BUCYRUS, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW) — As autumn brings cooler mornings and changing foliage across Crawford County, the Crawford Park District is rolling out a diverse schedule of fall programming designed to connect residents with nature.

Lori Morey of the Crawford Park District highlighted the seasonal lineup during a recent appearance on Community Spotlight, noting that autumn is one of the most active times of year for local wildlife and outdoor exploration.

“Fall isn’t just for celebrating with programs and festivals,” Morey said. “It’s one of the more active and fascinating times of the year in nature. So there’s a lot happening, not just with our programming, but if you spend some time in a park looking up at the sky, you can see anything happen.”

The district’s fall schedule features hands-on conservation activities, environmental education, and family-friendly events across park properties in Crawford County:

  • Little Explorers: A monthly program focused on teaching young children how to spot the early signs of autumn, including leaf color changes and shifts in animal behavior.
  • Monarch Butterfly Tagging: Participants assist naturalists in tagging monarch butterflies to aid research on their annual migration to Mexico, California, and Florida.
  • Homeschool Nature Lessons: A interactive session exploring the natural scents of autumn, focusing on both pleasant and pungent smells found in the wild.
  • Pawpaw Education & Tasting: A seasonal showcase centered on the pawpaw, Ohio’s largest native fruit, offering park visitors a chance to learn about and sample the crop during its short harvesting window.
  • Fall Fungus Foray: A guided hike focusing on the diverse variety of mushrooms and fungi emerging along the forest floor.
  • Halloween Family Fun Night: An annual October tradition featuring family-oriented holiday activities.
  • Saw-Whet Owl & Falconry Event: Held in November, this year’s program features a partnership with the Ohio School of Falconry, which will showcase live birds prior to the district’s annual presentation on Ohio’s smallest native owl species.

In addition to scheduled programs, Moore encouraged community members to visit local park trails independently to observe wildlife preparing for winter, bird migrations, and the final blooming native plants of the year.

Full event details, registration information, and park trail maps are available online at crawfordparkdistrict.org or on the Crawford Park District Facebook page.