Winter’s chilly weather brings with it unique hiking opportunities, and Darke County Parks is going to grab them. On January 12th at 6pm join a naturalist at Shawnee Prairie Preserve on St. Rt. 502 just west of Greenville to enjoy the full wolf moon. Remember to dress for the cold evening temperatures and to bring a flashlight if you choose. In the event of cloudy skies, call the Nature Center to find out about possible cancellation. For more information about this or any of the other exciting hikes in this season’s series or other park district programs, please call the Nature Center at (937) 548-0165.

Did you know? In Native American and early colonial times, the full moon for January was called the Full Wolf Moon. It appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages.

Darke County Parks Naturalist, Mandy Martin, invites preschoolers to join her for the January Parent and Preschool Adventures programs. Whoooo is it that calls in the night? Explore the owls of Ohio through song, story, games, and crafts. The secretive, silent hunters will delight the senses of every preschooler.

The “Little Explorers” class for 2-3 year olds will be held on January 11th from 10am to 11am, and the “Seedlings” class for 4-5 year olds will be held on January 12th from 10am to 11am, both at Shawnee Prairie Preserve on St. Rt. 502 west of Greenville. The Parent and Preschool Adventures program is a series of monthly, hour long programs designed to give parents and their preschoolers and opportunity to investigate nature through hands-on activities, hikes, stories, songs, and take-home projects.

A fee of $2 is charged for the program, and registration is required. For any questions about the preschool programs or any other park district programs or to register for the January class, please call 548-0165 or email info@darkecountyparks.org.

Did you know? Owls’ flattened facial disk funnels sound to the ears and magnifies it as much as ten times.