CRESTLINE―The Crawford Park District has several activities and events on the agenda for February.

Nature Story Time on Monday, February 3, at 10:30 a.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

The Crawford Park District invites young children and their adults to join Lisa for storytime every Monday this winter! Listen to a different nature-themed book each week. After reading the story, we will have an activity, game, or craft that goes along with the story.

Ruffling Feathers & Other Courtship Displays on Monday, February 3 at 6 p.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

Join the Crawford Park District for a program on animal courtship.  The Bower Bird is well known for his elaborate nest structure and “dance moves” to attract a mate, but many other animals put on equally complex shows. From jumping spiders to peafowl, Joy Etter-Link will share various ways animals find mates. For school-aged children up to 5th grade accompanied by an adult.

Wild Wednesday on Wednesday, February 5 at 10 a.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

Come to the Crawford Park District’s Lowe-Volk Park 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.

Heart of Stone Craft on Thursday, February 6 at 6 p.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

Landscape stones make the perfect “canvas” for a small natural decoration. The Crawford Park District’s Patti Gervais will guide participants in creating their own lovely Valentine’s Day craft. Pre-registration is required by February 5 and limited to 25 participants.

Recycling on Saturday, February 8  from 9 a.m. to noon at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

Due to cold temperatures, volunteers may not be available to help with unloading. The Colonel Crawford Lions Club and The Friends of the Crawford Park District will have a RECYCLE DAY the second Saturday of each month through the year.

We will be accepting: Cardboard, clear/brown/green/blue glass (separated 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.

Track Me Down on Saturday, February 8 at 1 p.m. at Unger Park, 1303 Bucyrus-Nevada Road.

With diverse habitats, The Crawford Park District’s Unger Park is a great place to look for signs of animals. We’ll look for tracks, trails, burrows, chewings…even scat! Join Josh on the romp through Unger Park finding evidence of any animal, large and small. Fun for the family! Unger Park is located just west of Bucyrus on Bucyrus-Nevada Road.

Tellin’ Tales:  Ghosts and Other Weird Tales on Saturday, February 8 at 2:30 p.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

The Crawford Park District invites you to bring your stories and accounts of the odd and unusual to this quarter’s Tellin’ Tales.  The program will be led by local historian Mike Hocker, and is a chance for you to listen and share your local legend.

Nature Story Time on Monday, February from 10 to 10:30 a.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

The Crawford Park District invites young children and their adults to join Lisa for storytime every Monday this winter! Listen to a different nature-themed book each week. After reading the story, we will have an activity, game, or craft that goes along with the story.

Nature Story Time on Monday, February 17, at 10:30 a.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

The Crawford Park District invites young children and their adults to join Lisa for storytime every Monday this winter! Listen to a different nature-themed book each week. After reading the story, we will have an activity, game, or craft that goes along with the story.

Puppet Pals: A Walk in the Woods will be held on Thursday, February 20 at 6 p.m. and again at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 21 at 6 p.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

Our Puppet Pals are exploring a forest!  The Crawford Park District invites kids ages 3-7 and their parents to join them in finding clues to discover the many animals that call a forest “home”.  With a Great-horned Owl, a Raccoon, and many more, our Puppet Pals are sure to please. The puppet show will include a kids’ activity.

Viewing the Night Sky on Saturday, February 22 at 7  p.m. at 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 the winter are:  *Jupiter, which is 1/2 billion miles away and has 4 moons! View it while it lasts, because it is quickly setting in the west. *Saturn-Lord of the Rings! This beautiful sight is one billion miles away.

*Andromeda Galaxy-is 2.4 million light-years away. You’ll first see if with your naked eyes and then get a better look through a telescope. *Winter Sky-is completely different from the summer sky. The Milky Way’s outer band isn’t nearly as bright. *Comets, (a comet is a dirty snowball from deep space.)

Feeding Day on Sunday, February 23 at 2 p.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

The Crawford Park District invites animal lovers to stop out to the Lowe-Volk Park Nature Center to find out who eats what and take turns helping Naturalist Lisa feed some of the animals! 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?

 Nature Story Time on Monday, February 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Lowe-Volk Park, 2401 State Route 598

The Crawford Park District invites young children and their adults to join Lisa for storytime every Monday this winter! Listen to a different nature-themed book each week. After reading the story, we will have an activity, game, or craft that goes along with the story.

Book Club on Tuesday, February 25, at 5:30 p.m. on 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 on the last Tuesday of each month.

Nature Hike on Saturday, February 29 at 3 p.m. at Heckert Nature Preserve, 1601 State Route 19, Bucyrus

Meet Crawford Park District Naturalist Warren Uxley at Heckert Nature Preserve to see what this year’s season of transition will bring. 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.  Heckert Nature Preserve is located at 1601 State Route 19 west of State Route 602.

Viewing the Night Sky on Saturday, February 29 at 7 p.m. at 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 the winter are: Jupiter, which is 1/2 billion miles away and has 4 moons! View it while it lasts, because it is quickly setting in the west. *Saturn-Lord of the Rings! This beautiful sight is one billion miles away.

*Andromeda Galaxy-is 2.4 million light-years away. You’ll first see it with your naked eyes and then get a better look through a telescope. *Winter Sky-is completely different from the summer sky. The Milky Way’s outer band isn’t nearly as bright. *Comets, (a comet is a dirty snowball from deep space.)

Lowe-Volk Park is located three miles north of US Route 30. For more information, contact the Crawford Park District office at 419-683-9000. Also, check out other programs offered by the Crawford Park District by visiting the website or by visiting the Facebook page.