What's Happening at Old Woman Creek

Canoe Tours and Nature Art Classes on the Calendar at Old Woman Creek
Free Educational Programs Offered April through October

HURON, OH - Ohioans are invited to explore a unique, protected Lake Erie estuary through free educational programs at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife's Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, 2514 Cleveland Road East in Huron.

Programs include guided hikes, canoe tours, nature art classes, a seminar on invasive species, and hands-on rain garden and rain barrel workshops, which help protect streams and Lake Erie by dealing with storm-water run off at home.

Events are scheduled to begin April 4 and end October 21. For a complete program schedule and details, visit oldwomancreek.org and click on "Events."

Estuaries such as Old Woman Creek protect Lake Erie by removing pollutants from streams and rivers. Estuaries also benefit coastal communities by buffering against floods and erosion.

Serving as nurseries and homes to a wide variety of wildlife, estuaries are important to the environment and economy. Recreational fishing in the Ohio waters of Lake Erie contributes more than $300 million to the state's economy each year. Wildlife watchers spend about one billion dollars annually statewide.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources ensures a balance between wise use and protection of our natural resources for the benefit of all. Visit the ODNR web site at www.ohiodnr.com.

Early Childhood Education

Spring is getting closer and soon it will be time to start taking your kids outside more and more! I can't wait to get my daughter out in the stroller or the front carrier on a hike. I'm very fortunate in that her daycare takes the kids outside on any day that is 25 degrees or higher and pleasant. So, she'll get to go out a lot during her time there.

What are some ways that day cares and other early childhood care providers could get their students outside more often? What activities could they do? If you have some suggestions or know of any activities that you've used that have worked well with kids in day care, preschool or after school care, please post them here. We'd love to hear what you've done!

Also, the National Project WILD office is in the midst of field testing activities for its upcoming Early Childhood Supplement to Project WILD. This new booklet will contain over 20 activities geared to pre-K thru 2nd grade. Some are modifications of existing activities, others are completely new activities. Some Ohio facilitators and teachers are participating in the field testing and we look forward to the release of this new guide.