Learn and Conserve
2026-08-13 09:30 - 10:30 (America/New_York) | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
9:30 am – 10:30 am
Join us to learn about composting basics, local native and invasive species, and how to become a better land steward.
The pace and activities adapt to the group and conditions making each experience unique.
Optional: Stay afterward to join our volunteer crew for hands-on land management projects such as native planting or invasive removal.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Scat and Tracks
2026-08-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Join us to discover how to identify different animal scats and tracks, followed by a short, guided hike to practice your skills in the field.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Creatures of the Night
2026-08-14 19:00 - 20:30 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us to learn about nocturnal wildlife before going on a short nighttime walk to search for bats, owls, and other creatures of the night.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Tree Identification Trek
2026-08-15 13:00 - 14:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join us on a short, guided hike to learn how to identify trees, while uncovering how different species support wildlife and shape the landscape around you.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Explore the Shore
2026-08-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join us for a guided exploration of the lake’s shoreline as we discover the plants, wildlife, and other natural features that make this unique habitat so dynamic.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Fossils of Ancient Ohio
2026-08-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Join us to explore Ohio’s ancient past, where we’ll learn about fossils through a fun scavenger hunt.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Firefly Night
2026-08-15 19:30 - 20:30 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Join us for an evening to explore the magical world of fireflies. Learn about their life cycle, glowing signals, and the role they play in local ecosystems.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Coffee and Birds by the Lake
2026-08-16 08:30 - 21:30 | Cowan Lake Campground Beach, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
8:30 am – 9:30 am
Join us lakeside for a relaxed birdwatching program where you can enjoy your own coffee while observing and learning about local bird species in their natural habitat.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Campground Beach.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Let’s Exchange Pheasantries!
2026-08-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
10:00 am – 11:00 am
Join us to learn about ground-dwelling birds like pheasants, quail, and turkeys. Discover how they find food and avoid predators through a short hike and hands-on activities.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Rolly Polly Race
2026-08-16 13:00 - 13:45 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
1:00 pm – 1:45 pm
Think you can find the fastest isopod? Learn about Rolly-Pollys and search for your winning champion!
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Restoring the Wild Through Land Stewardship
2026-08-20 09:30 - 12:00 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
9:30 am – 12:00 pm
Meet the naturalist, volunteers and partner organizations as we continue efforts to restore the area around the Nature Center to native habitat
Learn how to identify native and invasive species, and how they affect wildlife
Discover ways to remove invasive species through discussion and observation
Participation is welcomed if you’d like to try invasive removal efforts alongside us; not expected. Bring boots and gloves if you’d like to join us
Weather dependent
Length of sessions vary
Meet at the Caesar Creek Nature Center
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Learn and Conserve
2026-08-20 13:00 - 14:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
1:00 pm to 2:00 pm
Join us to learn about composting basics, local native and invasive species, and how to become a better land steward.
The pace and activities adapt to the group and conditions making each experience unique.
Optional: Stay afterward to join our volunteer crew for hands-on land management projects such as native planting or invasive removal.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Dragonflies
2026-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Join us at the Caesar Creek Nature Center Pond as we hunt for dragonflies. Bring your own bug net for catch and release.
Learn why these insects are so important.
Discover ways you can help protect them and their world of water.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Backyard Bugs
2026-08-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Join us for this Naturalist-led program to dive into the world of bugs.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Archery – Robin Hood Style
2026-08-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
Equipment and instruction provided. Free.
Must be on-site before 1pm to register and participate.
Fun for the whole family.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Nature Center
Free and open to the public
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Guided Nature Center Tour
2026-08-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Meet the Naturalist for a guided tour of the Nature Center, and a chance to meet some of our wildlife ambassadors up close. Learn about plants and wildlife you may see in the park.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Understory Exploration Walk
2026-08-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Join us for a ~1-mile guided hike on Dogwood trail. Explore Cowan Lake’s woodlands and learn to identify wildflowers and other understory plants.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Songs of the Evening
2026-08-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Join us in exploring the world of birds at dusk. Learn to identify local species, observe their behavior, and listen to calls on a guided walk.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

The Science of Light – Rainbows and Prisms
2026-08-21 19:00 - 20:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Discover the colorful science behind one of nature’s most dazzling and familiar mysteries.
In this hands-on program, we’ll explore how sunlight, water droplets, prisms and angles work together to create rainbows. Participants will learn about the visible light spectrum and how rainbows help us understand light, weather, water and physics of the natural world.
The program will also connect rainbows to the bigger ideas in nature, including pollinators, animal vision, solar energy, weather patterns and why light is an important natural resource.
Families will have the chance to experiment with prisms, observe colors in sunlight and discover how something as simple as a rainbows can reveal the hidden science all around us.
Meet at the Caesar Creek campground amphitheater
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Kayak / Canoe Two Island Tour
2026-08-22 10:00 - 12:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join us for a longer paddling tour of two islands in the lake (wind and weather permitting).
Participants must be onsite by 10:00 am to participate
Early arrival is recommended
All equipment and instruction provided
Equipment is limited. First come, first serve
Learn the basics of canoeing and kayaking
Wear water shoes (not flip-flops) and clothes that can get wet
Meet at the Yak Shack near the Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp.
Free and open to the public
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Rocks and Relics
2026-08-22 13:00 - 13:30 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Stop by the Cowan Lake Nature Center to explore cool rocks and fossils at a touch table, learning how they formed and what they reveal about Earth’s history.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Stand-Up Paddle Board
2026-08-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
1:00 pm
All participants go through instructions near the SUP HUT together starting at 1pm. We will continue additional on water sessions throughout the afternoon to get everyone through.
Arrive early to sign waivers and get fitted for lifejackets
Instruction begins at 1pm. Must be onsite for instruction to participate.
Learn the basics of stand-up paddle boarding
Meet at the SUP Hut near the Campground Boat Ramp
Wear water shoes (not flip-flops) and clothes that can get wet
The length of excursions will vary
Equipment and instruction provided. Equipment is limited
First come, first serve
Weather dependent
Meet at the Caesar Creek campground boat ramp, SUP Hut. Free
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

SUP Stretches and Balance Techniques
2026-08-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
2:00 pm
Arrive early to sign waivers and get fitted for lifejackets
Instruction begins at 2pm. Must be onsite for instruction to participate.
Learn the basics of stand-up paddle boarding. Relax on the boards as we stretch, balance and float.
Wear water shoes (not flip-flops) and clothes that can get wet
Equipment and instruction provided. Equipment is limited
First come, first serve
Weather dependent
Meet at the Caesar Creek campground boat ramp, SUP Hut.
Free and open to the public
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Digging Deeper
2026-08-22 15:00 - 16:30 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
3:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Join us in exploring the fascinating world of soil and its incredible role in ecosystems through a variety of hands-on activities. Learn how soil is formed, the organisms that live within it, and why it’s essential for plants, wildlife, and people.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Tree Identification Trek
2026-08-22 17:00 - 18:30 | Cowan Lake Commissary, 1750 Osborn Rd, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Join us for a ~1-mile guided hike on Lakeview and Beechnut trails. Learn how to identify trees, while uncovering how different species support wildlife and shape the landscape around you.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Commissary
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Moth Madness
2026-08-22 20:00 - 21:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
8:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join us for a nighttime discovery lab where we shine lights on a white sheet to observe moths and other bugs up close as they come to visit!
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Sunday Morning Sunrise Walk
2026-08-23 07:00 - 08:30 | Cowan Lake Camp Office, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
7:00 am – 8:30 am
Join us for a guided 1.5 mile walk along the Lakeview Trail as we watch the sunrise over Cowan Lake.
Park near the Cowan Lake Camp Office.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Step into Hiking
2026-08-23 10:00 - 11:30 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
10:00 am – 11:30 am
Join us for a ~2-mile guided hike on Lakeview trail. Learn about wildlife and park history on the way.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Intro to Birding
2026-08-23 13:00 - 14:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join us for this beginner-friendly birding program where we’ll explore the fascinating world of birds and learn how to identify common species in our area.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Digging Deeper
2026-08-23 16:00 - 17:30 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Join us in exploring the fascinating world of soil and its incredible role in ecosystems through a variety of hands-on activities. Learn how soil is formed, the organisms that live within it, and why it’s essential for plants, wildlife, and people.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp
