EDITOR’S NOTE: This story originally appeared in Heart of Ohio Magazine in 2014. It is being republished through a cooperative agreement with Richland Source. To read more stories on Heart of Ohio Magazine log on at www.heartofohiomagazine.com.
MANSFIELD — What can you do with kids during the winter months when cold temperatures and short days limit their ability to play outside?
The answer may be right up the road from your home at a nature center or park that offers educational programs suited for children of all ages. With a little proactivity this winter, you can anticipate the needs of your children. Make some calls, search some websites, evaluate your options and make plans to participate in one or more of the wonderful programs that are offered, letting birds and nature give you a break from the doldrums of winter.
Hand feed a hungry bird — both of you will benefit.
One excellent program that is usually offered by nature centers during the coldest months is “hand feeding song birds.” The Cleveland Metroparks in Brecksville have conditioned wild birds to accept food from strangers, and the nature center will gladly provide you with a handful of black oil sunflower seeds and direct you to a feeding hotspot. If you can stand still for more than a few seconds, with your open hand outstretched and steady, a hungry chickadee, nuthatch or titmouse will light on your palm while they select a seed or two.
The feeling of a wild bird weighing less than half an ounce in your hand is incredible, and a child of any age will be mesmerized by the sensation.
See a bird up close and personal.
The Wilderness Center, Gorman Nature Center and the Rocky River Nature Center in the Cleveland Metroparks routinely conduct bird banding demonstrations during the winter months, catching feeder birds, weighing and banding them, then releasing them back to the wild. Most banders will permit children to work the electronic scale, examine the special bird bracelets or help release the banded bird.
Watching a banding demonstration helps children connect with the birds and reminds you of why we are fascinated with these small, feathered creatures. Your hands or feet might get chilled, but your heart will be warmed.
Visit a bird rehabilitation center.
Another option to consider is the Ohio Bird Sanctuary (OBS) in Mansfield, Ohio. Open year-round, this facility houses many injured raptors, and children can easily view these magnificent birds from just a few feet away.
The OBS also has a special songbird enclosure, and for 25 cents, you can hand-feed blue jays or other captive song birds. A special treat is Lucy, their talented chicken that will quickly consume mealworms from your hand or the top of a child’s boot, snatching up the food before they know what happened. Your child will surely grin from ear to ear as the chicken pecks at their boot!
How about a little nighttime fun?
If you are feeling particularly adventurous, look for a scheduled winter walk at a local park. Gorman Nature Center, Huston Brumbaugh, Hancock Parks and Ohio’s state parks offer naturalist-led walks, with some of the walks occurring during the early evening hours. (If conditions are right, you might hear an owl call, as they can be vocal on our coldest evenings.)
Aside from the unique experience of a winter walk and the chance of seeing an owl, you might also be impressed by the snow-covered landscape, bright stars and the beautiful moon as they light up our winter sky. It’s an outing guaranteed to spice up any day or night.
If it is frightful outside, make the home delightful.
Snow and bitter winds may discourage you from venturing outside, but you can still get creative with some crafts. Convert a large pine cone into a simple bird feeder by combining a little peanut butter, some cornmeal or flour, assorted bird seeds and an old ribbon. Even if it gets a little messy, your young ones will enjoy making something for the birds, and they may even be more entertained once the coated pine cone is hung in a tree near a window.
You will be doing the birds and the children a favor by making the simple birdfeeder, but the real fun comes from doing things together.
How about baking some bird cookies? Most kitchen or hardware stores sell inexpensive cookie cutters in the shape of cardinals (Ohio’s state bird) or other familiar species. Whip up some simple cookie dough, or purchase some from your local grocer, and let the little ones create some birds.
If baking is out of the question, ask a local bakery (like Buckeye Bakery in Mansfield) to bake some plain sugar cookies and create your own designs. Icing and decorating cookies with sprinkles may be messy, but it is fun and generates excellent memories. We didn’t even mention that the best part of the activity is eating the cookies!
Curl up in a comfy chair!
Should you prefer a quiet option, go to your nearest library and check out some nature books that the family will enjoy. One of my favorites is Owl Babies by Martin Waddell; it is suitable for a wide age group due to theme of the story (young owls concerned about their parent that has temporarily left them to search for food).
Your library contains many other interesting books that children will enjoy on cold winter days, and books will help youngsters better appreciate nature. Librarians are standing by, waiting for you to call!
You have many options to consider when entertaining a child during the long winter months, and Ohio is blessed with excellent parks, nature centers and libraries. There are programs for hiking, crafts, astronomy, as well as story hours and lectures, and some parks even feature activities for dogs. Winter is the perfect time to explore, and outings can cure cabin fever while rejuvenating everyone’s spirit.
Following are nature centers that provide some of the activities mentioned in this article. The scope of programs extend well beyond the few mentioned in this article and we guarantee that they have something to interest everyone, not just children. If you have not visited one of the parks mentioned below, please plan a visit this winter and you will be amazed at the quality of their offerings!
The Wilderness Center, Wilmot
877-359-5235
www.wildernesscenter.org
Ohio Bird Sanctuary, Mansfield
419 884 4295
www.ohiobirdsanctuary.com
Cleveland MetroParks
(Nature centers in Brecksville, North Chagrin, Rocky River)
216-635-3200
www.clemetparks.com
Ohio State Parks
parks.ohiodnr.gov/stay-informed/ohio-state-parks-magazine
Gorman Nature Center, Mansfield
419 884 3764
www.gormannaturecenter.org
Huston Brumbaugh Nature Center, Minerva
330 823 7487
www.mountunion.edu/nature-center
Medina County Parks
(Locations throughout Medina County)
330 722-9364
www.medinacountyparks.com
Sippo Lake Park, Canton
(Stark County Parks)
330-409-8096
www.starkparks.com
Hancock Parks, Findlay
419-423-6952
www.hancockparks.com/Calendar.aspx
