JILL SNYDER
Assistant Manager – Interpretation & Education
Thankfully, most Ohio plants and animals use the length of daylight to judge if spring is here. If they relied on the weather, who knows what would be happening right now? We’re excited to share that migration and wildflower season is right at hand! You may have noticed beautiful red-winged blackbirds flying and making a ruckus by the wetlands or maybe you’ve seen a frog hopping across the path. Those are all great signs of spring along with the bursting woodland wildflowers. Perhaps you want to join one of our Naturalists on a program to learn about all of these things, and Metro Parks is hosting wildflower walks and bird programs throughout May.
Another sure sign of spring is the increased number of park guests! Metro Parks team members that lead programs also offer field trip opportunities for schools, scouts, youth groups and senior centers. Field trips can be tailored to meet the needs of each classroom and group, including school group tours at Slate Run Living Historical Farm that take children back to the 1880s to learn about Ohio history. Parks use animals to teach life cycles and hikes to explain ecosystems, and field trips are age specific, hands-on and engaging. To find out more check out the website here.
While the weather may not be reliable in Ohio, the changing of seasons always comes and the naturalists are always happy to share with you.
Here are a few options to get out this May:
Wildflower Walk
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
May 1st at 2pm
Discover some of Ohio’s early spring ephemeral wildflowers on a 2-mile hike. Meet at the Little Darby Picnic Area.
For Families: Wonders of Migration Bird Hike
Blendon Woods Metro Park
May 5th at 10am
Take a 1-hour hike to the lake to search for migrating birds. Practice using binoculars with an
I-Spy game. Bring your own or borrow ours! Content is aimed at ages 6+. Meet at the Nature Center.
To learn more about Metro Parks, visit metroparks.net. See you soon at Metro Parks!