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 gatherings […]

Playing with shadows can be fun. Explore shadows through hands-on activities like watching a shadow puppet show, creating paper shadow puppets, tracing the shadows of toy animals, reading the time on a sundial, and playing a shadow matching game. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 10 AM Ages 3-6 with an adult; other aged siblings are […]

Explore the Blanchard River Greenway Trail, which used to be a railroad corridor but is now a walking path. Enjoy a leisure walk down the trail and see possible wildlife on the river, such as Painted Turtles, Mallards, and Great Blue Herons. Meet at Riverside Waterfalls Pavillion parking lot. Centennial Park 6 PM All ages […]

Vogelsong Conservation Area, which was created to protect water quality, expand wildlife habitat, and provide natural beauty, can be reached by hiking the Blanchard River Greenway Trail from Eastpoint Area. Exploration will involve hiking around the small prairie and along the edge of the riparian forest, looking at the Blanchard River from the pedestrian bridge, […]

Resident and migratory birds are here for the summer. Some of these birds can be seen through pictures and displays and by hiking the trails, such as Indigo Bunting, American Goldfinch, and Northern House Wren. Riverbend Recreation Area Big Oaks Activity Area Mariann Dana Younger Memorial Pavilion 6 PM All ages are welcome. Free; but […]

Children can get dirty and clean at the same time with suds and sand. Have fun mixing colors with suds painting, making colored sand and colored sand art, blowing homemade bubbles, and sculpting with sand and foam. Wear clothes that can get stained. Riverbend Recreation Area The Meadows Activity Area Shelter 6 10 AM Ages […]

Explore Aeraland Recreation Area, which is a rural county park in a quiet country setting. Hike the Highline Trail with scenic views of the South Branch Portage River, and the Upland Trail that traverses a 13-acre meadow. Check out Goose Lake and look at fungi, trees, wildflowers, birds and other animals, and visit the bat […]

Asterisms are distinct shapes and patterns in the stars that can be seen in the night sky. They are not constellations, but they can consist of stars from multiple constellations. One of the best-known asterisms is the Big Dipper, which is part of the Urus Major constellation. From inside the planetarium, look at asterisms, planets, […]

The Hancock Park District Administrative Office Building sits nicely on the bank of the Blanchard River along with trees and a variety of wildlife, including the Northern Flicker. Information about this common woodpecker will be shared. Bring a chair and enjoy a root beer float. Binoculars will be provided or bring your own. HPD Administrative […]

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 gatherings […]

The archery range will be open for anyone who has participated in one of the Hancock Park District’s archery instructional programs. A certified archery instructor will supervise the archery open shoot. Archery equipment will be provided. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Dold Lake 6 PM Ages 9 and up. Click here to register with $10 per person […]

Nature journaling is the art of using pictures and words to record observations. Nature journaling will be discussed, examples of nature journal pages will be shown, and a journal prompt will be chosen to help create a nature journal page. All skill levels are welcome. Sketchbooks and supplies will be provided or bring your own. […]

The Discovery Center will be open for visitation. Visitors can choose to participate in unstructured and/or structured activities. Activities and attractions include bird watching via the Windows on Wildlife, mounted animals and live animals on display, nature videos, field guides and nature books for reading, touch table and puppets, and seasonal displays and exhibits. A […]

This small 10-acre park is a wonderful place to pack a summer snack, play in the playground, and listen to the birds. Take a walk along the Blanchard River Greenway Trail and look for wildlife, such as dragonflies, butterflies, and ducks. There will be children’s tunnels and tents to play in and bubbles to blow. […]

There are a lot of different things to touch in nature. Is the pinecone soft or hard? Feel the warm ground, touch the scratchy tree and make the sand feel different by adding water to it. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Nature Play Area 1 PM Ages 3 and under with an adult; other aged siblings are […]

Learn the history of the Blanchard River and how it flows though Findlay. Walk along the river and find out which direction it flows, learn how human implementations are used to control the river such as dams and benching, and see possible animals that call the river their home including Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles, Common […]

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 gatherings […]

Get a little wet while doing experiments with water. Children will figure out if certain nature items sink or float, make new hues with color mixing, play with the water balls and splash around in the kiddy pools. Wear clothing that can get wet. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center Porch 1 PM Ages 3-6 with […]

Learn about the life history of the River Otter, Beaver, and Muskrat and how they use the Blanchard River. Get a close look at skulls, fur, and tracks. Check out the river to see if any of these fur-bearing swimmers are paddling by. Bring a chair to sit on. Blanchard Landing 10 AM All ages […]

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an owl, bat, or any other animal that comes out at night? Find out information on nighttime creatures, including Racoons and Viriginia Opossums. Make a planisphere chart and learn about animal eye shine and other nocturnal adaptations. July night sky maps will be available […]

Take a temporary story walk in the park to identify animals that live in a tree. The story walk will go from Riverbend Recreation Area to Lehman Conservation Area. It will feature the book This is the Tree We Planted. Afterward, return to Shelter 7 at Riverbend Recreation Area to look at items from animals […]

Gyotaku is the traditional art of Japanese fish printing. Participants will create their own prints using realistic rubber fish of native fish species. While waiting for the prints to dry, enjoy spending time along the Blanchard River Greenway Trail. Eastpoint Area 10 AM All ages are welcome. Free; registration is not required. Tim Kleman tkleman@hancockparks.com

Aim, shoot, and score! Learn safety measures and the basics of archery from a certified archery instructor while shooting arrows at targets with a compound bow. Archery equipment will be provided. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Dold Lake 6:30 PM Ages 9-15. Click here to register with $10 per person by 1 PM on Tuesday, July 21. […]

Reptiles are cold-blooded animals with scales that come in different shapes and sizes. Visit a variety of stations, including turtle shells with a turtle shell obstacle course, observation area with snakeskin and bones, what it means to be venomous, and reptiles that lived with the dinosaurs. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center Porch 1 PM Ages […]

Pollinators are amazing and beneficial to the natural environment. Hike from the Activity Barn to Indian Green Cemetery, explore the south side of Litzenberg Memorial Woods, and search for pollinators, such as Honeybees, Monarch Butterflies, and Sweat Bees. Litzenberg Memorial Woods Activity Barn 6 PM All ages are welcome. Free; but click here to register […]

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 gatherings […]

This is a perfect book for National Marble Day because of what had fallen from the sky. As the story is read, find out what has been found and what the insects did. There will be marbles to see and learn about. If there is inclement weather, this program will be held inside the Discovery […]

Play with toys and games of the past like graces, hoop, and stick, nine pins, and create a button whirler and bull roarer. After playing, learn more about life in the 1840s by visiting the McKinnis House and garden. Litzenberg Memorial Woods McKinnis House 10 AM Ages 3-6 with an adult; other aged siblings are […]

The Discovery Center will be open for visitation. Visitors can choose to participate in unstructured and/or structured activities. Activities and attractions include bird watching via the Windows on Wildlife, mounted animals and live animals on display, nature videos, field guides and nature books for reading, touch table and puppets, and seasonal displays and exhibits. A […]

In the early 1900s, Remington Arms Company used the heavy, bluish clay mined from the property for their Blue Rock brand clay sportsmen's targets. Stop by the display table to see items made from clay and have fun playing with clay. Blue Rock Nature Preserve Trailhead at the Edgar Avenue Parking Lot 10-11:30 AM All […]

Join the Millstream Astronomy Club as it celebrates Astronomy Day. There will be safe solar observing with star observation later in the evening. The Millstream Astronomy Club will have telescopes available (club members can show you how to use them) or bring your own. Riverbend Recreation Area Big Oaks Activity Area Shelter 3 7 PM […]

Before electricity, people in the 19th century would light their homes using candles and lanterns. Learn about the job of the chandler and the process of making candles. Participants who attend can create their own small dip candle. Litzenberg Memorial Woods McKinnis House 1-4 PM All ages are welcome. Free; registration is not required. Tim […]

Marbles are made of clay, glass, natural agate rocks, and stones. Play Chinese Checkers and try not to lose you marbles. Ancient marbles and ones from the 1800s and the 1900s will be on display. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 1:30-4:30 PM All ages are welcome. Free; registration is not required. Chris Allen callen@hancockparks.com

Find out what a bee is and why it is important. Walk around the meadow to look for bees and the flowers they visit. Riverbend Recreation Area The Meadows Activity Area Shelter 6 10 AM Ages 3 and under with an adult; other aged siblings are welcome to attend. Free; registration is not required. Maclain […]

Discover what makes spiders unique. Visit different spider themed stations including pictures of various kinds of spiders, how spiders eat, a human-sized recreation of a spider’s web, and a web-slinging game with sticky hands and targets. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center Porch 1 PM Ages 3-6 with an adult; other aged siblings are welcome to […]

Grab a magnifying glass and become a footprint detective! Discover animal tracks and how you can use them as clues to solve a mystery. Visit a variety of stations that focus on animal tracks, including a print matching game, solve the forest mystery of whoever ate the berries, make your own prints with paint and […]

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 gatherings […]

Bright Conservation Area was created to protect water quality, expand wildlife habitat, and provide natural beauty. Habitat is characterized as native wetland communities, including scrub-shrub, wet meadow, emergent herbaceous, and open water that support a variety of wildlife. Among the wildlife to be found in the wetlands and fields are wildflowers, such as Purple Coneflowers, […]

Make a work of art that looks like light reflecting off the surface of water. Use markers to color the water and masking fluid to leave white spaces for the reflections. All supplies will be provided. Liberty Landing 6 PM Ages 10 and up. Click here to register with $5 per person by 1 PM […]

The Discovery Center will be open for visitation. Visitors can choose to participate in unstructured and/or structured activities. Activities and attractions include bird watching via the Windows on Wildlife, mounted animals and live animals on display, nature videos, field guides and nature books for reading, touch table and puppets, and seasonal displays and exhibits. A […]