May 2022
Little Hands Nature Club – Spring into Spring
Bring your preschoolers out to the park and join Program Specialist Christine Patterson for activities to learn about plants and animals in the spring. Hands-on stations will include painting with eggs, and matching baby animals to their parents. Preschoolers will…
Find out more »Aurand Run Clean Up
Today is National River Clean Up Day! Help us clean up our local stream at Oakwoods Nature Preserve as we remove trash that enter the stream from spring flooding. We will hike through the stream in search for litter. As…
Find out more »Wee Ones: Butterflies
Butterflies are beautiful creatures. They will be appearing soon out in nature. The butterfly story will help children learn about the flowers that butterflies like, where they will lay their eggs, and their amazing life cycle. There will be a…
Find out more »Wee Ones: Butterflies
Butterflies are beautiful creatures. They will be appearing soon out in nature. The butterfly story will help children learn about the flowers that butterflies like, where they will lay their eggs, and their amazing life cycle. There will be a…
Find out more »All About Reptiles of Ohio
Reptiles are one of the major vertebrate classifications, encompassing such cool creatures as snakes, turtles, crocodiles, alligators, and lizards. Program Specialist Christine Patterson will talk about the ones that live right here in Ohio. Oakwoods Nature Preserve Discovery Center 7…
Find out more »Bee House Workshop
Our bees are in trouble and they need your help. One way to help is to make a house to home native bees in your yard and garden. We will learn about the history of keeping bees, what species of…
Find out more »June 2022
Little Hands Nature Club – Digging Dirt
Bring your preschoolers out to the park to learn about our rocky planet and the dirt that covers it. Hands-on stations will include the opportunity to dig and build and make a volcano explode. Afterwards, enjoy a hike or a…
Find out more »Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center Open House
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…
Find out more »All About Animals in Your Backyard
Wildlife exists everywhere, even in your backyard. Join us for a presentation to learn about some of the most commonly seen animals in Hancock County including Virginia opossums, gray tree frogs, cardinals, painted turtles, and garter snakes. During the talk,…
Find out more »Waterbirds Camp
8 Wednesday - 10 Friday Oakwoods Nature Preserve is home to many water habitats including two lakes, a wetland, and Aurand Run. While all animals need water to survive, some birds use the water in all aspects of their life.…
Find out more »Planetarium: Supermoon
It’s a full moon, but not just any moon. It’s a supermoon! A supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to Earth at the same time the moon is full. In our indoor planetarium, we will observe the moon…
Find out more »Little Hands Nature Club – Rock and Roll
When you walk, jump, or jog outside, chances are you are stepping on rocks. But are all rocks the same? Bring your preschoolers out to the park as we investigate the hard facts about rocks. Children will use magnifying glasses…
Find out more »Nature Bingo
Do you like playing games with your family? Join us for a game of Nature Bingo. Played just like regular bingo, but with nature themed cards. Five in a row earns a prize. Then take your cards outside to continue…
Find out more »Adventure Day Camp: Aquatic Science
Have you ever wondered what is going on beneath the surface of the water? Join us to create a water scope and then use it to study the waterways around Oakwoods Nature Preserve. Campers will learn all about ponds and…
Find out more »Adventure Day Camp: Batty About Bats
One of the coolest animals at night are bats. Campers will learn all about bats, their cool features, and the species that can be found in Ohio. We will create some bat crafts, learn what it means to be nocturnal,…
Find out more »Adventure Day Camp: Nature Science
Nature science will involve sand volcanos, walking water, sun made s’mores, and more! We will use nature as our basis for exploring science and creating our own scientific research. Snacks will be provided, but please bring a sack lunch and…
Find out more »Nature Exploration Overnight Campout
28 Tuesday & 29 Wednesday Nature exploration will lead to the world of fossils and seashells, beginning with a fossil and seashell display inside the Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center. Digging in the Playscape for fossils and then identifying…
Find out more »July 2022
Toddlers in the Park
Toddlers and their adult companion will spend time outside digging in the sand for hidden gems, playing with plastic insects in the bubble pool, interacting with color slime, and exploring the woodland. A snack will be provided, but please bring…
Find out more »Toddlers in the Park
Toddlers and their adult companion will spend time outside digging in the sand for hidden gems, playing with plastic insects in the bubble pool, interacting with color slime, and exploring the woodland. A snack will be provided, but please bring…
Find out more »Camp Habitat Preschool Camp
21 Thursday & 22 Friday This two-day camp for preschoolers is a fun way to learn about animals and where they live. Campers will learn about and experience forests, fields, and ponds by hiking in the woods, playing a game…
Find out more »2022 Art in the Park: Plein Air Gatherings
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…
Find out more »August 2022
Spectacular Spiders
Spiders have found a place in nursery rhymes and have been feared by some. For those children who love them, this is the program for you. Children will learn why spiders are important, get a close look at their body…
Find out more »Little Hands Nature Club – Brilliant Birds
We’re going on a bird hunt outside the Discovery Center. Bring your preschoolers out to the park to learn about the feathered creatures that fly around our area. Hands-on stations will include moving like a bird, trying out different bird…
Find out more »Paper Making for Adults 50+
Learn about the art of paper making. We will discuss the history of paper, the modern-day industrial process, and the hobby of paper making, including the supplies that you need and the process of turning pulp to paper. Each participant…
Find out more »Discovery Story: Night in the Country
What kind of noises are being made when its nighttime out in the country? Join us for a story, nocturnal animal activities like Owl Ring Toss and make a raccoon mask to take home. Furs and feathers of nighttime animals…
Find out more »Richard S. “Doc” Phillips Discovery Center Open House
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…
Find out more »Adventure Day Camp: Nature’s Builders Camp
This camp will explore the world of homes in nature and the animals who build them. What did they use to build their home? We will venture out on the trails to find out. Kids will collect items to build…
Find out more »Adventure Day Camp: Reptile Adventures
Young reptile enthusiasts will interact with, observe, and learn about turtles, snakes, and lizards. They will build a life-size anaconda, play a game of turtle tag, and go on a lizard hunt. The camp will also include live reptiles for…
Find out more »Adventure Day Camp: Metamorphosis
Animals like amphibians and insects go through metamorphosis, the process in which the animal goes through an egg, larval and sometime pupae stage to become an adult. Children will learn the differences between complete and incomplete metamorphosis and why they…
Find out more »Adventure Day Camp: Predator & Prey
Survival in the wild can be tough. This camp will teach campers about the food chain and how both predators and prey are essential for a healthy environment. Though the game of “Tag, You’re Eaten,” campers will learn about the…
Find out more »No Child Left Indoors
Join the Hancock Park District and Pheasants Forever for a morning filled with youth outdoor recreation activities as they test their skills and talents. No Child Left Indoors is part of a national movement to reach a generation of young…
Find out more »Discovery Story: Natures Dining Hall
There will be a story about where insects and animals find their food in nature. Birds eat worms, wasps like to eat beetles, and raccoons like eggs. The opossum is called nature’s janitor because he will clean up whatever he…
Find out more »Discovery Story: Natures Dining Hall
There will be a story about where insects and animals find their food in nature. Birds eat worms, wasps like to eat beetles, and raccoons like eggs. The opossum is called nature’s janitor because he will clean up whatever he…
Find out more »Little Hands Nature Club – Roly Polies
These little guys go by the name Sow bug, Roly polies and Pill bug, and they help make the garden soil richer. Bring your preschoolers out to the park to learn about this little crustacean. We will make our own…
Find out more »Planetarium: Saturn at Opposition
Saturn will be at its closest approach to Earth this week and it will be fully illuminated by the Sun. This means it will be brighter than any other time in the year. We’ll take a closer look at the…
Find out more »Make Your Own Fairy Home
Imagine finding a little house out in the woods. Fairy houses are fun nature-based houses that kids can create for imaginary fairies or other woodland creatures to live in. We will read a book about who might live in a…
Find out more »Little Hands Nature Club – Some Web
Bring your preschoolers out to the park to learn how spiders make their web. Children will be able to try out a Web Obstacle Course and create their own yarn web art. Afterwards, stay and play in the Nature Play…
Find out more »Fairy Homes: Open House
Have you heard about fairy homes? They are small houses built from natural materials for “fairies”, “gnomes” and woodland creatures. Building fairy houses is lots of fun and a great activity to share with family or friends. Come out to…
Find out more »October 2022
2022 Art in the Park: Plein Air Gatherings
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…
Find out more »