2018 EVENTS
SPONSOR OUR EVENT! Is your business or organization interested in supporting the Ohio Vernal Pool Network? Sponsorship opportunities can be found HERE. |
The Vernal Pool Workshops are joint projects of Ohio Vernal Pool Network; The Midwest Biodiversity Institute and The Ohio Wetlands Association.
Join us for one of our 2018 Vernal Pool Workshops, or a Vernal Pool Discovery Expedition. |
Vernal Pool Workshop, Central Ohio
Saturday, March 17, 2018 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Stratford Ecology Center 3083 Liberty Road Delaware, OH The morning starts with indoor presentations on the history of the Ohio Vernal Pool Network, ecology, macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and flora followed by a light vegetarian lunch. After lunch we will hear about data collection and collaboration, and finally visit and explore vernal pools near by. Please dress for the weather. The workshop fee includes morning refreshments, a vegetarian lunch, and a copy of Ohio's Hidden Wonders: A Guide to Animals and Plants of Vernal Pools. |
Registration price includes: A vegetarian lunch and a copy of Ohio's Hidden Wonders, A Guide to the Animals and Plants of Vernal Pools ($25 value).
|
A limited amount of student sponsorships are available. Email info@OHwetlands.org and include your name, email, phone, and why you wish to attend and how it will apply to your studies.
Registration price includes: A vegetarian lunch and a copy of Ohio's Hidden Wonders,
A Guide to the Animals and Plants of Vernal Pools ($25 value). |
Vernal Pool Workshop, Southwest Ohio
Saturday, March 24, 2018 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Brukner Nature Center 5995 Horseshoe Bend Road Troy, OH The morning starts with indoor presentations on the history of the Ohio Vernal Pool Network, ecology, macroinvertebrates, amphibians, and flora followed by a light vegetarian lunch. After lunch we will hear about data collection and collaboration, and finally visit and explore vernal pools near by. Please dress for the weather. The workshop fee includes morning refreshments, a vegetarian lunch, and a copy of Ohio's Hidden Wonders: A Guide to Animals and Plants of Vernal Pools. |
A limited amount of student sponsorships are available. Email info@OHwetlands.org and include your name, email, phone, and why you wish to attend and how it will apply to your studies.
2018 FIELD TRIPS
Vernal Pool Expedition and Discovery Day
Dr. James K. Bissell Nature Center The Nature Conservancy Grand River Conservation Campus Saturday, April 7, 2018 Rock Creek, Ohio 10 a.m. to Noon A Joint Effort of Ohio Wetlands Association and The Nature Conservancy Details HERE. |

International 2018 City Nature Challenge (Bioblitz) at Cassell Reservation Preserve
Lorain County Metro Parks
Saturday, April 28, 2018
7 a.m. (Birders) to Noon
9 a.m. (All others) to Noon
Please register below.
The Ohio Wetlands Association (OWA) and Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC) are partnering as part of Cleveland’s participation in the International 2018 City Nature Challenge (CNC), see details below. Please join Kate Pilacky, associate field director from WRLC, Ray Stewart, Secretary, OWA, and Chris Grame, Conservation Supervisor at Lorain County Metro Parks (LCMP).
We will participate at an area, identified as LCMP Cassell Reservation Preserve, a brand new Lorain County Metro Park in Vermilion. This ecologically diverse area, part of the Lake Erie Coastal Plain is not yet open to the public so there is no signage, improvements or marked trails.
WRLC assisted in the acquisition of a portion of the new 227-acre park. Cleveland Museum of Natural History Natural Areas Program has had several field trips to the site because of the unusual plant life, including some rare and listed plants. The area is fairly flat with nice wetlands. In addition to the CNC competition, the day’s data will be used by LCMP.
iNaturalist: If you haven’t yet gotten the iNaturalist App for your smart phone, this would be especially helpful for this project since all data will be posted on iNaturalist.org.
Directions: Park and assemble at the end of Parkside Reserve, approximately 1/3 mile east off Highbridge Road just South of Rt. 6 (Liberty Avenue) in Vermilion. Birders arrive at 7am, all other naturalists arrive at 9am. We will end around noon or shortly after, depending on the weather. Please be courteous and sensitive as to where you park as Parkside Reserve is still a residential area and the Metro Parks would like to remain on good terms with the residents.
About the challenge: Mark your calendars for April 27-30 2018. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is excited to announce Cleveland's participation in the 2018 City Nature Challenge. The entire Cleveland-Akron-Canton area is able to participate including the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Lorain, Portage, Summit, Stark, Carroll, Ashtabula, Tuscarawas, Erie and Huron.
The City Nature Challenge (CNC) began in 2016 as a competition between the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and the California Academy of Sciences. In 2018, the competition is going global as cities around the world will compete to see who can document the most biodiversity. The number of observations, the number of species identified and the number of people participating are shared and compared. Check out the 2017 Leaderboard.
The city of Cleveland and its surrounding area has the weekend of April 27-30, 2018 to document as much biodiversity as possible using the platform, iNaturalist. If this challenge aligns with your organization's mission, please consider participating by:
Register to join us HERE.
Lorain County Metro Parks
Saturday, April 28, 2018
7 a.m. (Birders) to Noon
9 a.m. (All others) to Noon
Please register below.
The Ohio Wetlands Association (OWA) and Western Reserve Land Conservancy (WRLC) are partnering as part of Cleveland’s participation in the International 2018 City Nature Challenge (CNC), see details below. Please join Kate Pilacky, associate field director from WRLC, Ray Stewart, Secretary, OWA, and Chris Grame, Conservation Supervisor at Lorain County Metro Parks (LCMP).
We will participate at an area, identified as LCMP Cassell Reservation Preserve, a brand new Lorain County Metro Park in Vermilion. This ecologically diverse area, part of the Lake Erie Coastal Plain is not yet open to the public so there is no signage, improvements or marked trails.
WRLC assisted in the acquisition of a portion of the new 227-acre park. Cleveland Museum of Natural History Natural Areas Program has had several field trips to the site because of the unusual plant life, including some rare and listed plants. The area is fairly flat with nice wetlands. In addition to the CNC competition, the day’s data will be used by LCMP.
iNaturalist: If you haven’t yet gotten the iNaturalist App for your smart phone, this would be especially helpful for this project since all data will be posted on iNaturalist.org.
Directions: Park and assemble at the end of Parkside Reserve, approximately 1/3 mile east off Highbridge Road just South of Rt. 6 (Liberty Avenue) in Vermilion. Birders arrive at 7am, all other naturalists arrive at 9am. We will end around noon or shortly after, depending on the weather. Please be courteous and sensitive as to where you park as Parkside Reserve is still a residential area and the Metro Parks would like to remain on good terms with the residents.
About the challenge: Mark your calendars for April 27-30 2018. The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is excited to announce Cleveland's participation in the 2018 City Nature Challenge. The entire Cleveland-Akron-Canton area is able to participate including the following counties: Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, Medina, Lorain, Portage, Summit, Stark, Carroll, Ashtabula, Tuscarawas, Erie and Huron.
The City Nature Challenge (CNC) began in 2016 as a competition between the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and the California Academy of Sciences. In 2018, the competition is going global as cities around the world will compete to see who can document the most biodiversity. The number of observations, the number of species identified and the number of people participating are shared and compared. Check out the 2017 Leaderboard.
The city of Cleveland and its surrounding area has the weekend of April 27-30, 2018 to document as much biodiversity as possible using the platform, iNaturalist. If this challenge aligns with your organization's mission, please consider participating by:
- Hosting a BioBlitz
- Using iNaturalist to record living things you encounter on your regularly scheduled programs
- Identifying or verifying observations uploaded by other users
Register to join us HERE.

Vernal Pool Expedition and Discovery Day
Coyote Run Farm
Friday, June 1, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 9 a.m.
Leader: Mick Micacchion
Join us to explore vernal pools! Free and open to the public.
On Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Mick Micacchion (OWA Vice President) will lead an expedition to set traps that will be left in the pools overnight to collect specimens. Funnel traps are set in the water to collect salamander larvae, frog, tadpoles, and macroinvertebrates.
At 9 a.m. Saturday morning Mick will return to the vernal pools to empty the traps and examine their contents. Specimens will be brought back alive and placed in aquaria for the discovery day display which we expect to be ready to share at 11:00 a.m. Contact us HERE if you are interested in joining Mick on either of these vernal pool collecting trips.
Directions: At the main farm barn the historic ‘Tabernacle’ site, located at 9270 Pickerington Road, Pickerington, Ohio, an educational display will be set up for everyone to examine the hidden wonders of vernal pools.
Coyote Run Farm
Friday, June 1, 2018 at 1:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 9 a.m.
Leader: Mick Micacchion
Join us to explore vernal pools! Free and open to the public.
On Friday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Mick Micacchion (OWA Vice President) will lead an expedition to set traps that will be left in the pools overnight to collect specimens. Funnel traps are set in the water to collect salamander larvae, frog, tadpoles, and macroinvertebrates.
At 9 a.m. Saturday morning Mick will return to the vernal pools to empty the traps and examine their contents. Specimens will be brought back alive and placed in aquaria for the discovery day display which we expect to be ready to share at 11:00 a.m. Contact us HERE if you are interested in joining Mick on either of these vernal pool collecting trips.
Directions: At the main farm barn the historic ‘Tabernacle’ site, located at 9270 Pickerington Road, Pickerington, Ohio, an educational display will be set up for everyone to examine the hidden wonders of vernal pools.
OWA Annual Member Meeting and Potluck Picnic
Saturday, June 9, 2018
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Woodside Green Park
213 Camrose Court
Gahanna, Ohio
We have reserved the Green picnic shelter. OWA business will be addressed from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and at 11:30 a.m. Jeffrey Barr, the Gahanna Parks and Recreation Director, will be accepting an award for wetland protection OWA is giving to the City. Lunch will be at noon followed by a hike to explore the protected wetland. Please RSVP below.
Saturday, June 9, 2018
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Woodside Green Park
213 Camrose Court
Gahanna, Ohio
We have reserved the Green picnic shelter. OWA business will be addressed from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. and at 11:30 a.m. Jeffrey Barr, the Gahanna Parks and Recreation Director, will be accepting an award for wetland protection OWA is giving to the City. Lunch will be at noon followed by a hike to explore the protected wetland. Please RSVP below.
Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring
Volunteer Appreciation PotLuck at Old Woman Creek

July 11, 2018
5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
With the monitoring season winding down, we would like to thank everyone for participating. Emily Kuzmick (Ohio Coastal Training Program) and Ray Stewart (Ohio Wetlands Association) invite you to a GLMMP volunteer pot-luck at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve with some options for how you can participate.
If you want help with your paperwork, have questions about your route, or want to brag about all the great experiences from the season, come join us at one of coastal Ohio’s greatest estuaries. If you are eager to see this awesome wetland, you can choose to go by land or on the water. Bring your own canoe or kayak for a paddle through the lotus leaves.
Please register online below and indicate if you will want to paddle on the creek. Permits will be available.
5 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
With the monitoring season winding down, we would like to thank everyone for participating. Emily Kuzmick (Ohio Coastal Training Program) and Ray Stewart (Ohio Wetlands Association) invite you to a GLMMP volunteer pot-luck at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve with some options for how you can participate.
If you want help with your paperwork, have questions about your route, or want to brag about all the great experiences from the season, come join us at one of coastal Ohio’s greatest estuaries. If you are eager to see this awesome wetland, you can choose to go by land or on the water. Bring your own canoe or kayak for a paddle through the lotus leaves.
Please register online below and indicate if you will want to paddle on the creek. Permits will be available.