Birding from Boats
2026-06-07 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
Join us for a canoe and kayak excursion as we observe birds along the shoreline from our boats.
Learn why birding is important as we practice observation skills.
Learn how to collect information for citizen science and wildlife research.
This family friendly program is a fun way to explore the lake, practice basic paddling skills, and see the park form a new perspective.
Wear sturdy shoes (not flip flops).
Boats (limited), gear and instruction are provided by the park naturalist.
First come, first serve.
Meet at the Yak Shack, located near the campground boat ramp.
Free and open to the public.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Kayaking Skills and Paddling Techniques
2026-06-07 13:00 - 15:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
Learn about different kinds of kayaks and paddles and why they matter. Learn how to load and launch your boat properly. Practice paddling strokes and turning techniques. Learn different rescue maneuvers with our Watercraft Safety Crew.
This program is geared for adults.
Wear sturdy shoes (not flip flops) and clothes that can get wet.
Boats (limited), gear and instruction are provided.
First come, first serve.
Meet at the Yak Shack, located near the campground boat ramp.
Free and open to the public.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Guided Nature Center Tour
2026-06-12 15:00 - 16:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
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
2026-06-12 17:00 - 18:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
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

Creatures of the Night
2026-06-12 19:00 - 20:30 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
Join us to learn about nocturnal wildlife and get a chance to meet our Great-Horned owl before going on a short nighttime walk to search for bats, owls, and other creatures of the night.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Stand-Up Paddleboard – Sunday Morning Stretches and Balance Techniques on the Water
2026-06-14 09:30 - 10:30 | Cowan Lake Campground Beach, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
Join us for a relaxing stand-up paddleboard program focused on gentle stretching, balance, breathing and mindful time on the water. This is not a formal yoga class, but a beginner friendly outdoor wellness experience designed to help participants slow down, connect with nature, and enjoy the lake from a new perspective.
Learn the basics of stand-up paddle boarding
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 Cowan Lake campground beach.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Learn and Conserve
2026-06-18 09:30 - 10:30 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
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

Raptors - Behind the Scenes
2026-06-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
Go behind the scenes and discover what it takes to care for birds of prey. Participants will learn about daily raptor care, safe handling routings, feeding, enclosure upkeep, and the specialized equipment used in falconry and educational bird programs.
We’ll also explore how falconry equipment is made from leather crafting, why proper care matters, and how raptors help us teach about wildlife, conservation and responsible stewardship.
This program is great for anyone interested in birds of prey, animal care, falconry or behind the scenes Cowan Lake Nature Center work.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Biodiversity Challenge
2026-06-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
Team up in small groups, families, or pairs for a hands-on biodiversity challenge! Using identification apps like Seek or iNaturalist, participants will explore the area and record as many different species as they can find.
Meet at the Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Sensory Exploration Walk
2026-06-19 19:00 - 20:30 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
Join us for a ~1-mile guided hike as we explore the woods through the five senses. Along this walk, we’ll pause for simple activities that help us experience nature in new and meaningful ways.
Meet at the Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Explore the Shore
2026-06-20 15:00 - 16:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
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 Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Summer Solstice Hike
2026-06-21 09:00 - 12:00 | Ohio
Join us for a ~5-mile guided hike on Spillway trail. Celebrate the longest day of the year by observing seasonal changes in plants, birds, and other wildlife on a peaceful stroll through the woods.
Closed-toed shoes, appropriate clothes, and water recommended.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Spillway Parking Lot on the west side of the lake.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Backyard Bugs
2026-06-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
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

Restoring the Wild Through Land Stewardship
2026-06-25 09:30 - 12:00 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
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 Nature Center
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Learn and Conserve
2026-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
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

Moon Garden Exploration
2026-06-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
Join us outside the Nature Center as we explore our moon garden land lab. Learn how to create your own at home.
Learn how pale blossoms, sweet scents, and thoughtful garden design can support wildlife and essential nocturnal pollinators. We’ll also talk about how responsible outdoor lighting helps protect fireflies, moths, birds and the natural rhythm of the night.
This program is great for families, gardeners, nature lovers and anyone curious about what a moon garden is.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Archery – Robin Hood Style
2026-06-26 14:00 - 15:30 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
Meet us at the Nature Center as we step into the legendary world of Robin Hood, the skilled archer of Sherwood Forest known for courage, adventure, and helping others.
Participants will learn basic archery safety, proper shooting form, and target practice skills while connecting this timeless outdoor activity to one of the most famous archery stories in history.
This beginner friendly program is designed for fun, focus, and skill building. Take the Robin Hood Archery Challenge.
Equipment and instruction provided.
Must be on-site before 1pm to register and participate.
Fun for the whole family.
Free and open to the public
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Paddle Through Time – Geology and Park History from the Water
2026-06-27 13:30 - 16:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
Join us for a canoe and kayak excursion as we explore Caesar Creek’s unique geology and park history from the water. Participants will paddle along the shoreline to observe a stratified fossil wall from their boat and learn how ancient seas, fossil, rock layers and local history help tell the story of Caesar Creek.
We will not be collecting fossils during this excursion; however, we will discuss how visitors can get a free collecting permit from the Corps of Engineers while in the park.
Participants will also learn basic canoeing and kayak skills during this family friendly program.
Boats, gear and instruction are provided
Equipment is limited. First come, first serve
Wear water shoes (not flip-flops) and clothes that can get wet
Weather dependent
Fun for the whole family
Meet at the Yak Shack near the Campground Boat Ramp.
Free and open to the public
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Firefly Fest
2026-06-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Shelter House, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
Meet at the Public Beach
Free and open to the public
Save the date for the Firefly Fest, a special evening of summer fun! Join us at the Caesar Creek Public Beach Shelter House. This event will offer opportunities for a firefly catch and release, and a guided firefly walk with the Park Naturalist, firefly themes games, hands on nature stations, firefly flashlight tag, glow activities, stargazing and opportunities to learn about Ohio’s 25 species of lighting bugs!
Visitors will also learn how to identify fireflies with their flash patterns, where to find different species, and how to track fireflies from your own backyard through the Firefly Atlas Citizen Science project.
Visitor will learn why fireflies are important at every stage of life – from their role as larvae in the soil and leaf litter to their work as adult pollinators lighting up warm summer nights. Together, we will look at how protecting our watershed, streamside habitats, natural areas, night skies, and backyards help this important insect survive.
This family friendly event will include co-hosts such as Little Miami Watershed Network, Dark Sky Ohio, the Nature Center Association of Caesar Creek, and ODNR.
More details will be posted on our social media page as the event gets closer.
All are welcome!
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Birding from Boats
2026-06-28 09:30 - 10:30 | Cowan Lake Campground Beach, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
Join us for a canoe and kayak excursion as we observe birds along the shoreline from our boats.
Learn why birding is important.
Learn how to collect information for citizen science research.
Fun for the whole family!
Wear sturdy shoes (not flip flops).
Boats (limited), gear and instruction are provided by the park naturalist.
First come, first serve.
Meet at the Cowan Lake campground beach.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw
