Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District

10/31/2026

A block of wood + a little guidance = your next handmade Christmas decoration. 🎄🪵
We're getting a head start on the holiday season!

With help from the Lima Area Woodcarvers, participants will create a Christmas tree project designed for all skill levels, including complete beginners.

Never tried woodcarving before? That's okay! This is your chance to learn something new and create something you can enjoy for Christmases to come.
Register at the link in the comments!

10/30/2026

🦇 BAT MYTH OR FACT?

“Bats want to fly into your hair.”

MYTH.
Bats aren't looking for human hair… or humans at all.
They're navigating their environment and, depending on the species, searching for food.

This Halloween, let's leave the spooky bats to the decorations and give the real ones the appreciation they deserve.

10/29/2026

EIGHT LEGS. BIG REPUTATION. LITTLE REASON TO PANIC! 😂

Just in time for Halloween, Naturalist Marie is hanging out with some of nature’s most misunderstood creatures… SPIDERS! 🕸️

Sure, they might give us the occasional jump scare, but these eight-legged neighbors are actually pretty AMAZING!

And this week, Marie has a few special guests joining the fun!

🕷️ A slightly camera-shy spined micrathena makes a quick appearance. (Not everyone is ready for their close-up!)

🎃 A pumpkin orb weaver shows up looking perfectly dressed for the season!

And a few other fascinating spider friends remind us just how much wildlife is happening right under our noses.

But here’s the thing…

Spiders deserve a little more appreciation and a LOT less fear!

These incredible creatures play an important role in our ecosystems, helping manage insect populations and contributing to the natural balance of our parks.

Listen in as Marie shares some not-so-spooky spider facts, introduces a few fascinating species, and explains which spiders in Ohio actually deserve a little extra caution.

And remember, while spiders might be the stars of Halloween decorations, their real-life contributions are worth celebrating all year long! 🕸️

BE HONEST! Are you Team Spider Appreciation 🕷️or Team Admire From a Distance? 😂

Either way, there’s always something incredible to discover when we GET OUTSIDE! 🌿

10/28/2026

It's spooky season, and we've got a question that's perfectly fitting for the final Trivia Tuesday before Halloween! 🎃

Crows are some of nature's most intelligent birds! They're known for their problem-solving skills, impressive memories, and ability to recognize human faces.

But when these clever, black-feathered birds get together, they have a rather unusual group name! 🤔

🐦‍⬛ What is a group of crows called?
A. A colony
B. A parliament
C. A flock
D. A murder

Think you know the answer? Or are you just WINGING it?! 😂
Drop your guess (A, B, C, or D) in the comments! No Googling, and no asking the crows for hints!

We'll be back to reveal the answer and share a little more about these fascinating feathered friends.

10/26/2026

What if we stopped thinking of nature as something around us... and started seeing it as something we belong to? 🌱

That's one of the powerful ideas we're exploring in our newest Wild Reads Book Club selection, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer!

Our Naturalist team is diving into Part 1: Planting Sweetgrass, and there's already so much to think about!

Through Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and personal storytelling, Kimmerer invites us to look at the natural world a little differently.

🌳 Community over competition. From trees to people, we're stronger when we recognize how connected we are.
🍓 Nature's gifts go beyond a price tag. Gratitude can change the way we appreciate and care for what the Earth provides.
🌼 Science and wonder belong together. Understanding how nature works doesn't make it any less amazing!
💚 What we do matters. Even small acts of gratitude, care, and reciprocity can shape our relationship with the natural world.

And perhaps one of the biggest takeaways?
We're not just observers of nature. We're part of its community. 🌎

📖 Take a look at our Naturalist team's latest book club notes for more reflections from Part 1!

HERE'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT: If we viewed nature as a community we're part of, rather than simply a place we visit, how might that change the way we treat it?

We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

10/26/2026

This Halloween weekend, travel back in time to 1944. 🇺🇸

History comes to life at Lauer Farms 1944, the largest WWII reenactment in Northwest Ohio.

More than 350 living-history reenactors will transform Lauer Farms as visitors experience military camp life, demonstrations, displays, military vehicles, educational speakers, Home Front support, and learn more about Lima's role during World War II.

You'll also witness reenacted battles between Allied and Axis forces throughout the weekend.

📅 Saturday, October 31 | 10 AM–5 PM ⚔️ Battles at 11 AM & 4 PM
📅 Sunday, November 1 | 10 AM–3 PM ⚔️ Battles at 11 AM & 2 PM

This is more than reading about history; it's an opportunity to step into another time and experience it all around you.

For complete event information, visit >>lauerfarms1944.com/

10/24/2026

🦇 They’re not spooky. They’re spectacular!

Today begins Bat Week, which feels like the perfect time of year to give one of nature’s most misunderstood animals a little attention.

Bats play important roles in ecosystems around the world. Among their contributions are insect control, pollination, and seed dispersal.

All week, we’re going to trade a few Halloween myths for some fascinating bat facts.

First question:
What’s something you’ve always wondered about bats?

Drop it below; we may answer it this week!

10/23/2026

There's something different about experiencing your parks under a full moon. 🌕🍂

For generations, people around the world have looked to the moon to track the changing seasons, giving each full moon special names connected to nature, tradition, and folklore.

On October 26, we'll gather beneath October's Hunter's Moon to discover some of those stories and learn more about the ways people have interpreted the signs in the night sky.
🌕 Howl @ the Moon: Hunter's Moon

Bundle up, bring your sense of wonder, and experience an autumn evening in your parks from an entirely different perspective.
Register at the link in the comments!

10/23/2026

What a great day at Canal Center Daycare & Preschool! Thank you for having us join in on the fun! 🌿

10/23/2026

🥾 Summer ended. Hiking season didn't.
In fact, October might make a pretty good case for itself.

Cooler temperatures. Changing leaves. Fewer insects. Different wildlife.
Trails that can look completely different from the ones you walked just a month ago.
So don't put away the hiking shoes just yet.

Choose a park you haven't visited lately and Find Your Fall Outside this weekend.

From hiking to picnicking, find endless fun at Johnny Appleseed Parks. Explore activities and make the most of your outdoor adventures!