Preservation Parks 2025 Winter Program Guide

PROGRAMS & EVENTS • WINTER 2024 - 2025

PRESERVATION PARKS MISSION To protect and conserve the natural and historic features of Delaware County and to inspire outdoor exploration and learning.

Park Hours MARCH - OCTOBER 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. daily NOVEMBER - FEBRUARY 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. daily

Cardinal Photo by Allen Baldwin

District Office and Mary McCoy Nature Center 2656 Hogback Road Sunbury, Ohio 43074 740-524-8600 Mon-Fri, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

(Office) Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

(Nature Center) Visitor Center at Deer Haven Park

The Preservation Parks Foundation supports a variety of educational programs and special events throughout the park district and raises funds for special projects including the Deer Haven aviary, trails, and renovation of Delaware County’s Bicentennial Barn.

You can make your secure, online contribution today or anytime here. https://preservationparks.com/foundation/

4183 Liberty Road Delaware, Ohio 43015 740-362-0283 Daily, 12 - 5 p.m.

Gallant Farm 2150 Buttermilk Hill Road Delaware, Ohio 43015 740-595-3020 MAY - AUGUST Mon, Closed Tue-Sat, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Sun, 12 - 5 p.m.

SEPTEMBER - APRIL Mon-Wed, Closed Thu-Sun, 12 - 5 p.m.

Cover Photo by Robyn Strickland Red-bellied woodpecker

The Preservation Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization as designated by the IRS. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

The organization’s tax identification number is 83-2234653. All donations directly support the programs, projects, and services of Preservation Parks of Delaware County.

Blues Creek Park 9627 Fontanelle Road Ostrander, 43061

Hogback Ridge Park 2656 Hogback Road Sunbury, 43074

Char-Mar Ridge Park 7741 Lewis Center Road Westerville, 43082

Hoover Scenic Trailhead 8405 Plumb Road Galena, 43021

Deer Haven Park 4183 Liberty Road Delaware, 43015

McCammon Creek Park - North section open 3675 E. Orange Road Lewis Center, 43035

Emily Traphagen Park 5094 Seldom Seen Road Powell, 43065

River Run Park 168 Main Road Delaware, 43015

Gallant Farm 2150 Buttermilk Hill Road Delaware, 43015

Sandel Legacy Trailhead 168 S. Vernon St. Sunbury, 43074

Gallant Woods Park 2151 Buttermilk Hill Road Delaware, 43015

Shale Hollow Park 6320 Artesian Run Lewis Center, 43035

Hickory Woods Park 1271 Pollock Road Delaware, 43015

Sycamore Run Park 7341 Olentangy River Road Delaware, OH 43015 PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

1

REGISTRATION INFORMATION HOW TO REGISTER

Some programs have a fee and/or require advance registration. Watch for programs with the following symbols:

To register for a program, visit https://preservationparks.recdesk.com First time users: Click “CREATE ACCOUNT” and complete the questions to set up your FREE account.

SOCIAL MEDIA MOMENTS

Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for the latest park district updates and fun outdoor adventures.

Follow us @PreservationParks

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact the Outdoor Connections Department at (740) 524-8600 x 103 or register@preservationparks.com.

In 2025, come together with Preservation Parks for “Life on a Leaf” to celebrate the wonders of Ohio’s native plants and the incredible biodiversity they support.

Discover a variety of engaging programs throughout the year, designed to educate and inspire—from interactive workshops to guided nature walks.

Immerse yourself in the summer exhibit in the McKay Lodge at Shale Hollow Park, showcasing the beauty and rich biodiversity of Ohio’s native plant habitats and their vital role in supporting local wildlife. Whether you join us for one of our fascinating programs or explore the summer exhibit, we look forward to sharing the beauty and importance of native plants with you.

2

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

Blues Creek Park

For complete descriptions of all our programs or to register, visit

https://preservationparks.recdesk.com

Registration for winter programs opens at noon, Wednesday, Nov. 20.

WINTER LETTERBOX ADVENTURE, p 4 Dec. 14 - Mar. 15 WINTER 100, p 5 Jan. 1 - Mar. 31 PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE PHOTO CONTEST, p 9 Entry Deadline is Nov. 3, 2025

DECEMBER

2 Golden Marathon, p 4 2 School’s Out: Wintering Animals, p 5 7 Yoga & More, p 4 7 A Winter Evening on the Farm, p 8 8 Living Green: Gift Wrapping, p 5 9 Golden Marathon, p 4 15 Spooky Moon Night Hike, p 5 21 Model Railroaders Open House, p 5 22 Model Railroaders Open House, p 5 23 Golden Marathon, p 4

FEBRUARY

1 Yoga & More, p 4 2 Groundhog Day, p 6 3 Golden Marathon, p 4 8 Storytime at the Farm, p 8 8 Colorful Quilts, p 8 8 Try It: Trekking Poles, p 7 9 Colorful Quilts, p 8 9 Nature’s Bookshelf, p 4 10 Golden Marathon, p 4 14 Love, Lanterns, & Luminaries, p 9 15 Owl Prowl, p 7 15 Model Railroaders Open House, p 5 16 Model Railroaders Open House, p 5 17 Golden Marathon, p 4 19 Fly Tying 101, p 6 22 How’d That Path Get There?, p 7 23 Gallant Farm Literary & Cowpie Society, p 8

JANUARY

1 New Year’s Day Hike, p 5 4 Yoga & More, p 4 6 Golden Marathon, p 4 11 Winter Wildlife Tracks, p 6 12 Nature’s Bookshelf, p 4 13 Golden Marathon, p 4 18 Model Railroaders Open House, p 5 19 Model Railroaders Open House, p 5 20 Golden Marathon, p 4 22 Fly Tying 101, p 6 25 Little Adventurers: Winter, p 6 26 Scout Badge Day, p 6 26 Gallant Farm Literary & Cowpie Society, p 8 29 Little Adventurers: Winter, p 6 30 Homeschool Adventures, p 6

Scan QR code for all program dates and descriptions or to register. https://preservationparks.recdesk.com

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

3

PARK PROGRAMS GOLDEN MARATHON

Presented by SourcePoint Mondays, 1:30 p.m., Ages 55+ Get moving this season with SourcePoint’s Golden Marathon outdoor hikers. We hike in all weather! Register at MySourcePoint.org/ec. Meet at locations listed, bring your own water, and be prepared for the weather and terrain.

Dec. 2 Dec. 9 Dec. 23 Jan. 6 Jan. 13 Jan. 20 Feb. 3 Feb. 10 Feb. 17

Blues Creek Park Char-Mar Ridge Park Deer Haven Park McCammon Creek Park Hickory Woods Park Shale Hollow Park Deer Haven Park Hogback Ridge Park Blues Creek Park

YOGA & MORE

Ages 15+ 9 a.m. Yoga, 10:15 a.m. Hike Get a great start to your weekend with yoga followed by a winter hike! For beginners and anyone who practices yoga. Come to yoga and stay for the hike, or join us for either program.

Saturday, Dec. 7 Register by Dec. 4 Shale Hollow Park Saturday, Jan. 4 Register by Jan. 1 Deer Haven Park Saturday, Feb. 1 Register by Jan. 29 Deer Haven Park

WINTER LETTERBOX ADVENTURE

Dec. 14 - Mar. 15, All Ages Various Parks Follow the clues for a winter exploration of five parks. Collect each parks’ secret words and unscramble them to reveal a quote and number code. Use the code to open the prize bin!

NATURE’S BOOKSHELF

Deer Haven Park, Ages 13+ Cozy up at Deer Haven by a fire and hot beverage as we discuss books that are inspired by nature.

Sunday, Jan. 12, 2 p.m.

The Hidden Life of Trees

by Peter Wohlleben Sunday, Feb. 9, 2 p.m.

Where the Crawdads Sing

by Delia Owens

POP UP PROGRAM CROSS-COUNTRY SKIING

Watch our social media for cross-country skiing opportunities if there is enough snowfall.

Hickory Woods Park

4

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

MODEL RAILROADERS OPEN HOUSE

Sandel Legacy Trail Depot, All Ages Stop by model railroad open houses during these winter weekends. Members of the model railway group will share the history of railroads in America.

Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Dec. 21, Jan. 18, Feb. 15 Sundays, 12 - 4 p.m.

Dec. 22, Jan. 19, Feb. 16

WINTER 100

White-tailed deer Photo by Jesse Ross

SCHOOL’S OUT: WINTERING ANIMALS

Monday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m.

Deer Haven Park, Ages 5+ Learn about the adaptations and behaviors of local animals braving the cold and get creative with a winterthemed craft.

LIVING GREEN: GIFT WRAPPING

Jan. 1 - Mar. 31 Anywhere, All Ages Walk 100 miles or 100 kilometers (62 miles) from January 1 - March 31, 2025.

Register, log your distance, and be connected to a community of walkers this winter.

NEW YEAR’S DAY HIKE

Wednesday, Jan. 1, 10 a.m.

Char-Mar Ridge Park, All Ages Kick off a happy new year by joining our annual first hike of the year. Hike a 1.5 mile gravel trail, then celebrate with hot refreshments. Glacier Ridge Trail includes moderate elevation changes.

Sunday, Dec. 8, 12 - 3 p.m.

Deer Haven Park Ages 18+ Stop by the Visitor Center for examples of how to beautifully wrap gifts without creating waste. Bring one gift to wrap.

SPOOKY MOON NIGHT HIKE

Sunday, Dec. 15, 5 p.m.

Hickory Woods Park, All Ages Bundle the family and brave the cold as we hike under the light of the full moon. We’ll dispel spooky legends as we explore the limits of our human senses in darkness.

New Year’s Day Hike Deer Haven Park

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

5

WINTER WILDLIFE TRACKS

Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Shale Hollow Park, All Ages Winter is a great time for spotting animal tracks in the snow and mud. Look for signs of deer, fox, rabbits, and birds as you explore the one-mile loop trail, then warm up with a hot beverage by a cozy fire.

SCOUT BADGE DAY

Sunday, Jan. 26, 1 - 3 p.m.

Deer Haven Park, Ages 7 - 13 Attention Scouting America and Girl Scout members! Join us for a chance to complete portions of the animal badge and the reptile and amphibian study badge through self-guided stations.

HOMESCHOOL ADVENTURES: TURTLE TABLES

Thursday, Jan. 30, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Deer Haven Park, Ages 6 - 12 Learn about Ohio native turtles by rotating through different self-guided stations featuring STEM activities.

GROUNDHOG DAY: RODENT ROUND-UP!

Hickory Woods Park

FLY TYING 101

Deer Haven Park, Ages 18+ Join the Central Ohio Fly Fishers and Destination Delaware County Fishing Trail for an intro to fly tying. All materials are provided for tying your own fly.

Monday, Feb. 2 - Saturday, Feb. 8 12 - 5 p.m.

Deer Haven Park, All Ages Will the wily woodchuck see its shadow on Groundhog Day? Drop in between 12 – 5 p.m. during this week to learn more about groundhogs and their Rodentia cousins as you explore self-guided stations at your own pace.

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m.

Register by Jan. 17 Wednesday, Feb. 19, 6 p.m.

Register by Feb. 14

LITTLE ADVENTURERS: WINTER

Saturday, Jan. 25 & Wednesday, Jan. 29 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Deer Haven Park, Ages 0-5 Bundle up and drop in anytime between 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. to enjoy informal selfguided stations featuring hands-on activities and crafts as we discover what the winter season has to offer!

6

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

Deer Haven Park

TRY IT: TREKKING POLES

Saturday, Feb. 8, 12 - 4 p.m.

Deer Haven Park, Ages 18+ Register by Jan. 28 Attend a short lesson to get acquainted with trekking poles followed by a hike on the Deer Haven Park Primitive Trail. The trail is 1 mile in length with unimproved surfaces, stairs, and slight elevation changes.

Blues Creek Park Photo by Anna Miller

Barred Owl Photo by Stephen Covert

OWL PROWL

Saturday, Feb. 15, 5 p.m.

Deer Haven Park, Ages 7+ Add to your nocturnal bird list for the 2025 Great Backyard Bird Count with an evening hike as we call owls and learn about their natural history.

HOW’D THAT PATH GET THERE? TRAILS BY DESIGN

Saturday, Feb. 22, 1 p.m.

Deer Haven Park, All Ages Hike with Preservation Parks’ planning department on the new primitive trail.

Learn the process of trail making – from land acquisition, design, construction, to opening the trail. Meet inside for a brief overview.

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

7

GALLANT FARM The 1930s-era Gallant Farm offers programs for all ages, plus a book club that will get you thinking ... and discussing!

You are invited to visit Gallant Farm this season and make yourself at home!

A WINTER EVENING ON THE FARM Saturday, Dec. 7, 3 - 7 p.m.

Gallant Farm, All Ages Things slow down on the farm in winter allowing more time for simple pleasures.

Come to Gallant Farm for an evening of music and activities that farm families enjoyed in the past.

COLORFUL QUILTS

Saturday, Feb. 8 & Sunday, Feb. 9 12 - 4 p.m.

Gallant Farm, All Ages Gather among vintage quilts from the late 19th and early 20th-centuries. Learn some of the history of patchwork and try hand quilting. Take home a project of your own.

GALLANT FARM LITERARY & COWPIE SOCIETY

Gallant Farm, Ages 12+ Join us for a lively discussion of each month’s featured book. We typically read titles that were popular during the Great Depression and WWII years, or books focusing on those time periods.

Sunday, Jan. 26, 2 p.m.

Book Club 10th Anniversary!

Gone with the Wind

by Margaret Mitchell Sunday, Feb. 23, 2 p.m.

The Town

by Conrad Richter

STORYTIME AT THE FARM

A Partnership with Beanbag Books Saturday, Feb. 8, 10:30 a.m.

Gallant Farm, Ages 0-5 Come listen to a winter tale on the farm!

Enjoy a story and a craft and visit the animals who call the farm home.

Gallant Farm

8

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

PRESERVING OUR HERITAGE PHOTO CONTEST Entry Deadline is 11:59 p.m., Nov. 3, 2025.

The 2025 contest is open for submissions!

Visit our website to view all contest rules and to see the 2024 winners.

2023 Best of Show Photo by Cyndi Shepherd

2023 1st Place Park District Scenes Photo by Beth Johnston

Gallant Farm

LOVE, LANTERNS, & LUMINARIES

Friday, Feb. 14, 6 - 9 p.m.

Gallant Woods Park & Gallant Farm All Ages Come explore Gallant Farm by lantern light and see what life was like before the Rural Electrification Act lit up the countryside, then hike a luminary trail into Gallant Woods.

2023 1st Place General Nature Photo by Lynne Sutton

PRESERVATIONPARKS.COM | WINTER 2024 - 2025

9

Printed on post-consumer recycled paper, using soy-based inks

Get program, park, and Foundation news sent directly to your inbox!

Sign up for our monthly e-newsletter at preservationparks.com or scan here:

2656 Hogback Road Sunbury, Ohio 43074 preservationparks.com