Kids | butlerswcd

Service Projects for Families

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

Poster Contest

The 2022 poster contest is focusing on soils. Visit our poster contest page to find out more. Submission deadline is June 1, 2022.

Thank you to the 2021 winners! See their pictures on the poster page.

Summer Programs, 2022

Conservation Kids

Tuesdays, June 7 - July 12.

For curious kids, aged 8 to 14, who are interested in the environment. Parents are welcome to stay, and are recommended for children younger than 10 years of age.

Where: Hamilton Ecologic Education and Nature Center
101 Joe Nuxhall Way, Hamilton, 45015.
Most activities will take place outdoors in the woods, along the river, and elsewhere in Riverside Natural Area.

What: Start each day learning about a local environmental issue. Then, move onto games and activities, and finish the day off with a service project. See the signup for the list of topics.

Cost: Free. Participants need to bring a packed lunch.

Registration Required: Please only sign your child up for the days they can attend. We typically have a waiting list for this program. Register through SignUpGenius

ConservationKids2022.pdf

The Nature of Kids (formerly Family Fun Fridays)

Fridays at 10 am.

Location changes each week.

Details about each weeks theme will be posted soon.

June 3 Rentschler Forest
June 10 Rentschler Forest
June 17 VOA Metropark
June 24 VOA Metropark
July 1 Forest Run, Timberman Ridge
July 8 Forest Run, Timberman Ridge
July 15 Elk Creek/ Sebald Park - we plan to get in the creek, so be prepared to get wet.
July 22 Elk Creek/ Sebald Park
July 29 join us at the Butler County Fair in the Farm Zone Building

Partners Butler Soil & Water Conservation District, Ohio State University Extension, and MetroParks of Butler County will be your hosts for this series.

All ages are welcome!

Registration is requested

https://reservations.yourmetroparks.net/programs/

NatureKids2022.pdf

Creeking in the Parks

Thursdays at 10 am.

Location changes each week

June 2 Rentschler Forest, Reigart Road
June 9 Rentschler Forest, Line Hill Mound (pond study)
June 16 Elk Creek Metropark, Sebald area (Elk Creek Road)
June 23 Forest Run Metropark, Timberman Ridge 9pond study)
June 30 Four Mile Creek, Antenan Preserve (New Miami)
July 7 Woodsdale Regional Park (Wetland Study)
July 14 Indian Creek Metropark, Oxford Reily Road
July 21 Elk Creek Metropark, Meadow Ridge area (pond study)
July 28 Governor Bebb Metropark

Partners Butler Soil & Water Conservation District and MetroParks of Butler County will be your hosts for this series. Learn about the animals and fossils found in the creeks, ponds, and wetlands around the county.

All ages are welcome!

Registration is requested

https://reservations.yourmetroparks.net/programs/

Appropriate footwear required. No flip flops please.

Creeking2022.pdf

Other Kids Programs

At Butler SWCD, we partner with many other organizations to provide programs including:

West Chester Parks - WOLF programs

On June 29 we will be providing a worm composting program. WOLF programs take place every Wednesday all summer. Registration is required. Find out more and register at www.westchesteroh.org/government/parks/nature-programming

Pyramid Hill - Summer series for kids

On June 22, we will be providing an animal adaptations program.

On Wednesdays at noon. Registration is required. Find out more and register at www.pyramidhill.org/summerseriesforkids2022

Liberty Township Parks

Typically Butler SWCD provides programs for Liberty Township Parks, however this year with large events we are unable to teach there. They are still holding several educational events this summer and they can be found at www.liberty-township.com/calendar.aspx?CID=23

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

Identification sheets

Animal Videos:

Wonderful Wildlife

Videos

Blog

Activities

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

Scavenger Hunts

We've made a bunch of different scavenger hunts for different locations.

Looking Down- go for a hike and focus on the ground.
Sky- see in the sky and the tree tops
Staying in Place- find a place to sit outdoors and see what you can see
Window - what can you see from your window
Creek - what kind of wildlife and wildlife habitat can you find at your local creek?