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
Sundays 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Forest Friends:
Pre-K Learning in Nature

Whether they are making a mud pizza, observing a tadpole growing legs, or climbing a tree, interaction with nature is essential in meeting the social, physical, emotional, and cognitive needs of children. This program combines early childhood and environmental education to:

  • foster curiosity
  • inspire confidence & independence
  • encourage problem solving & reflection
  • strengthen balance, coordination, & concentration
 
Learning will take place at Lowe-Volk Nature Center and will be inquiry-based and student-centered. Kindergarten readiness skills such as letter recognition, counting, and writing will also be incorporated. Children will be outside rain, snow, or shine, except in cases of severe weather. Learning sessions will be Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays with a morning session from 9-11:30am and an afternoon session from 1-3:30pm. Class sizes are limited to six students per session, and registration will be on a first come, first serve basis. Cost is $100/month.This program is for 4- or 5-year-olds who will be starting Kindergarten next year. Registration opens Wednesday, August 26th at 8 am. Due to limited availability, registration forms and the first month’s payment must be submitted in-person at Lowe-Volk Nature Center to secure a child’s participation in this program. For more information, call the Nature Center at 419-683-9000.
A Note from the Director:
As we continue to navigate toward the future, we must remain diligent in slowing the spread of corona virus. As of now (6/9/20), all CPD parks and preserves are open. We have developed summer programs; new for the quarter will be the need for pre-registration. Follow this page for programming updates, or visit our website, www.crawfordpd.org.

As you continue to utilize your parks, please adhere to the Governor’s social distancing and group gathering guidelines. Before you enjoy one of your great parks, plan ahead as there are no restrooms or drinking water available. We will continue to monitor the situation and make changes as needed. Park staff are still available via phone (419-683-9000) or email (jdyer@crawfordpd.org). Thank you and stay well.


NATURE CAMP UPDATE
As the CPD staff looks to the summer program season, we are grappling with: “How do we safely provide programming without losing its integrity?” We know day camps are allowed to operate this summer.  However, with social distancing and large gathering orders in place, and the mandatory guidelines to host a camp, this will make it impossible to provide the same authentic nature experiences you and your children have come to expect from our summer programming. To that end, I regret to inform you that this summer’s Nature Camp is cancelled.

The staff is working diligently to provide some “socially distanced” programming for the summer months. These family programs will mirror some of the fun activities that your kids love during Nature Camp. More information on these programs will be provided in our summer issue of the “Trails” newsletter, on our website (crawfordpd.org), and on the Crawford Park District’s Facebook page. This information will be available around June 1st.

If you have questions, please call the Park Office at 419-683-9000.

​Sincerely,
 
Joshua Dyer
Crawford Park District Director

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.