NCACC

Digging Deeper
2026-08-23 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | 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

Learn and Conserve
2026-08-27 09:30 - 10:30 | 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

Fire From the Sun: Reptiles, Rays and Radiant Heat
2026-08-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Discover the power of the sun in the hands-on park program about solar energy, heat, and survival. Visitors will see how a parabolic mirror can focus sunlight to create intense heat the event start a small fire under safe, supervised conditions. We’ll connect this solar science to reptiles and explore how turtles, snakes, and lizards use the sun to warm their bodies, digest food, stay active, and survive in their habitats.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Guided Nature Center Tour
2026-08-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Caesar Creek Nature Center, 4006 Pioneer Village Road, Waynesville, OH, 45068, United States
1:00 pm – 2:00 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 Caesar Creek Nature Center.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Fossils of Ancient Ohio
2026-08-28 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

Songs of the Evening
2026-08-28 19:00 - 20:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
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 Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Full Moon Float – Learn to Navigate with the Moon and Stars
2026-08-28 19:00 - 21:00 | Cowan Lake Campground Beach, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Join the Naturalist for a guided peaceful paddle as we watch the sun set and full moon rise over the lake from our canoes and kayaks. Along the way, we’ll stay together in a group and talk about how people have used the moon, stars and natural clues to help find their way after dark.
Participants will learn paddling safety, along with canoeing and kayaking techniques.
Instruction and equipment provided. Boats are limited. First come, first serve.
Children must be accompanied and in boat with an adult.
Required by law – Bring a flashlight or headlamp.
Dress in layers. Bug spray recommended.
Wear water shoes (not flip-flops) and clothes that can get wet.
People with personal boats are welcome to join us.
Pre-registration is NOT required.
Weather dependent. Check the park face book page for updates the day of the event.
Meet near the Cowan Lake campground beach.
Free and open to the public.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Raptor Feeding
2026-08-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join us at the Cowan Lake Nature Center for a special up-close look at our live wildlife ambassadors. During this program, visitors will learn what raptors eat, how they hunt, and what they need to stay healthy in the wild an in human care. We’ll discuss why we have the raptors and what you can do if you find an injured one.
We’ll also talk about raptors you may see in the park, including hawks, owls, vultures, falcons, and eagles. Learn how small choices can help protect these amazing birds of prey, such as avoiding rodent poisons and not throwing food alongside the roadways. We’ll also discuss the importance of keeping wildlife wild.
This program is great for families, bird lovers, anyone curious about the powerful predators that soar, perch and hunt throughout the park.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Understory Exploration Walk
2026-08-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
1:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Join us for a ~1-mile guided hike to explore Caesar Creek’s woodlands and learn to identify wildflowers and other understory plants.
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Fire From the Sun: Reptiles, Rays and Radiant Heat
2026-08-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Discover the power of the sun in the hands-on park program about solar energy, heat, and survival. Visitors will see how a parabolic mirror can focus sunlight to create intense heat the event start a small fire under safe, supervised conditions. We’ll connect this solar science to reptiles and explore how turtles, snakes, and lizards use the sun to warm their bodies, digest food, stay active, and survive in their habitats.
Meet at the Cowan Lake Nature Center
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Let’s Exchange Pheasantries!
2026-08-29 15:00 - 16:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
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 Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Archery – Robin Hood Style
2026-08-29 16:00 - 18:00 | Cowan Lake Nature Center, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Meet us at the Cowan Lake 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.
Fun for the whole family.
Free and open to the public
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Nature Jeopardy
2026-08-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Test your plant and animal knowledge in a fun game of outdoorsy trivia!
Meet at the Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Moth Madness
2026-08-29 20:00 - 21:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
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 Caesar Creek Campground Amphitheater near the boat ramp.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp

Spillway Hike
2026-08-30 09:00 - 12:00 | Cowan Lake Spillway, 999 Sprague Rd, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Join us for a ~5-mile guided hike on Spillway trail. Learn about wildlife and park history on the way.
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

Pick ‘em Up Paddle – Sustainable Shorelines
2026-08-30 10:30 - 12:00 | Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp, 9000 Center Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45068
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Join the park naturalist and volunteer watercraft safety crew for a canoe and kayak excursion as we cruise the shorelines. Observe wildlife as we search for items that need removed for a more sustainable ecosystem.
Participants will also learn basic canoeing and kayaking skills during this family friendly program.
Boats, gear, and instruction are provided. Equipment is limited and available first come, first serve.
Wear water shoes, not flip lops, and clothes that can get wet.
This program is weather dependent.
Meet at the Yak Shack near the Caesar Creek Campground Boat Ramp.
Free and open to the public.
Park Naturalist: Erin Shaw

Explore the Shore
2026-08-30 15:00 - 16:00 | Cowan Lake Campground Beach, 1750 Osborn Road, Wilmington, Ohio, 45177
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 Cowan Lake Campground Beach.
Park Naturalist: Kaia Heitkamp
