SUMMER BREAK FUN

West Chester Park Programming Focuses on Nature and the Environment

Keehner, Beckett, the Port Union Conservation Corridor and MetroParks Voice of America parks offer unlimited potential for creative fun for young people of the community. Whether hiking a wooded trail, playing on a playground or open field, or identifying waterfowl on a pond, the parks are a great backdrop to family stay-cations.

West Chester Township offers two youth programs that focus attention on nature and the environment with Keehner Park as the classroom. Both programs take place on select Wednesdays and are free. Nature Basket is available to preschoolers and their adult companions and WOLF is for young people ages 5 to 12.

Preschoolers gather monthly for Nature Basket on the Keehner Park Amphitheater stage, 7211 Barret Road, for storytime, a seasonal lesson about nature and a craft making activity (adult help required). Nature Basket starts at 10:30 a.m. with a different theme each month, excluding July. In November, families learn about aspects of pioneer life at the Cabin in the Clearing, a real life 1830s log cabin relocated to and reconditioned at the park.

The biweekly WOLF (World of Land, Forest and Friends) Program for kids ages 5-12 starts mid-summer. WOLF meets at the Amphitheater twice per day, morning and afternoon, one Wednesday a week for six consecutive weeks (12 meetings) while the Nature Basket program takes a pause. Programs cover a different topic each week and often feature a special presentation by a representative of a community organization or partner agency related to our environment.

There is no charge associated with township nature programs for children. Kindly RSVP to reserve your child’s seat.

Call 513-759-7312 or email LGroff@WestChesterOH.org and give the names of children attending, the name of the adult companion and a contact number or email.

Schedules

Wednesday, May 3 – Nature Basket

Wednesday, June 7 - Nature Basket

Wednesdays, June 21 – July 26 – WOLF Program (10:30 –11:30 am and repeats 1:00 – 2:00 pm each Wednesday)

Wednesday, August 9 - Nature Basket

Wednesday, September 13 - Nature Basket

Wednesday, October 18 - Nature Basket

Wednesday, November 15 - Nature Basket

Miss Mary’s Love of Parks is Her Legacy

West Chester nature programming for local children is one part of the legacy of beloved West Chester Parks Director and Naturalist Mary Raffel.

Remembered affectionately as “Miss Mary,” Mary Hamen Raffel began her career in West Chester parks & recreation in 1988 and continued to work until her death in 2008. Miss Mary was a devoted naturalist and educator who left a lasting legacy in West Chester as a champion of the environment during her 20-year career.

Many in the community have fond memories of Miss Mary, some now sending their own children today to the programs she started. Many of the programs she started like Armchair Program, The Great Pumpkin Fest, Nature Basket and the WOLF (World of Land, Forest and Friends) Program continue to bring joy to residents of all ages to this very day.

Miss Mary was also known for rescuing injured wildlife in the community, supporting Eagle Scout projects in the parks and working with Lakota teachers and students to create outdoor classrooms. Mary led efforts to preserve The Cabin in the Clearing at Keehner Park, which was dedicated in her memory after her passing December 27, 2008.