Conservation Kids: Summer Programs

Conservation Kids

- Summer Series Registration

Are you interested in doing your best for local conservation issues?  Join us for Conservation Kids: a summer series where we will learn about local conservation issues through games and activities, then head out for a related service project. Topics will include (theme- service project):

• Plastic pollution- river cleanup

• invasive plants - plant natives or remove invasive plants

• Water pollution - test water quality

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Registration Form 

Space is limited to 20 kids per series, so please register asap

Who: For children aged 8 - 14.

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When: Tuesdays this summer from 10 a m - 2 pm. You can select from series 1 or series 2. The program will be a repeat for both series.

• Series 1: (June 22, June 29, July 6, and July 13)  Full

• Series 2: (July 20, July 27, Aug 3, and Aug 10)  Spaces available

Where: Hamilton Ecologic Education and Nature Center, 101 Joe Nuxhall Way, Hamilton, 45015. (Next to Wake Nation in Joyce Park). Look for the pollinator mural.

Creeking & Pond Thursdays 

Just received the good news that our popular creeking programs can take place this summer.

Locations change each week.

Programs begin at 10 am.

Closed toed shoes must be worn when in the creek. 

• Thursday, June 10- Elk Creek Sebald Park - Cancelled

• Thursday, June 17- Rentschler Forest Reigart Road

• Thursday, June 24- Forest Run  Wildlife Preserve

• Thursday, July 1- Gilmore - Pond/Wetland Study

• Thursday, July 8- Indian Creek  Oxford Reily Road

• Thursday, July 15 -Forest Run  Timberman Ridge - Pond Study

• Thursday, July 22 -Four-Mile Creek  Antenen

• Thursday, July 29 - Governor Bebb

These programs are a partnership between Butler SWCD and Metroparks of Butler County.

Family Fun Fridays 

Friday mornings, 10 am - 11:30 am at Rentschler Forest Metropark. 

• Friday, June 11 -Got Energy?

• Friday, June 18 -Beaks, Scales, and Fur

• Friday, June 25 -Treasure Maps

• Friday, July 2 -The Buzz on Pollinators

• Friday, July 9 - Splish Splash

• Friday, July 16 -Healthy Hands??

• Friday, July 23 -Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

• Friday, July 30 -Whoo's There at Night?

​These programs are a partnership between Butler SWCD,  Metroparks of Butler County, and Ohio State University Extension.

Programs in other Parks

Throughout the summer months, we partner with other organizations for educational programs. Please see

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Pyramid Hill Summer Kid Series

Butler SWCD will be presenting there on June 23 and July 28. Please note there is an entrance fee to this location.

https://www.pyramidhill.org/summer-series-for-kids

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West Chester Parks Wolf Program

Wednesday at Keehner Park. 10:30 am and 1 pm. 

Butler SWCD will be presenting July 21 and perhaps on July 14. 

See www.westchesteroh.org/government/parks/nature-programming 

Service Projects for Families

Looking for a project where your family can work together, look no further.... We hold monthly volunteer events along with storm drain labeling that can be done almost anytime.

Poster Contest

“Healthy Forests = Healthy Communities"

Each year, Butler SWCD works with local young artists to create posters focusing on a conservation message.

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Deadline: Friday, May 7 2021, by 4 pm.

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Rules & Info: See our poster contest page for more information. 

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Creeks Critters

If you look at a creek, it's much more than just a bunch of moving water. There are nooks and crannies under rocks, holes in tree root clumps, and sneaky hiding spots in vegetation. These different areas provide awesome habitat for a wide variety of critters. In this section we have provided information that you can use to head out to a creek and identify the creatures you find.

Blog

• with information on what to find and what to take to the creek

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Identification sheets

• Key to life in the river

• Key to life in a pond

• ID chart that shows how sensitive to pollution these animals can be

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Animal Videos: 

• Hellgrammite (Dobsonfly larvae)

• Mayfly

• Damselfly

• Leech

• Common Water Snake

• Horsehair worm

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Other Videos:

Check out what we found at different creek around the county​

• Elk Creek -Sebald Park

• Rentschler Forest

• Forest Run Ponds

• Forest Run Wildlife Preserve: Creek 

• Governor Bebb

• Indian Creek

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Wonderful Wildlife

Videos

• Honey Bees

• Leopard Slug

• Mayfly

• Damselfly

• Leech

• Common Water Snake

• Horsehair worm

Blog

• Bird Feeder Maintenance

• Box Turtles and Mayapples

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Activities

• Fairfield County Park District (in central, Ohio) has created an amazing series of kids activity sheets on salamanders, fox, woodpeckers, fungus, and more.