completely covered in mud! Jefferson Twp. Fire Department will be on hand to give you a rinse. Fun for the whole family!
 
Civil War Encampment
Saturday, June 29 & Sunday, June 30 Unger Park
Stroll through army encampments of the North and South and watch a battle reenactment. There will be period demonstrations, interactive activities, and kids can be “recruited” into a soldier’s life. Enjoy this fun filled event for all ages.
 
Viewing the Night Sky
Saturday, June 29 9pm   Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
Join members of the Crawford Park Astronomy Club as they share their knowledge and telescope skills with all who are interested in the celestial sights.  Summer skies are famous for viewing galaxies. We will show you several of them this quarter.
*m-87 is the giant elliptical galaxy that they recently took a photo of its super massive black hole. This black hole is 6.5 billion times the mass of our sun. Unfortunately, we can’t see the black hole with our telescopes.
*m-104 is the Sombrero Galaxy. It is lenticular galaxy giving us nearly edge-on view. They also resemble a lens. The Sombrero Galaxy is 29.3 million light years away. It is found above the constellation Corvus.
*m-44 is an open cluster called the Beehive Cluster. It can be viewed with binoculars or even your naked eye! It is only 520 light years away and found in the constellation Cancer. The Beehive Cluster has been known since ancient times, and was one of the first objects Galileo studied. It is very pretty.
*Mizar and Alcor, also called “The Horse and Rider”, are found in the handle of the Big Dipper. They are a binary star system, which means the two stars orbit around a central mass.
Please dress for the weather. We meet at sunset. If needed, we will meet inside and show videos. Bring your own telescope or allow the volunteers to assist you with those provided. It’s a spectacular universe! 
 
Feeding Day
Sunday, June 30 2pm Lowe-Volk Park
Will it be fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, shrimp, worms, or mice? Can you guess what’s on the menu for the animals in the Nature Center? Stop out to see who eats what and help Lisa feed some of the animals!

Junior Naturalist Club 

Consider joining the new and improved Junior Naturalist Club with the Crawford Park District! Open to anyone age 12-18 who has an interest in nature or animal related careers, or just want to spend time learning about nature with a group of young professionals. Our meetings will be held once a month on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 5pm, starting March 9th! The meeting topics will depend on the interests of the participants, but we hope to learn about conducting educational programming, conservation, animal care, and natural history. As well as having guest speakers and field trips. To apply, please download and fill out the application below and drop it off to Naturalist Abby at the front desk of the Nature Center or scan it and email her at aditomassi@crawfordparkdistrict.org. 
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New at Lowe-Volk Park:
Sandstone Rockscape

The Crawford Park District is pleased to announce the recent construction of A Sandstone Rockscape at Lowe-Volk Park.  The rockscape was designed and built by a group of volunteers commonly called, The Cabin Guys. Their name was assigned because the men built the Dapper Cabin at Colonel Crawford Schools.   The historic sandstone was donated by Chuck Kimerline of Bucyrus Road Materials and Nancy Everly of The Leesville Trading Post.  Since sandstone was previously quarried at Lowe-Volk Park, it was the perfect building material for the rockscape.