Archives: Events

The Plein Air Gatherings are an opportunity for artists to get together and paint or draw outdoors “en plein air” in Hancock County parks.  All adult artists who use any medium conducive to working outdoors are welcome.  If you are new to plein air painting or are hesitant to go out on your own, these […]

Young anglers can try their luck as the Hancock Park District hosts its 27th Annual Fish Festival. Trout stocking will take place prior to the event courtesy of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Division. Fishing will be allowed by the bank only. Children must do the fishing, but limited adult assistance is permitted. […]

Come out for an archery class led by a certified archery instructor. All necessary equipment and targets will be provided. You will have the opportunity to learn the basics of archery along with safety measures, while shooting arrows at several targets with a compound bow. How close to your target can you get? Sign–up and […]

Recycling is fun. Activities will be held inside and outside the Discovery Center, including Recycled Bowling and Trash Toss. Participants can turn trash into something new, such as water bottle flowers, bubble blower, milk jug flowerpot, jeweled pencil holders or recycled animals. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 12:30-3:30 PM All ages are welcome. Free; registration […]

Recycling is important. It is good for the environment. Hancock County 4-H kids will be at the Discovery Center this day to collect your plastic lids and bottle caps to make recycled benches and tables for the Hancock County Fairgrounds. There will be displays of different items to recycle and information about where to recycle […]

Discover why flowers are important to us and why animals need them for food. After a story, children can partake in activities such as Bloom Matching and Parts of the Flower – What’s Missing? Participants will also get to plant their own flower seed to take home with them. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 10 […]

Explore the world of carnivorous plants. We will talk about plants and what they need to survive, study live carnivorous plants and watch a Venus flytrap eat insects. There will be an opportunity to create your own paper Venus flytrap to take home. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 6 PM Ages 6-10 with an adult. […]

The parks are filled with birds as they journey on their spring migration. Learn about birds, their migration, and how to identify them. Afterward, practice your skills by observing birds at the bird feeders and go on a bird hike. Binoculars will be provided or bring your own. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 1-2:30 PM […]

Find out about life on a farm with hands-on activities, such as feeling sheep wool, a straw scavenger hunt, looking at duck, turkey and goose feathers, and gathering plastic eggs from our hen puppet. Pioneer toys will be available to play with. Adult companions must remain with children during this program. Litzenberg Memorial Woods Shelter […]

The Plein Air Gatherings are an opportunity for artists to get together and paint or draw outdoors “en plein air” in Hancock County parks.  All adult artists who use any medium conducive to working outdoors are welcome.  If you are new to plein air painting or are hesitant to go out on your own, these […]

Have fun learning about insect body parts by making insects out of pom-poms, pipe cleaners, and clothespins. Use a magnifying glass to inspect preserved specimens. We will hike the trails with sweep nets in search of live insects, such as painted lady butterflies, green darner dragonflies, and praying mantis. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 1 […]

Riverbend Recreation Area Lakefront Activity Center 9PM

Learn about colors found in nature. A story will be read followed by a short hike in search of colors. Color wheels will be used. After the hike, we will return to the Discovery Center where participants can create a watercolor craft. Please wear clothes that can get stained. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center Porch […]

The Plein Air Gatherings are an opportunity for artists to get together and paint or draw outdoors “en plein air” in Hancock County parks.  All adult artists who use any medium conducive to working outdoors are welcome.  If you are new to plein air painting or are hesitant to go out on your own, these […]

Insects are everywhere. During our .4-mile Meadow Hike, we will look for caterpillar frass, holes in leaves, wasp galls, and other signs left by insects. Monarch butterflies might be in search of milkweed. The trail can be wet this time of year, so wear shoes that can get muddy. Riverbend Recreation Area Big Oaks Parking […]

Many interesting and colorful birds pass through the area during their spring migration as they make their way to the breeding grounds in the north. During our bird hike, we will search for birds like Scarlet Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Red-headed Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, and a wide range of warblers. As we find these birds, we […]

How did the pioneers get the broth to make soups, stews, and chicken and noodles? Sarah Fishel will be boiling down some chicken and beef bones to make a tasty soup and talking about this process. There will also be buttermilk biscuits cooking in the oven to go with the meal she is preparing for […]

Hedgie’s Surprise by Jan Brett will be read in the Nature Play Area. It is a story about a chicken who needed to keep her eggs from being eaten by Tomten. The hen wants to hatch her eggs and have a new flock of babies, but she needs Hedgie’s help to do it. There will […]

Enjoy a late spring evening with outdoor games like corn hole and ring toss. Parachute and bean-bag bugs, bubbles, and Velcro ball and disc set will also be available to play with. Make sandcastles or look for fossils using the sand toys that will be in the Playscape. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Nature Play Area 6-8 […]

The Plein Air Gatherings are an opportunity for artists to get together and paint or draw outdoors “en plein air” in Hancock County parks.  All adult artists who use any medium conducive to working outdoors are welcome.  If you are new to plein air painting or are hesitant to go out on your own, these […]

Help your child work on their gross motor skills by having them do a sensory path. On our spring-themed sensory path you can buzz like a bee, hop like a frog, or fly like a bird. After completing the sensory path play in the nature playscape or go for a walk on the trails. If […]

Growing gourmet mushrooms at home can be easy, but there are important steps that must be taken to ensure healthy growth. We will talk about sterilization, the best materials to grow mushrooms in, harvesting methods, and which mushrooms are best for edibility. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 6 PM Ages 16 and up. Free; but […]

Try your hand at catching fish in Giertz Lake. Learn about the basics of fishing, fishing gear, common sport fish species, and fish behavior. All skill levels are welcome. A fishing pole will be provided or bring your own. Corn will be available for bait or bring your own lucky lure! All participants who are […]

Natural materials, including soil, crushed leaves, rocks, bark, and flowers will be used for pencils, crayons, and paint. Children will have an opportunity to create works of art. Please wear clothes that can get stained. Adult companions must remain with their children during this program. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center Porch 10 AM Ages 3-6, […]

Little Bear was hiking along a trail when he tripped over a stone, but it was not a stone, it was a tortoise. This is where the fun begins. After the story has been read, we will take a short hike to the lake. If there is inclement weather, this program will be held in […]

The Plein Air Gatherings are an opportunity for artists to get together and paint or draw outdoors “en plein air” in Hancock County parks.  All adult artists who use any medium conducive to working outdoors are welcome.  If you are new to plein air painting or are hesitant to go out on your own, these […]

Come out for an archery class led by a certified archery instructor. All necessary equipment and targets will be provided. You will have the opportunity to learn the basics of archery along with safety measures, while shooting arrows at several targets with a compound bow. How close to your target can you get? Sign–up and […]

As the temperature rises, cold-blooded animals, such as amphibians, are more likely to be seen and heard. We will hike the trails, look for animals, and listen for their calls. During the hike, we will look for the American toad and the northern green frog and roll over logs in search of the eastern red-backed […]