Create gifts this holiday season out of recyclable materials. Use old Christmas cards to make gift tags, bookmarks, and ornaments, create a homemade paper ball ornament, and decorate recyclable wrapping paper. All supplies will be provided. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 6 PM Ages 6 and up. Free; registration is not required. Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com
Catch a glance at the last full moon of 2025. As our eyes adjust to the darkness of the night and then to the brightness of the moon, we will look for animals such as raccoons and Eastern Screech Owls. Will they be looking for food? Come and find out. Riverbend Recreation Area Big Oaks […]
With winter approaching, the possibility of snow is around the corner. Learn how snowflakes are made and why they come in different shapes. Listen to the story, The Snowflake and learn about one snowflake’s journey across the world. Make a snowflake craft using cotton swabs, construction paper, and glue. All supplies will be provided. Oakwoods […]
Learn about the squirrel family, a wily bunch of rodents. See displays of various squirrels found in Ohio, including furs, skulls, and mounts, and make an acorn out of paper plates and construction paper. Squirrel coloring sheets will be available. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 1-4 PM All ages are welcome. Free; registration is not […]
Escape the gloomy, gray, cold weather outside and play indoors! The caterpillar ball pit and tunnel, spaceship and school bus tents, puppets and the chance to make your own puppet show, coloring sheets, and other indoor games will be available. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 10 AM Ages 3 and under with an adult; other […]
Do you know some things about nature? Do you want to learn more? Join Hancock Park District Naturalist Michelle Rumschlag in this new adult series during the winter months. The first program highlights the Rodent family, the largest family in the mammal order. You might think of mice and rats when you hear rodents but […]
Santa’s sleigh is pulled by eight magical reindeer, but what is a reindeer? Learn about reindeer and caribou and compare them to white-tailed deer. Participants will create a handprint reindeer ornament and play some reindeer games. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 10 AM Ages 6 and under with an adult. Free; registration is not required. […]
The Big Dipper is one of the best-known star formations in the night sky. Learn about the seven main stars that make up the dipper in the Ursa Major constellation, the different names the Big Dipper is called by other cultures around the world, and listen to some of the folklore stories associated with these […]
The insects of summer are gone in the winter, but where did they go? Learn how insects prepare for winter and about the different methods they use to survive the cold. We will focus on a variety of insects, including stinkbugs, praying mantids, and monarch butterflies. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 6 PM All ages […]
Even though many birds have left Ohio for the winter, there are still interesting species that can be found in the parks. We will search for year-round resident birds, such as the Northern Cardinal and the American Goldfinch, and for birds that are only in Ohio during the winter, such as the Dark-eyed Junco and […]
With the official start of winter only a few days away, find out how animals are getting ready for the cold. During the hike, we will look for animal tracks made by the Eastern cottontail and the fox squirrel and listen for calls from the Blue Jay and the Northern Cardinal. Riverbend Recreation Area Big […]
Everyone loves penguins, but they are only found in the southern hemisphere. However, you can find penguin-like birds and other sea birds in oceans all over the world. Learn about penguins and other sea birds like puffins, jaegers, gannets, and sea ducks, how these birds survive life on the open ocean, and about the ones […]
