Darke County Park District invites children in kindergarten through 2nd grade to join them on October 29th from 10am to noon to explore bats during Park P.A.L.S! With Halloween myths and everyday legends, the bat has a wicked reputation. Come learn why bats are actually beneficial and what we can do to help keep them in our backyards. Explore bat biology, and take a peek around Shawnee Prairie to see if there are any winged residents sleeping the day away.

Park P.A.L.S. is a series of monthly programs designed for students of this age group who are interested in nature. P.A.L.S. stands for Practicing And Learning Stewardship, and its mission is to develop future earth stewards through meaningful educational opportunities and hands-on experiences in the natural world. A fee of $3 is charged for the program, and registration is required. For any questions about the Park P.A.L.S. program or any other park district programs or to register for the October class, please call the nature center at (937) 548-0165.

Did you know? Active Little Brown Bats eat half of their body weight per night, and lactating females eat more than their body weight per night.

The air is turning crisp, and mosquitoes are a thing of the past. It’s time to hike! We are entering one of the best times to get out doors, and Darke County Parks has a variety of walking programs to offer. On October 28th at 7:30am join a naturalist at Shawnee Prairie Preserve on St. Rt. 502 just west of Greenville for an early walk in the woods to enjoy fall colors, the morning sun’s glow, and hopefully some deer, coyotes, or other critters still out and about from their morning excursions.  Remember to dress for the cooler morning temperatures. 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?- Animals that are most active in the early dawn and late dusk times are said to be crepuscular rather than nocturnal or diurnal.