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:  Closed

Nature Camp Job Opportunity!

The CPD is hiring 2 Nature Camp Interns! The job is a seasonal, paid position. It is ideal for, but not limited to, college students. Click here to view the job description and employment application. Return your application, cover letter, and resume before March 29, 2019.
Look What's Happening at the CPD!!!
Snowflake String Art
Tuesday, January 22     6pm    Lowe-Volk Park
People say that no two snowflakes are alike and this project will be no exception. Candy Yocum will be teaching us how to make a snowflake using string and nails on a 6x6” piece of wood. Bring your hammer and we’ll provide the rest. The class is limited to 20 participants ages 10 and up. Please call the Park District to reserve a spot by January 21. A $5 donation is recommended to cover the costs of supplies and can be paid that night.

Toddler Trot:  Winter Trek
Saturday, January 26   10am   Lowe-Volk Park
Nature play is the best play!  Join Josh and McKinley for a stroll through the woods, climbing logs and flipping rocks.  With some luck, snow will abound!  For kids not quite in school and younger.
 
Retirement Open House for Rich Carpenter
Saturday, January 26   11am-1pm   Lowe-Volk Park
After 24 years as a Park Commissioner, Rich has decided to hang up his hat.  His dedication to the CPD has made an enormous impact on the quality of life in Crawford County.  Join us at the Nature Center to honor his outstanding service to the CPD.
 
Viewing the Night Sky
Saturday, January 26 6pm Lowe-Volk Park
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. Targets for the winter months will include: M-32 (an elliptical galaxy), M-31 (in the Andromeda Galaxy), and the star cluster Hyades which is 153 light years away! The universe is an astronomical sight! Bring your own telescope or allow the volunteers to assist you with those provided. It’s a spectacular universe!  
 
Sparrows
Sunday, January 27   3pm   Lowe-Volk Park   
Sparrows are a group of birds that are always present in the environment; the species change with time but they are a vital part of nature. Meet Warren Uxley at the Lowe-Volk Nature Center at 3 PM.

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.

Monarchs, Monarchs Everywhere!

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It has been a GREAT year for seeing monarch caterpillars and butterflies! Overall across the United States there has been an increase of sightings. Every year, we are citizen scientists and order butterfly tags through Monarch Watch. We went through our first 100 monarch tags so quickly that we had to order more. Josh, Lisa, and Abby offered monarch tagging programs on 3 different dates for the opportunity to catch some wild butterflies and to also tag a few that we raised in the Nature Center. We had over 60 participants during those programs. Another opportunity the community had to experience monarch tagging is through some outreach programs to preschools, elementary schools, and senior living centers. Our latest Magical Monarch program was through our Puppet Pals adventure. We offered a puppet show, butterfly craft, monarch release, a chance to meet the cast of the show, and a photo op on stage! To date, we have tagged 128 monarch butterflies and encouraged them to “Gotta Go! Gotta Go! Gotta Go to Mexico!!” If you haven’t seen any yet, there are still a few chrysalises in the Nature Center that haven’t emerged yet, so stop out to see them. We will check back in late spring and early summer to Monarch Watch’s tagged butterfly recovery webpage to see if any of our butterflies were found!