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

Upcoming Programs & Events

Homeschool in Nature: Evergreens
Thursday, December 2   9am, 11am, & 2pm   Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
Last month the Crawford Park District Homeschoolers learned about ferns and discovered that some stay green all winter long. This month we will explore other plants and trees that stay green during winter. Dress for the weather. Call the Crawford Park District office at 419-683-9000 to register your 5–12-year-old. k.
 
Winter Indoor Bird Watching
Saturday, December 4   8am   Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
The Crawford Park District invites you to come and enjoy donuts and hot beverages with CPD staff inside the Nature Center, as we sit and observe common birds that visit our bird feeders. Winter months provide unique opportunities to observe common winter bird species from close distances all from the comfort being indoors. Set out a bird feeder and watch the birds flock in for an easy meal. Binoculars are recommended.
 
Animals Face to Face: Frogs
Saturday, December 4   10am   Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
Come meet the Crawford Park District’s frogs up close—feel the sticky toes of a treefrog and the bumpy skin of a toad! Join our Naturalist Chelsea to interact with and learn about all of our resident frogs, including Gray Treefrogs, Spring Peepers, Western Chorus Frogs, Wood Frogs, and American Toads. Fun for all ages!
 
Winter Bird Feeding Workshop
Saturday, December 4   10am   Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
Feeding birds can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience shared by anyone. Knowing which types of bird seed to provide our avian friends can make a big difference in which species of birds show up at the feeder. The Crawford Park District invites you to come learn the basics of attracting birds to your yard including which bird seeds to use, types of feeders, types of water features, and types of habitats to provide to attract birds. Following the workshop, we will spend time viewing birds from the Nature Center. Binoculars are recommended.
 
Stewardship
Saturday, December 4   1pm   Sandusky Headwaters Preserve, 2400 State Route 598
Join Crawford Park District staff for our monthly Stewardship Program where the focus will be on removing woody species such as Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Honeysuckle (Amur sp.), and Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). There will be a brief introduction about stewardship and our target species before heading out into the field. Closed toe shoes, long sleeves, and pants are required. There is a possibility of contact with poison ivy. Dress for the weather. Some gloves and loppers will be available. 
 
Holiday Decorations
Sunday, December 5   1pm   Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
Let’s get festive! The Crawford Park District invites you to come make a pinecone holiday decoration for your home. We will provide the pinecones, pine boughs, ribbon, glue guns, wreath forms, and miscellaneous items from nature. If you have other items you wish to add to your wreath or a certain ribbon you prefer, bring those with you!
 
Waterfowl Watch
Saturday, December 11   9am   Bucyrus Reservoirs***
Waterfowl migration is well underway in Ohio with peak numbers for many duck and geese species occurring in November. December still provides opportunities to observe large numbers of stragglers with diving ducks arriving in large flocks as late migrators. Gulls are also well known to flock together in mass during the winter months making it much easier to spot rarer species. Join CPD staff for an annual waterfowl watch as we monitor local waterfowl numbers at the nearby Bucyrus Reservoirs. We will meet at Lowe-Volk Park, then carpool to the reservoirs. Be prepared to be outside. Binoculars are recommended.
 
Owl Prowl
Saturday, December 11   6pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Eight species of owls call Ohio home with only four species being full time residents. Join CPD staff to learn about these amazing avian predators of the night. We will meet in Lowe-Volk Nature Center to learn about our local owls then head outside for a night hike searching for roosting birds in our woods. Binoculars are recommended.
 
Movie in the Park
Friday, December 17   5:30pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Put on your pajamas, grab a blanket, and head over to the Nature Center for a family favorite holiday movie! There will be popcorn, hot chocolate, and themed activities to go with the movie. Call the Park District at 419-683-9000 to sign up.
 
Nature Hike
Sunday, December 19   3pm   Sears Woods
Each winter brings with it a new set of challenges for all life forms.  Food supplies vary from year to year and of course the weather patterns play a key role in determining the makeup of winter bird communities.  Meet Warren Uxley at Sears Woods and find out what this winter will bring.
 
Little Explorers: Puppet Show
Thursday, December 30   5pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Little Explorers is an interactive program for children ages 0-5 years. Activities will focus on stimulating the senses for infants while also engaging fine motor skills for toddlers. Join Naturalist Abby and baby Vincenzo for a small puppet show inside the Nature Center and a chance for the children to play with the puppets afterwards.
 
Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Sunday, January 2   7am   Bob Evans in Bucyrus  
The classic example of citizen science, the Audubon Christmas bird count collects data on bird populations throughout North America. Those who wish to participate should meet Warren Uxley at the Bob Evans at the intersection of US Route 30 and State Route 4 in Bucyrus.
 
Homeschool in Nature: Nests
Thursday, January 6   9am, 11am, & 2pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Birds aren’t the only animals to use nests as a home or a place to raise their young. This month we will look at several nest examples and then go on a hike to look for more in the park. Dress for the weather. Call the Park District at 419-683-9000 to register your 5–12-year-old.
 
Winter Indoor Bird Watching
Saturday, January 8   8am   Lowe-Volk Park
Winter months provide unique opportunities to observe common winter bird species from close distances all from the comfort of being indoors. Set out a bird feeder and watch the birds flock in for an easy meal. Enjoy donuts and hot beverages with CPD staff inside the Nature Center, as we sit and observe common birds that visit our bird feeders. Binoculars are recommended.
 
Animals Face to Face: Tarantulas
Saturday, January 8   10am   Lowe-Volk Park
Come meet the Nature Center’s tarantulas up close—don’t worry, their favorite food is crickets, not humans! Join Chelsea to interact with and learn about our friendly resident tarantulas, including Chaco Golden Knee, Chilean Rose Hair, Curly Hair, and Mexican Red-knee Tarantulas. Fun for all ages!
 
Stewardship
Saturday, January 8   11am   Lowe-Volk Park
Join CPD staff for our monthly Stewardship Program where the focus will be on removing woody species such as Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Honeysuckle (Amur sp.), and Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). There will be a brief introduction about stewardship and our target species before heading out into the field. Closed toe shoes, long sleeves, and pants are required. There is a possibility of contact with poison ivy. Dress for the weather. Some gloves and loppers will be available.
 
Lichens of Lowe-Volk
Saturday, January 8   3pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Lichens are fungi that have discovered agriculture, harboring a layer of photosynthetic algae just below the surface of their bodies. The algae provide food for the fungus, which in turn houses the algae. This neat symbiotic lifestyle allows lichens to grow almost any place that is too harsh for plants to shade them out, such as trees, rocks, and barren ground. They are colorful, diverse in form and abundant. Ohio is home to several hundred species. In this workshop we will start indoors looking at photos and samples of the common and distinctive ones that nature enthusiasts are likely to see on almost any outing. Following that we will hike the Lowe-Volk property to discover lichens on our own. As preparation for this talk, audience members are encouraged to read the ODNR Common Lichens of Ohio Field Guide, which can be viewed on their website at https://ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/wildlife/backyard-wildlife/Pub5473%20Common%20Lichens%20of%20Ohio%20Field%20Guide.pdf.
 
Dr. Bob Klips is an Associate Professor Emeritus in OSU's Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology where he teaches classes on the plants of Ohio. He works in the OSU Herbarium maintaining the moss, liverwort, and lichen specimen collections there. He enjoys doing botanical macrophotography and has contributed images to many websites and publications. An active member of the Ohio Moss and Lichen Association, for the past 15 years he has contributed to the production of Ohio county-level atlases, and produced photo galleries for these organisms, all of which are posted on the Association's website (ohiomosslichen.org).
 
Owl Prowl
Saturday, January 8   6pm   Sandusky Headwaters Preserve
Eight species of owls call Ohio home with only four species being full time residents. Join CPD staff to learn about these amazing avian predators of the night. We will meet in Lowe-Volk Nature Center to learn about our local owls then head outside for a night hike searching for roosting birds in our woods. Binoculars are recommended.
 
Sneaky Squirrels
Wednesday, January 12   5:30pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Squirrels have been observed pretending to cache (or hide) a nut to confuse potential food thieves. Come out to learn more interesting squirrel facts. We’ll even play a game and pretend to be squirrels!
 
Rock Tumbling
Saturday, January 15 & 29   10am-12pm   Lowe-Volk Park
You will learn about rock tumbling equipment and the process of tumbling rocks. We will start a rock tumbler with rough stone and go through all 4 polishing stages to create beautiful, polished rocks. Volunteer Bryan Summer will lead this rockin’ program! The first session will start the rough tumbling process; session 2 will finish with the polish tumble. A one-hour multimedia lesson will be part of this hands-on activity. Please plan on attending both sessions. Call the Park District at 419- 683-9000 to register. Walk-ins are still welcome.
 
Snowy Owls
Monday, January 17   4pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Snowy Owls often migrate from their summer homes in the Arctic to Ohio during winter months, even to Crawford County! Join Chelsea for an interactive presentation all about Snowy Owls, learning their life history and the best places to find one this winter.

Viewing the Night Sky
Saturday, January 22    6:30pm
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 Winter
Andromeda/M31 – 2.5 million light years away, our nearest large, barred spiral galaxy, and has about a trillion stars
Triangulum Galaxy – a spiral galaxy, 2.73 million light years away, 40 million stars, and in about 4 billion years astronomers say this will collide with the Milky Way
Polaris – the North Star, about 400 light years away, a binary star, and 46 times the size of our sun!
Pleiades – open star cluster, 100 million years old, and only 17.5 light years away
Orion – a famous constellation found on the celestial equator. This is a stellar birthplace and other fascinating objects will be shown to you, including the Great Orion Nebula.
 
Feeding Day
Sunday, January 23   1pm   Lowe-Volk Park
The animals that reside in the Nature Center get a variety of food. Some prefer worms or mice while others gobble up leafy greens and vegetables. Come help Lisa feed some of our animal ambassadors.
 
Little Explorers: Ice
Thursday, January 27   5pm   Lowe-Volk Park 
Little Explorers is an interactive program for children ages 0-5 years. Activities will focus on stimulating the senses for infants while also engaging fine motor skills for toddlers. Join Naturalist Abby and baby Vincenzo for a program about ice. Dress for the weather, we will be outside for at least part of the program.
 
Castalia Pond/Medusa Marsh Bird Watching
Saturday, January 29   7am   Castalia Pond
Winter provides the perfect opportunity to work on waterfowl and gull identification as population numbers for many species are at their peak. Lake Erie provides a myriad of opportunities to view these birds. Join CPD staff for a field trip along the Lake Erie Coastline searching for our target species. We will meet at Lowe-Volk Park before carpooling to Castalia Pond. We will be joined by the Richland County Park District and The Wilderness Center Bird Club. Participants will want to bring snacks; we will find somewhere warm for lunch. This is a family-friendly program. Plan to be outside.
 
Viewing the Night Sky
Saturday, January 29    6:30pm
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 Winter
Andromeda/M31 – 2.5 million light years away, our nearest large, barred spiral galaxy, and has about a trillion stars
Triangulum Galaxy – a spiral galaxy, 2.73 million light years away, 40 million stars, and in about 4 billion years astronomers say this will collide with the Milky Way
Polaris – the North Star, about 400 light years away, a binary star, and 46 times the size of our sun!
Pleiades – open star cluster, 100 million years old, and only 17.5 light years away
Orion – a famous constellation found on the celestial equator. This is a stellar birthplace and other fascinating objects will be shown to you, including the Great Orion Nebula.
 
“Nature’s Rainbow” Photography Exhibit
Tuesday, February 1- Monday, February 28   Lowe-Volk Park
Beat the winter blahs by stopping in at the Nature Center to enjoy a colorful display of Ohio’s native flora and fauna. The photos on exhibit, taken by Crawford Park District Naturalist Chelsea Gottfried, offer a welcome retreat from the whites and browns of winter, providing a glimpse of the rainbow of hues about to come in spring.
(feel free to add names to this if others are contributing)
 
Homeschool in Nature: Bark and Buds
Thursday, February 3   9am, 11am, & 2pm   Lowe-Volk Park
It is usually easier to identify trees when they have leaves on them. However, when you know what to look for during the dormant months, you can still identify the species of tree by taking a closer look at the tree’s bark and buds. Dress for the weather. Call the Park District at 419-683-9000 to register your 5–12-year-old.
 
Animals Face to Face: Snakes
Saturday, February 5   10am   Lowe-Volk Park
Come meet the Nature Center’s snakes up close—you may be surprised to find they are smooth and soft, not slimy! Join Chelsea to interact with and learn about our friendly resident snakes, including an Eastern Foxsnake, an Eastern Milksnake, and a Corn Snake. Fun for all ages!
 
iNaturalist Tutorial
Saturday, February 5   2pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Have you ever wondered which plants, fungi, insects, or other animals you’re seeing when you take a walk through the woods, or even in your own backyard? iNaturalist is a website/app that helps you identify anything alive in nature, while also contributing to scientific research. Join Chelsea to learn how to navigate the iNaturalist website, how to use its features, and how to be a contributor to citizen science!
 
Woodpeckers
Wednesday, February 9   7pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Charismatic and fascinating, Woodpeckers cast their spell over all of us.  This will be a PowerPoint program that looks into their lives: habitat, breeding biology, ecology and their haunting calls will be examined in depth.  Meet Warren Uxley at Lowe-Volk Park. 
 
Winter Indoor Bird Watching
Saturday, February 12   8am   Lowe-Volk Park
Winter months provide unique opportunities to observe common winter bird species from close distances all from the comfort of being indoors. Set out a bird feeder and watch the birds flock in for an easy meal. Enjoy donuts and hot beverages with CPD staff inside the Nature Center, as we sit and observe common birds that visit our bird feeders. Binoculars are recommended.
 
Stewardship
Saturday, February 12   11am   Daughmer Savannah
Winter is coming to an end and vegetation is slowly coming back to life. This change in seasonality means a transition for our Natural Resource Crew in managing for invasive species. Join CPD staff for our last monthly Stewardship Program where the focus will be on removing woody species such as such as Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula alnus), Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Honeysuckle (Amur sp.), and Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima). There will be a brief introduction about stewardship and our target species before heading out into the field. Closed toe shoes, long sleeves, and pants are required. There is a possibility of contact with poison ivy. Dress for the weather. Some gloves and loppers will be available.
 
Ootheca Collection Hike
Saturday, February 12   2pm   Unger Park
Join Naturalist Abby for a hike to search for the Ootheca (egg case) of praying mantises. Come learn why we are taking these non-native animals out of the wild, and how you can keep them to watch them emerge in the spring with the potential of having a new pet!
 
Native American Artifacts
Saturday, February 19   10am-12pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Retired school teacher, Bryan Summer is excited to tell the life of Ohio Native Americans by looking at some of their artifacts. There will be tools, weapons, and decorations to see, along with hands on activities. Call the Park District at 419-683-900 to register. Walk-ins are still welcome.
 
Snow Insects
Sunday, February 20   2pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Some insects are most active on warm winter days on top of the snow. Join Chelsea to discover which insects are active in winter and why they are most comfortable in the cold. This program will include a brief indoor presentation, concluding with a hike down to the Sandusky River to search for insects. If we are lucky, we may find the elusive Snow Scorpionfly! The date/time of this program is subject to change based on weather conditions, so please check our website or Facebook page for updates.
 
Cardinals
Monday, February 21   5:30pm   Lowe-Volk Park
Cardinals can have over a dozen different calls or songs. While most of the time males are the vocal ones, female Cardinals will call or sing to their mate while on their nest. Come out to learn more about Cardinals and make a craft to take home!
 
Little Explorers:  Animal Tracks
Thursday, February 24   5pm   Lowe-Volk Park 
Little Explorers is an interactive program for children ages 0-5 years. Activities will focus on stimulating the senses for infants while also engaging fine motor skills for toddlers. Join Naturalist Abby and baby Vincenzo for a program about animal tracks that will engage your infants’ senses. Dress for the weather, we will be outside for at least part of the program.
 
Viewing the Night Sky
Saturday, February 26    7:00pm
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 Winter
Andromeda/M31 – 2.5 million light years away, our nearest large, barred spiral galaxy, and has about a trillion stars
Triangulum Galaxy – a spiral galaxy, 2.73 million light years away, 40 million stars, and in about 4 billion years astronomers say this will collide with the Milky Way
Polaris – the North Star, about 400 light years away, a binary star, and 46 times the size of our sun!
Pleiades – open star cluster, 100 million years old, and only 17.5 light years away
Orion – a famous constellation found on the celestial equator. This is a stellar birthplace and other fascinating objects will be shown to you, including the Great Orion Nebula.
 
Feeding Day
Sunday, February 27   1pm   Lowe-Volk Park
The animals that reside in the Nature Center get a variety of food. Some prefer worms or mice while others gobble up leafy greens and vegetables. Come help Lisa feed some of our animal ambassadors.
 
Nature Hike
Sunday, February 27   3pm   Heckert Nature Preserve  
By late February winter is starting to loosen its grip.  Winter bird flocks are breaking up and the first courtship calls can be heard.  Warm days can bring out over-wintering butterflies.  Meet Warren Uxley at Heckert Nature Preserve to see what this year’s season of transition will bring.