CRAWFORD COUNTY—The Crawford Park District has many fun fall activities coming up in the middle of October.
Birding Basics
Saturday, October 16, 8 am Sandusky Headwaters Preserve, 2400 State Route 598
Curious about birding but don’t know how to get involved? Join Crawford Park District Land Manager and Naturalist Kyle Bailey for an interactive, family-friendly program suitable for all ages. Autumn is at its peak as bird migration is transitioning. Waterfowl migration is well underway, while songbird migrant numbers have tapered. Woodlands are left with familiar faces like titmice, chickadees, cardinals, woodpeckers, and late migrant stragglers. This program will focus on birding basics such as learning how to identify common Ohio species, when and where to bird, how to bird, what to look for, and much more! We will meet in the parking lot of Sandusky Headwaters Nature Preserve located at 2400 SR 598, 3 miles north of US Route 30. Please bring binoculars or cameras to better view the birds. Binoculars are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Stewardship Program: Woody Species
Saturday, October 16, 11 am-1 pm Sandusky Headwaters Preserve, 2400 State Route 598
Do you enjoy getting your hands dirty while contributing to preserving our native habitats? Then come on out and assist Land Manager Kyle Bailey with the Crawford Park District’s monthly Stewardship Program. We will be focusing our attention on removing unwanted woody species such as Glossy Buckthorn (Frangula Alnus), Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), Honeysuckle (Amur sp.), Tree-of-Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), and more. We will meet in the parking lot of Sandusky Headwaters Preserve. We will begin with a brief introduction about stewardship and our target species before heading out into the field. Closed-toe shoes are required; long sleeves and pants are suggested. There is a possibility of contact with Poison Ivy. Dress for the weather. Some gloves and loppers will be available.
Halloween Family Fun Night
Saturday, October 16, 6–9 pm Lowe Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
The Crawford Park District invites families to come out 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 (weather permitting), and a treat bag for kids. The Crawford Park Astronomy Club will also be on hand to view celestial sights. Bring a flashlight to go on a guided night hike through the haunted woods or to go on a self-guided clue hike around the grass mounds. Fun for the whole family!
Seed Collection
Sunday, October 17, 2 pm Daughmer Savannah, 786 Marion Melmore Rd.
Grass seed will be collected from areas of Daughter that have abundant prairie grasses and then spread to those zones that are dominated by less desirable plant species. Meet Crawford Park District Naturalist Warren Uxley at the parking lot of Daughter Savannah.
Canoeing
Monday, October 18, 5–7 pm Neff Reservoir, State Route 98, East of Bucyrus
Join the Crawford Park District staff for an evening paddle around Neff Reservoir. After a lesson on canoeing basics and safety, we will send you out on the water! You will need to wear shoes that can get wet. No registration is required, but it will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Infant Explorers: Spiders
Wednesday, October 20, 5 pm Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598
Your first instinct may be to keep your babies indoors. However, research tells us that infants in outdoor spaces benefit from access to a wide variety of sensory stimuli which they just can’t experience indoors. Join Crawford Park District Naturalist Abby and baby Vincenzo for a program about spiders that will engage your infant’s senses and will get parents and baby out of the house for some fresh air! Dress for the weather–we will be outside for at least part of the program.
For information on other programs offered by the Crawford Park District, call 419-683-9000, visit their website at crawfordpd.org, or follow them on Facebook.