Fall Colors are Popping!

The autumn colors are at peak at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. With the rain today, many have fallen, but many more are still providing simply stunning displays of colors.

NOW is the time to take a quick hike and see this in person. So, without further delay, grab your camera, grab friends/family and head on out to your favorite Darke County Park!

Golden-red Sugar Maple Leaves

Blazing red-orange Oak Leaves

Views of the Log House

Come on now... shut down that computer and get to a Park. =)

Just a few upcoming programs to remind you about:

Habitat Healing with the Junior Naturalists

Saturday, Oct. 24th, 1-3:30pm

Do you know a 10-12 year old that loves the outdoors? Does he or she spend time wandering your woods or exploring your backyard? If you know a little nature lover, then Darke County Parks has a great opportunity available. Junior Naturalists is a series of monthly programs designed to give children a hands-on introduction to natural resource management.

Pre-register your child today for October’s Junior Naturalist program. Join us, Saturday October 24 from 1-3:30pm. The focus this month is “Habitat Healers”. The participants will learn about invasive plants and then head outside to do some habitat healing. Under Naturalist direction and supervision, the children will be removing plants that are not native to Ohio and clear a path for native plants to thrive. A materials fee of $4 is charged for each program and pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, contact Darke County Parks at 937-548-0165.

Park Explorations

Saturday, Nov. 7th 10a-4p

Grab a seat in the ‘great white van’ and let’s hit the trails. Darke County Parks invites you to join Naturalists for an Exploration of the Parks on Saturday November 7 from 10am-4pm. We’ll start at Shawnee Prairie Preserve and tour the county stopping at every Darke County Park along the way. Wear comfortable hiking shoes, bring a sack lunch, your camera and water; it’s going to be a busy and exciting day spent in the out of doors! Pre-registration is required as seating is limited. For more information or to register contact Darke County Parks at 937-548-0165

The Fungus Among Us

Feel like a fall walk in the woods? Look forward to joining Darke County Parks Naturalists for a Fungus Hike at Routzong Preserve on Thursday October 8 at 5:30pm. We will scour the trails at Routzong in search of fall mushrooms dotting the woodland floor. Mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of fungus and can be colorful and quite beautiful to identify. From sponges to gills, mushrooms are as fascinating as their names imply! Routzong Preserve is located on Routzong Road east of Greenville. For more information, please contact Darke County Parks at 937-548-0165.