By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The Wood County Park District’s programs extend outside the box – way beyond anything remotely resembling a box.
Take for example the black frog beer and trivia event, the “M-archery Madness” and program on the Valentine’s Day view from the perspective of wildlife.
“Those are a little more non-traditional programs,” said Jim Witter, park district program coordinator and the brainchild behind many of the less conventional looks at nature.
Public surveys about the park programming have shown appreciation for the variety of activities offered. Some programs draw in crowds, such as the eclipse program that attracted 70 people, and the upcoming owl program that was capped off at 100.
“We continue to get incredibly positive responses,” about programs, Bob Hawker, vice president of the park board, said Tuesday during the monthly park board meeting.
Part of the attractions come with the particular parks – rock rappelling at Sawyer Nature Preserve, canoeing at W.W. Knight Preserve, and bicycling on the Slippery Elm Trail.
“There’s a whole variety of adventure activities that continue to be liked,” Hawker said.
But it goes beyond making the most of the rocks, water and trails in the parks.
Much of the popularity is based on the park district programming staff’s ability to take a wacky look at wildlife and a non-conventional view of nature.
“The staff continues to embrace what our constituents want,” Hawker said. “So far the results are overwhelmingly positive.”
Some people are just naturally attracted to nature – so no creativity is needed. Those “nature nerds” will show up for programs on plants and animals. But others require a little ingenuity to lure them in.
That’s where Witter and the programming staff gets to wander off the beaten path.
Some programs teach skills – some more useful than others – such as how to use a compass, how to build a fire, or how to make a fly for fishing,
“We try to think of things more outside the box to get more non-traditional folks out there,” Witter said. “We just have to decide how far outside the box.”
The theory is, if a wacky programs gets people to the parks, they just might come back again.
Some of the programs offer more “domestic” skills – like making Native American moccasins and reviving the lost art of mending clothes. Then there’s cooking – the old-fashioned way – like pickle making, and the upcoming class on making (and tasting) ricotta. Like many classes, that one is already full but has a waiting list.
For the artistic types, there have been programs on decoy carving and painting, scarecrow making, pumpkin carving, and the upcoming program on snowman art – which could be difficult this season.
For animal lovers, the list is long. There are chances to participate in frog monitoring, to learn to be a “wildlife detective,” learn about beekeeping, identify bird songs, catch some walleye, participate in bird counts and learn about winter reptiles. Park visitors are also invited to join an evening bat hike, and to listen to a “summer symphony” of insects.
For those who enjoy plant life, the park district offers a seed cleaning marathon, teaches about working with Black Swamp soils, organizes spring wildflower walks, plus offers programs on milkweed and monarchs.
And for those people who want to get outside their boxes of boredom, the park district offers programs showing the perspective of Native Americans, settlers and soldiers suffering through winters in the Black Swamp.
There are programs about raising crops and livestock at the historic Carter Farm, there are opportunities to canoe and kayak, to bike down the Slippery Elm Trail, and to climb up rocks and then rappel down them. There are nature hikes for all ages, stargazing opportunities, and full moon hikes.
Check out schedule of Wood County Park District offerings for January.
