×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Family Nature Programs Encourage Outdoor Discovery

Photo Provided Pictured outside Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center are, left to right, summer camp counselor Erin O’Leary, junior naturalist Annaliese Ayres and Schrader Center director Alice Eastman.

The public is invited to explore and discover the beauty and intrigue of the natural world by participating in the Summer of Wonder nature programs at Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center, located in Oglebay Park.

Nature walks, stargazing and evening campfires are just a few of the interactive, family-oriented programs taking place now through Aug. 21 at the center.

“The goal of our summer programming is to promote outdoor discovery by getting people outside to have fun and learn something about nature,” Alice Eastman, director of the Schrader Center, said.

Eastman said the center is a valuable resource for families, helping them discover ways to celebrate, study and preserve the natural world together.

“Spending time in nature as a family is a valuable pastime. Some of the most cherished family memories are created in the outdoors,” she said. “It is a great way to unplug and bond as a family.”

She added that many parents want to explore the outdoors with their children but may need to brush up their skills and get ideas on how to engage their children in outdoor play.

“Parents, like children, often spend many hours a day indoors in front of some type of screen. In today’s busy world it is easy to become disconnected to nature.  We strive to help families reconnect to the outdoors, learn together and increase their ‘green’ time,” she said.

Schrader Center naturalists and educators are eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with visitors, Eastman explained.

The Summer of Wonder lineup includes a variety of activities led by nature educators, such as guided nature walks, where participants learn to identify birds, trees and wildflowers and opportunities to observe the night sky with local astronomers.

Those interested in learning about birds and snakes native to this region will enjoy Feeding Frenzy and Snake Tales, where guest can observe — and even lend a hand — as Schrader Center staffers feed their feathered and scaled friends and discuss the important role they play in the ecosystem.

Geology programs and nature crafts also are offered along with the very popular Old-Fashioned Family Campfires, which include storytelling, sing-alongs and s’mores.

For families interested in exploring the trails on their own, the self-guided Nature Quest program includes specially designed activities to be completed along the trails of Oglebay at your own pace. Hikers set out on missions that lead to hidden treasure chests along the trails.

For most programs there is a nominal fee to participate, and programs are free to Oglebay Institute members and those who purchase Oglebay Park activity wristbands.

“We strive to keep fees low so that cost is not a roadblock to participation,” Eastman said.

Oglebay Institute’s Schrader Environmental Education Center celebrates nature every day and offers hands-on nature fun for the whole family. Facilities include the A.B. Brooks Discovery Trail System, the EarthTrek Exhibit Hall and the Nutting Bird Cafe.  The center offers year-round classes, workshops, school programs, public events and day and residential camping experiences for all ages.

The Samara Shop, located inside the Schrader Center, offers products for nature-enthusiasts of all ages: field guides, children’s books, hand-crafted walking sticks, eco-friendly jewelry and notecards, locally made edibles like honey and maple syrup, organic soaps and lotions, nature-inspired art and sustainably made items for the home. Samara’s charming merchandise displays have been crafted from found items and repurposed furniture from some of Wheeling’s historic buildings. Samara is a one-stop shop for everything green-related, and all proceeds support the center’s educational mission.

More information is available by calling the Schrader Center staff at 304-242-6855 or visiting on the web at www.oionline.com.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today