MANSFIELD — From night hikes to planetarium presentations and birding boat tours, there’s something for everyone during this year’s Mohican Wildlife Weekend.
Mohican Wildlife Weekend is an annual event highlighting the Greater Mohican Area located in Ohio’s Ashland and Richland Counties. Special programs feature the area’s abundant wildlife, vast recreation opportunities and diverse natural resources.
Program sites include Charles Mill Lake Park, Clearfork Reservoir Marina, Gorman Nature Center, the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, Pleasant Hill Lake Park and the Warren Rupp Observatory.
The celebration kicks off Friday. This year’s theme is “Wild Nights.”
“We’ve been involved since the very onset as one of the core locations,” said Jason Larson, director of the Richland County Parks District, which includes Gorman Nature Center.
“We’re very excited every year to be involved with Wildlife Weekend.”
Larson said the weekend long event draws locals and tourists alike, with some out-of-town families returning every year.
“It depends a lot on the theme,” he said. “Some years it depends on the weather.”
Destination Mansfield President Lee Tasseff said the Mohican Wildlife Weekend was created more than 20 years ago to highlight the abundance of outdoor recreation spots in the region.
Tasseff estimated the event will draw between one and two thousand people, though they’ll be spread out across the various venues.
“You have some locals that look forward to it every year, but it seems to draw a regional audience, people from multiple counties away,” he said.
Due to its nighttime theme, Larson said this year’s Wildlife Weekend has more evening and after hours events than usual.
For more information, visit MohicanWildlifeWeekend.com. We’ve also included a full breakdown of the weekend’s festivities below.
April 26
Kids Crafts and Storytime, 5 p.m. at Charles Mill Lake Park. Meet at the Messerly Recreation Center for a story and animals of the night craft.
Ohio Scenic Rivers Program, 6 p.m. at Mohican State Park. Come to the Wolf Creek Grist Mill to see live river critters, learn how to protect water quality and explore the history of the mill.
Keynote Event: “There Is An Owl In The Bathtub!” 7 p.m. at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Founder Gail Laux will speak about the organization’s beginnings, funny memories and success stories of caring for three endangered species.
Guests will have the chance to meet several resident owls up close. Registration is required. Doors open at 6 p.m. Click here to register and here for parking information.
Family Bingo, 7 p.m. at Charles Mill Lake Park. Meet at the Messerly Recreation Center for an evening of fun and prizes.
Sights and Sounds of Wetlands at Night at Gorman Nature Center. Sessions at 8:30 and 9:45 p.m. Come for a night hike to experience the sights and sounds of the Gorman Nature Center property after dark. Y
ou might here a deafening chorus of spring peepers and toads and maybe even hear an owl hoot or spot a Timberdoodle performing its spring dance. Wear shoes that can get dirty, as trails are often muddy this time of year.
April 27
Birding Boat Tours on the Clear Fork Reservoir. Join Gail Laux, founder of the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, for a birding boat tour on the Clear Fork Reservoir. The Pontoon has room for nine passengers. This event costs $20 per person. Reservations required. Times: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. Reserve your spot here.
Owl Painting with Linda (adults only), 10 a.m. at Charles Mill Lake Park. Meet at the Messerly Recreation Center to paint a beautiful owl. Supplies and instruction included. Space is limited. $15 per person. Reservation required.
The Night Sky Inside – Planetarium Program, 10 a.m. to noon at Gorman Nature Center. Join to learn all about the night sky inside our inflatable planetarium! Participants will learn all about spring constellations and some of the stories associated with them, the solar system and more.
Groups will be limited to 15-20 people per session. Sessions will begin at the top of every hour starting at 10 a.m. and going until noon. The final session will end at noon. This program is open to all ages.
Earth Day Cleanup from noon to 2 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Lake Park. Stop by the Welcome Center for gloves and trash bags, then pick up map for areas for litter throughout the park & lake! Bring the bags back and receive a coupon for a FREE night of daily camping.
Creatures of the Night, 1 p.m. at Charles Mill Lake Park. Take a self-guided hike along the shoreline to learn about Creatures of the Night. Answer scavenger hunt questions to receive a prize! Meet at the Messerly Recreation Center.
Owl Craft for all ages, 2 to 3 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Lake Park. Stop by the Activity Center to make an owl craft. For all ages, no signup required.
Kids Crafts and Storytime, 3 to 4 p.m. at Charles Mill Lake Park. Meet at the Messerly Recreation Center for a story and animals of the night craft.
Hands on Animals, 3 to 4 p.m. at Gorman Nature Center. Enjoy the experience of touching, holding, and learning about some of Gorman Nature Center’s resident reptiles and amphibians.
All of GNC’s educational animals are native to the Richland County area. This program can be enjoyed by all ages. This program will be led by the staff and volunteers of Gorman Nature Center.
Archery Range, 4 to 6 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Lake Park. Improve or learn new archery skills with 3D & paper targets. For ages 8 and up. Registration required.
Owls of Ohio, 5 p.m. at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary. Come show your love for owls, listen to a live owl presentation, enjoy owl-themed crafts & activities, and take a short hike at dusk to our Treehouse Classroom. This event is fun for the whole family. Register here.
Nocturnal Noises, 5 p.m. at Charles Mill Lake Park. Have you ever heard something in the dark and wondered what it was? Meet at the Messerly Recreation Center to learn all about what goes bump in the dark during the creatures of the night hike.
Bugman’s Education & Science Show, 7 p.m. at Charles Mill Lake Park. Learn about Ohio’s crawly insects with live insects at Bugman’s Education & Science Show! Meet at the Messerly Recreation Center. For all ages.
Campfire, 7:30 p.m. at Pleasant Hill Lake Park. Gather around the campfire at the Welcome Center fire ring for some guitar playing and singing. While the fire is burning, enjoy a campfire treat. Bring your own camp chair, seating is limited.
Nocturnal Animals, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Gorman Nature Center. What do owls, bats, and skunks have in common? They are all nocturnal animals. Come learn why animals might come out at night and how they have adapted to living in the dark. This program can be enjoyed by all ages.
Night at the Observatory, 8 to 11 p.m. at Warren Rupp Observatory. Come spend an evening looking at the stars. Everyone of all ages is welcome. Guided tours and take a look from “Big Blue” with its 36″ diameter mirror Newtonian telescope and other telescopes focused on points of interest in the night sky.
Sights and Sounds of Wetlands at Night at Gorman Nature Center. Come join us for a night hike to experience the sights and sounds of the Gorman Nature Center property after dark. You may hear the deafening chorus of spring peepers and toads and maybe even hear an owl hoot or spot a Timberdoodle performing its spring dance.
Wear shoes that can get dirty, as trails are often muddy this time of year. The first hike begins at 8:30 p.m. The second begins at 9:45 p.m.
April 28
Birding Boat Tours on Clear Fork Reservoir. Join Ohio Bird Sanctuary Founder Gail Laux for a Birding Boat Tour on the Clearfork Reservoir. The pontoon has space for nine passengers and costs $20 per person. Reservations required. Times: 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. Make your reservation here.
The Night Sky Inside – Planetarium Program at 9 a.m. to noon at Gorman Nature Center. Join us to learn all about the night sky inside our inflatable planetarium.
Participants will learn all about spring constellations and some of the stories associated with them, the solar system and more. Groups will be limited to 15-20 people per session. Sessions will begin at the top of every hour starting at 9 a.m. and going until noon. The final session will end at 1 p.m. This program is open to all ages.
Hands on Animals! at 3 to 4 p.m. at Gorman Nature Center. Enjoy the experience of touching, holding, and learning about some of Gorman Nature Center’s resident reptiles and amphibians.
All of GNC’s educational animals are native to the Richland County area. This program can be enjoyed by all ages. This program will be led by the staff and volunteers of Gorman Nature Center.