Darke County Parks…
New Event, Nature Day, at Shawnee
DCP is looking for volunteers  
March 23, 2012 

Darke County Parks is excited to announce the NEW upcoming event called Nature Day! Nature Day will be held here at Shawnee Prairie Preserve on Saturday, May 26th from 10AM-4PM.  At this time we are currently seeking interested DCP volunteers for this day to host a station. Our current plan is to have 2 volunteers per station for the duration of the program; however if you are unable to assist the entire day please let me know as AM/PM stations may be available. 

At each station, the families / children will complete some kind of activity or task (that we will provide you all the information/ supplies for).  Once they have completed the task, you will stamp their “Nature Passport” and they can go on to the next station.  We would like to have 15-20 different nature related stations throughout the woods, prairie, and wetlands. Some of our ideas are listed below. If you are willing to help during Nature Day, please let me know which station you would like to assist with!  

Potential Nature Day Topics:  Please remember staff will supply you with all your information/ supplies.  Our goal is to have it pre-set like the crafts at Prairie Days. 

a.    SQM Station- Wetlands (will be getting dirty! Should know about SQM)

b.    Beaver Station- Old Beaver Dam (will be talking about Beavers, we can provide script)

c.    Gnome House Station- Natural Play Area (basically just helping pass out supplies and telling the kids how to build a “gnome home”)

d.    Squirrel Station- By “squirrel” Tree (not sure yet… we will provide info)

e.    Butterfly Nets- Low Observation Deck (passing out nets, help ID if they catch a butterfly, booklets will be provided)

f.     Binoculars- High Observation Deck (Help kids use binoculars and look for something in Prairie, such as a letter or color that we have put out and any soaring birds)

g.    Mud Dauber Station- Back of Deer Lane (May get dirty, will judge the mud dauber nest that kids will make)

h.    Habitat Healing Station- Anywhere (be able to help kids ID honeysuckle and/or garlic mustard)

i.      Box Turtle Station- Somewhere close to NC in woods (will talk about and handle our box turtle)

j.     Conifer Station- Near Stage (ID Evergreen Trees)

k.    Tadpole Station- Near Vernal pool?

l.      Decomposing Log-  Talk about decomposition and soil

m.  Fishing Station- At Creek (Show kids how to “cast” a cane pole and bait a hook.  Also be willing to untangle the line)

n.    Roll over Log- Look for critters

o.    Find a leaf match- Help kids find a match

p.    Wildflower match- Help kids find a match

q.    Prairie flower match- Help kids find a match

r.     Build a Nest- help kids construct a nest, 

Are you free to assist? If so, let me know TODAY! Thank you again for all of your help as Nature Day will not be possible without you! 

Laura Schwieterman

Volunteer Coordinator/ Naturalist

 937.548.0165