Tuesday, May 9th; 11 AM
Park Program: Wondrous Wetland Expedition
Location: Crooked Run Nature Preserve, Chilo.
ALL ages
Free program
Organizer: Laura RiesenbergRSVP: theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com

Have you ever wondered why wetlands are important and what lives in them? On this expedition we'll visit the wetland, with nets, in search of clues. Waterproof boots are recommended. If the weather is nice, we will picnic following the program and check out the new visitors center.
Please contact Laura at theriesenbergs@cinci.rr.com if you would like to attend! There is plenty of room, feel free to show up even if you don't RSVP. The more the merrier!

RSVPs: Riesenberg, Robbins, Fetters, Vaske, Bass, Smith, Braswell

Directions:
Take 275 South to Kellogg Avenue, Route 52 (East)
Follow Eastbound Route 52 for about 30 minutes.

When travelling on 52 you will pass through New Richmond, Point Pleasant, Moscow, and Neville before coming to Chilo. When you pass Meldahl Dam you will be about 2 miles away. When entering the village of Chilo, you will see a brown sign at the intersection of 52, and State Route 222 that says "Chilo Lock #34 Scenic Byway Visitor Center". The park entrance will be on the right.

Outside of the fact that we were about 10 minutes late because of an accident on 275 and me having to stop and get gas in New Richmond (I vaguely remembered there was no place to get gas on the way out to Chilo) this was an absolutely great program...oh I forgot I ever so gracefully fell and took all the skin off my knee as I walked to the restroom....but the program itself was really cool!

Dennis and Sheila started off with explaing exactly what a wetland is and what it does and then we went into the wetland with nets, buckets, magnifying glasses and small collection/observations jars. The kids quickly spread out over the wetland and the constant echo of "look what I caught" was heard over and over again! Crayfish, tadpoles, frogs, fish, snails, bugs galore, butterflies...it was amazing everything the kids caught! Of course my boys managed to get their shirts muddy and wet and were more than happy to shed their shirts and go topless in the water.

Shanda Smith was a sweetheart and played with Will in the muck. He was so excited to play with his net but I didn't want to venture into the mud and Shanda had on boots so she waded in with him. Sophie wasn't too keen on getting dirty, but she liked looking at all the butterflies and birds flying around and also at the collection buckets. Next year we will know to wear water shoes and swimsuits so that wading into the wetland isn't as tramatic for her!

After the program some of stayed and ate a picnic lunch and explored the new vistors center. The boys all played a game of baseball (it is amazing how when you have a group of 6-10 year old boys how baseball games just seem to break out! Someone always has a bat and ball in their car and usually a few of the kids even have gloves).

We decided we will probably repeat the program next spring and also do a bug safari there this fall. Amazing that I am scheduling programs from May 2007 already isn't it?