Lowe-Volk Nature Center
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2401 SR 598 Crestline, Oh 44827 419-683-9000 |
Upcoming Programs/Events
Barb Dolch Memorial Bikeway Ride Saturday, October 5 9am Meet at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Help the Crawford Park District memorialize the life of Barb Dolch by riding the bikeway named in her honor. Bike enthusiast Matt Echelberry will lead the 30-mile ride that traverses the eastern portion of Crawford County. Beginning at Lowe-Volk Park, the bikeway travels through farmland, along wooded river corridors, and through Galion and Crestline. There will be places along the way for breaks and water refilling. Bring your family, bring your bikes, and enjoy the ride! Bows, BB’s, and Kids Saturday, September 21 10am Crawford County Conservation League, 3477 State Route 98, Bucyrus The Crawford Park District is partnering with the Crawford County Conservation League to get kids acquainted with shooting sports and fishing. During this free event, participants will have the opportunity to shoot archery, BB guns, .22 rifles, and try their hand at fishing. All equipment will be provided. For kids ages 5-15. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Event is sponsored by: Friends of the Crawford Park District, Windy Ridge Pheasant Farm, and Ohio Division of Wildlife. The Crawford County Conservation League is located at 3477 State Route 98, east of Bucyrus. *DATE CHANGE* Viewing the Night Sky Saturday, September 21 7:30pm 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. Some of the targets for fall are: *Jupiter - and its moons can be seen using binoculars *Saturn - if you haven’t viewed the rings of Saturn, it is a view that few forget! *m-13 - is a globular cluster found in Hercules *Double Stars - 2 stars very close together *Exploded Stars - with a ring of debris *m-31 - also known as Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away. It’s the largest galaxy in our local group. *Moon - with the days getting shorter, it’s a good cycle to view the new moon. *Milky Way - we have a great view of the Milky Way galaxy from the park. Don’t forget - you can bring binoculars! Pickin’ Pawpaws Sunday, September 22 1pm Sears Woods State Nature Preserve, 1486 Mt. Zion Rd. Pawpaws are the largest edible tree fruit native to the United States. Join Crawford Park District Naturalists Josh and Lisa for a walk through Sears Woods looking for this custard like fruits. Wear your hiking shoes; it’s a moderate hike to get to the Pawpaw patch. We will even sample our harvest. Sears Woods is located west of Bucyrus on Mt. Zion Road. Fall Wildflowers Sunday, September 22 3pm Salem Prairie, Intersection of Lower Leesville Rd. and Parcher Rd. Join Crawford Park District Naturalist, Warren Uxley for a look at the fall wildflowers of Salem Prairie. Late September is a time of transition; most plant species have become dormant in preparation for winter. Many wildflowers choose this time of the year to display their brilliance. Learn the late season wildflowers and their flowering ecology. Book Club Tuesday, September 24 6:30pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Do you love nature and also love to read? With the abundance of books available for nature lovers, sometimes it is hard to choose the next great book to read. Join the Crawford Park District’s Book Club and we will figure it out together! Pre- Registration is recommended as the club will be limited to 15 members. So come armed with your favorite book about nature or a nature centered book you want to read and be ready to make your case to the club! Viewing the Night Sky Saturday, September 28 7:30pm 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. Some of the targets for fall are: *Jupiter - and its moons can be seen using binoculars *Saturn - if you haven’t viewed the rings of Saturn, it is a view that few forget! *m-13 - is a globular cluster found in Hercules *Double Stars - 2 stars very close together *Exploded Stars - with a ring of debris *m-31 - also known as Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away. It’s the largest galaxy in our local group. *Moon - with the days getting shorter, it’s a good cycle to view the new moon. *Milky Way - we have a great view of the Milky Way galaxy from the park. Don’t forget - you can bring binoculars! Yoga in the Park Sunday, September 29 3pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Join Instructor and Crawford Park District volunteer Kay Smith for an hour of outdoor Yoga with beautiful Lowe-Volk Park as the backdrop. Moving gracefully from one pose to the next, while focusing on balance and breath, enjoy a full mind-body experience. No registration necessary. Bring your mat and water. In the event of inclement weather, class will take place in the Nature Center. Seed Collection Tuesday, October 1 5:30pm Unger Park, 1303 Bucyrus Nevada Road. Come out and help the Crawford Park District collect seeds from Unger Park. Gray-headed Coneflower, Mountain Mint, and different grasses are on our collection list. These seeds will be used to restore habitats in other parks and wildlife areas. All equipment will be provided. Unger Park is located just west of Bucyrus on Bucyrus-Nevada Road. Homeschool in Nature: Snakes Thursday, October 3 10am & 2pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Don’t be scared, snakes aren’t something we should fear. The Crawford Park District invites Homeschoolers to take a look at snake characteristics and learn interesting facts about them. Students will even have a chance to meet a few of these reptiles. Classes are limited to 20 students per session. Please call the Crawford Park District to reserve a spot for your 5-12 year old by October 2. Canoeing Thursday, October 3 6pm Neff Reservoir Route 98 The Crawford Park District invites you to join Lisa and Josh for a fall evening paddle around Neff Reservoir. Learn some canoeing basics and take to the water and enjoy the trees in their fall colors! Pre-registration is required by October 2. Barb Dolch Memorial Bikeway Ride Saturday, October 5 9am Meet at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Help the Crawford Park District memorialize the life of Barb Dolch by riding the bikeway named in her honor. Bike enthusiast Matt Echelberry will lead the 30-mile ride that traverses the eastern portion of Crawford County. Beginning at Lowe-Volk Park, the bikeway travels through farmland, along wooded river corridors, and through Galion and Crestline. There will be places along the way for breaks and water refilling. Bring your family, bring your bikes, and enjoy the ride! Seed Collection Tuesday, October 8 5:30pm Unger Park, 1303 Bucyrus Nevada Rd. Come out and help the Crawford Park District collect seeds from Unger Park. Gray-headed Coneflower, Mountain Mint, and different grasses are on our collection list. These seeds will be used to restore habitats in other parks and wildlife areas. All equipment will be provided. Unger Park is located just west of Bucyrus on Bucyrus-Nevada Road. Wild Wednesday Wednesday, October 9 10am & 2pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Come to the Crawford Park District’s Nature Center and enjoy an hour of nature exploration! Program topics will vary and may include a story, short hike, craft, or a visit from an animal. For pre-schoolers and their parents. Come dressed for the weather. Morning and afternoon programs will be similar, just choose the time that best fits your schedule. Archery Pumpkin Shoot Thursday, October 10 5:30pm Unger Park, 1303 Bucyrus Nevada Rd. It was so much fun last year; the Crawford Park District decided to bring back the pumpkin shoot! Join Naturalists Lisa and Abby for an evening archery pumpkin shoot that will test your archery skills. All equipment and pumpkin targets will be provided. Unger Park is located just west of Bucyrus on Bucyrus-Nevada Road. Recycling Saturday, October 12 9am-12pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 The Colonel Crawford Lions Club and The Friends of the Crawford Park District will have a RECYCLE DAY, from 9am to noon at the Lowe-Volk Park Nature center located at 2401 State Route 598. We will have a RECYCLE DAY the second Saturday of each month through the year. We will be accepting: Cardboard Clear/brown/green/blue glass (separate by color) #1 (PETE) plastics #2 (HDPE) plastics (colors do not have to be separated) Newspaper/magazines/office paper/junk mail Steel cans Aluminum cans Household batteries Eyeglasses CFL lightbulbs - from households only, no businesses please Laptops, tablets & cell phones.--------NO ELECTRONICS - NO COMPUTER TOWERS - NO COMPUTER MONITORS -OR- TELEVISIONS----------------- Any recyclables taken to the Crawford Park District, outside of the second Saturday of every month do not get credited to the Park District. If you would like the money generated from recycling to go to them, you must take your recyclables to the Park District during their monthly collections. Conservation Heroes: Indiana Bat Saturday, October 12 2pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598, Join Crawford Park District Naturalist Abby to learn why the Indiana Bat is endangered and the majority of our bats are in decline, as well as what we can do to help these animals make a comeback in the wild. This 3-part program will be a continuation of the spring series; bring your cape, or each new participant will receive their own cape, and then try to collect all three buttons to place on the cape. After the program we will play a game that demonstrates the effect of White-Nose Syndrome. Seed Collection Sunday, October 13 2pm Daughmer Savannah, 786 Marion Melmore Rd. Come and help the Crawford Park District continue its mission of fostering the use of native plants in our environment by collecting native plant seed. Meet at the parking lot of Daughmer Savannah located at 786 Marion-Melmore Road just north of SR 294. Yoga in the Park Sunday, October 13 3pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Join Instructor and Crawford Park District volunteer Kay Smith for an hour of outdoor Yoga with beautiful Lowe-Volk Park as the backdrop. Moving gracefully from one pose to the next, while focusing on balance and breath, enjoy a full mind-body experience. No registration necessary. Bring your mat and water. In the event of inclement weather, class will take place in the Nature Center. Going Nutty! Monday, October 14 6pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Trees produce nuts to carry on their species, but are also loved by wildlife as food. Join the Crawford Park District’s Joy Etter-Link to learn about the various kinds of nuts that fall from our forest trees. For kids up to 5th grade accompanied by an adult. Lowe-Volk Park is located 3 miles north of US Route 30. Toddler Trot: Lookin’ at Leaves Thursday, October 17 5:30pm Sears Woods, 1486 Mt. Zion Rd. Sears Woods is a great place to explore, especially when it comes to leaves! Join Crawford Park District Director Josh Dyer and McKinley as they trot the trail, using leaves to match shapes and colors, compare sizes, and count. For kids not quite in school and younger. Sears Woods is located west of Bucyrus on Mt. Zion Road. Halloween Family Fun Night Saturday, October 19 6pm-9pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 The Crawford Park District invites families to come to Lowe-Volk Park and celebrate with a night filled with fall fun! Dress in your Halloween costume or just come to enjoy the activities. There will be a bonfire, face painting, nature art, wagon rides, and a treat bag for kids. Bring a flashlight and go on a guided night hike through the haunted woods or go on a self-guided clue hike around the grass mounds. Bring the whole family! Native American Artifacts and the Geology of Flint Tuesday, October 22 7pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Thursday, October 24 7pm Lowe-Volk Park 2401 State Route 598, Join local rock hound and Crawford Park District volunteer Bryan Summer for this informative program about Ohio’s prehistoric artifacts and one of the primary stones used in their construction: flint. Bryan will present information about various artifacts and discuss some well-known prehistoric sites like Flint Ridge, Serpent Mound, and Fort Ancient Village. Youth attendees will receive their own artifact to take home. Pick a date and come and learn about Ohio’s geology and prehistory. Viewing the Night Sky Saturday, October 26 6:30pm 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. Some of the targets for fall are: *Jupiter - and its moons can be seen using binoculars *Saturn - if you haven’t viewed the rings of Saturn, it is a view that few forget! *m-13 - is a globular cluster found in Hercules *Double Stars - 2 stars very close together *Exploded Stars - with a ring of debris *m-31 - also known as Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away. It’s the largest galaxy in our local group. *Moon - with the days getting shorter, it’s a good cycle to view the new moon. *Milky Way - we have a great view of the Milky Way galaxy from the park. Don’t forget - you can bring binoculars! Book Club Tuesday, October 29 6:30pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Do you love nature and also love to read? With the abundance of books available for nature lovers, sometimes it is hard to choose the next great book to read. Join the Crawford Park District’s Book Club and we will figure it out together! Pre- Registration is recommended as the club will be limited to 15 members. So come armed with your favorite book about nature or a nature centered book you want to read and be ready to make your case to the club! Meetings are held at the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center the last Tuesday of each month. Saw-Whet Owls Friday, November 1 6pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 The Crawford Park District welcomes Bob Placier for this annual program on Saw-Whet Owls. Secretive and nocturnal, Saw-whets are Ohio’s smallest owl. With a handful of nesting records in Ohio, Saw-whets breed mostly in northern boreal forests, with some venturing south in the fall and winter months. Bird bander Bob Placier will bring his mist nets back to Lowe-Volk to gather data on these diminutive owls. A PowerPoint presentation will be followed by checks of the mist nets in the hopes of catching a few of these nocturnal flyers. Between net checks, there will be a craft and campfire to enjoy the fall evening. Dress for the weather and bring a flashlight! Fun for the whole family! Fall Bird Banding Saturday, November 2 8am-12pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Fall bird banding gives us insight into bird populations that remain in or come to Crawford County for the winter. The Crawford Park District welcomes Bob Placier who will have his nets open and traps set to see who is hanging around this time of year. Fun for all ages! Tellin’ Tales: The Indian Kettle Saturday, November 2 2:30pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Join the Crawford Park District for this popular Tellin’ Tales program. Stories abound about the fabled “Indian Kettle” that is located near Leesville. But where is it? How did it get its name? Did you play or hike there? Mike Hocker will facilitate this discussion about the fabled Indian Kettle. Everyone is welcome to come and share their stories and insights regarding this well-talked about, yet little understood, landmark. Wild Wednesday Wednesday, November 6 10am & 2pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Come to the Crawford Park District’s Nature Center and enjoy an hour of nature exploration! Program topics will vary and may include a story, short hike, craft, or a visit from an animal. For pre-schoolers and their parents. Come dressed for the weather. Morning and afternoon programs will be similar, just choose the time that best fits your schedule. Homeschool in Nature: Tooth Be Told Thursday, November 7 10am & 2pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 This month the Crawford Park District Homeschoolers are going to explore the dental side of animals. We will learn other names used to describe these “chompers”, what animal species has the most teeth, and other interesting facts. Classes are limited to 20 students per session. Please call the Park District to reserve a spot for your 5-12 year old by November 6. Recycling Saturday, November 9 9am-12pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 The Colonel Crawford Lions Club and The Friends of the Crawford Park District will have a RECYCLE DAY, from 9am to noon at the Lowe-Volk Park Nature center located at 2401 State Route 598. We will have a RECYCLE DAY the second Saturday of each month through the year. We will be accepting: Cardboard Clear/brown/green/blue glass (separate by color) #1 (PETE) plastics #2 (HDPE) plastics (colors do not have to be separated) Newspaper/magazines/office paper/junk mail Steel cans Aluminum cans Household batteries Eyeglasses CFL lightbulbs - from households only, no businesses please Laptops, tablets & cell phones.--------NO ELECTRONICS - NO COMPUTER TOWERS - NO COMPUTER MONITORS -OR- TELEVISIONS----------------- Any recyclables taken to the Crawford Park District, outside of the second Saturday of every month do not get credited to the Park District. If you would like the money generated from recycling to go to them, you must take your recyclables to the Park District during their monthly collections. Conservation Heroes: Lake Erie Water Snake Saturday, November 9 2pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Join Crawford Park District Naturalist Abby to learn how the Lake Erie Water Snake used to be a federally endangered species, as well as how it made a comeback in the wild. This 3-part program will be a continuation of the spring series; bring your cape, or each new participant will receive their own cape, and then try to collect all three buttons to place on the cape. You will also get a chance to see a Lake Erie Water Snake in person! Nature Hike Sunday, November 10 2pm Heckert Nature Preserve, 1601 State Route 19 The Crawford Park District invites you to join Naturalist Warren Uxley to explore the last flowering plants and insects of the year along the trail at Sears Woods. Everything from dragonflies to migrating warblers is possible during this time of seasonal transition. Heckert Nature Preserve is located at 1601 State Route 19 west of State Route 602. Smells Like Nature Thursday, November 14 5:30 pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 What’s that smell? The Crawford Park District invites you to the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center to find out! Plants and animals both leave different signs or smells behind as a calling card. Some are potent like the skunk and others are fruity and light. How many nature smells can you correctly identify? Viewing the Night Sky Saturday, November 23 5:30pm 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. Some of the targets for fall are: *Jupiter - and its moons can be seen using binoculars *Saturn - if you haven’t viewed the rings of Saturn, it is a view that few forget! *m-13 - is a globular cluster found in Hercules *Double Stars - 2 stars very close together *Exploded Stars - with a ring of debris *m-31 - also known as Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away. It’s the largest galaxy in our local group. *Moon - with the days getting shorter, it’s a good cycle to view the new moon. *Milky Way - we have a great view of the Milky Way galaxy from the park. Don’t forget - you can bring binoculars! Feeding Day Sunday, November 24 2pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 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? The Crawford Park District invites families to stop out to the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center to find out who eats what and take turns helping Lisa feed some of the animals! Bird Walk Sunday, November 24 2pm Sears Woods, 1486 Mt. Zion Rd. Conditions far to the north of Ohio dictate what types of birds will spend the winter in the Buckeye State. Each year is different but it’s always interesting; come and learn what this year will bring. Meet Crawford Park District Naturalist Warren Uxley at the Sears Woods parking lot for the program on birds. Sears Woods is located west of Bucyrus on Mt. Zion Road. Book Club Tuesday, November 26 6:30pm Lowe- Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598 Do you love nature and also love to read? With the abundance of books available for nature lovers, sometimes it is hard to choose the next great book to read. Join the Crawford Park District’s Book Club and we will figure it out together! Pre- Registration is recommended as the club will be limited to 15 members. So come armed with your favorite book about nature or a nature centered book you want to read and be ready to make your case to the club! Meetings are held at the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center the last Tuesday of each month. Viewing the Night Sky Saturday, November 30 5:30pm 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. Some of the targets for fall are: *Jupiter - and its moons can be seen using binoculars *Saturn - if you haven’t viewed the rings of Saturn, it is a view that few forget! *m-13 - is a globular cluster found in Hercules *Double Stars - 2 stars very close together *Exploded Stars - with a ring of debris *m-31 - also known as Andromeda Galaxy is 2.5 million light years away. It’s the largest galaxy in our local group. *Moon - with the days getting shorter, it’s a good cycle to view the new moon. *Milky Way - we have a great view of the Milky Way galaxy from the park. Don’t forget - you can bring binoculars! |
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