Wild Things Workshop returns to Wooster Memorial Park

For two days in June, children ages 7-11 will have the opportunity to discover animals, plants, tree life, ecosystems and more at Wooster Memorial Park with the Wild Things Workshop. A joint event presented by Wayne Soil & Water Conservation District (Wayne SWCD), the Friends of Wooster Memorial Park and Wooster Parks, the workshop will take place Wednesday, June 10, and Thursday, June 11, from 9 a.m. to noon.

“The Wild Things Workshop is a two-morning workshop for young explorers to learn about the great outdoors while in the great outdoors," said John Lorson, district program administrator for the Wayne SWCD. "Within the expanse of Wooster Memorial Park, we have an incredible range of habitats that host a wonderful array of both plants and animals, both on land and in waters of Rathburn Run that transects the valley of the park.

"The staff of Wayne Soil & Water Conservation District, assisted by Wooster Recreation, Friends of Wooster Memorial Park and Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists, as well as staff from Holmes SWCD and other conservation volunteers, lead kids through fun, valuable and often unforgettable lessons about the wild flora and fauna that live right here ‘in their own backyards.’”

This is the third year for the Wild Things Workshop. The workshop started with an idea from Friends of Wooster Memorial Park. A group of folks from Wayne SWCD, the Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists and Wooster Recreation Department & Community Center quickly came together around the idea.

“We all love Wooster Memorial Park,” said Lorson. “And every one of us loves the outdoors and the lessons that can be learned there. Also, we collectively worry that many young people are growing up without a connection to the land. We know that for people to care about nature, they need to know about it. If we are to conserve our precious natural resources and wild places, we need to appreciate the value of them. Children who learn to love the outdoors grow into adults who work to pass along that sentiment to their children, students and friends. We are those adults. We know what ‘being in nature’ can do for a life.”

On day one of the workshop, participants will be hiking through the woods, stopping at both predetermined points of interest and places where curiosity takes hold. In particular, they will learn about upland plants, animals and insects that day.

Day two is stream day, where the whole time is spent exploring the riparian habitat of Rathburn Run: catching crayfish, netting stream fishes, gathering insects and hopefully observing a snake.

“We gather closely and discuss each of the creatures and then turn them back out in the wild,” said Lorson.

The hope is that getting kids outside will help them know and appreciate the natural world and encourage them to continue with that interest as they grow.

“We hope attendees come away with an increased fascination for nature and a desire to know and experience more," said Cathy Herms, president of the Friends of Wooster Memorial Park. "Perhaps attendees will connect with some aspect, e.g., the forest or Rathburn Run, or a particular plant or animal, that will foster a sense of exploration.”

Register online at https://www.wayneswcd.org/wild-things-workshop, www.woosteroh.com/recreation or call 330-263-5207. Registration deadline is May 29; however, spots are limited and fill quickly. The cost is $20. Scholarships are available through Wooster Recreation for any child who resides in Wayne County with proof of income status. Registration includes a string bag, water bottle and snacks. Children are closely supervised and may attend without their adult, but parents and guardians are welcome to join but must be preregistered with the child.

Financial contributions are appreciated to help cover scholarships or equipment purchases. To donate, call Wayne SWCD at 330-263-5376.

“We are extremely blessed to have a diversity of wildlife and wild spaces in Ohio,” said Lorson. “Some folks travel the world over to visit ‘wild places,’ often to find that some of the best opportunities for getting ‘out there in it’ are right in our own backyard. As far as getting kids started in the outdoors, I encourage the same philosophy as teaching a kid to fish. Rather than drag them along on a days-long slog in search of ‘the big ones,’ take them where the little fish are biting and toss in a worm on a hook. One tiny fish is often all it takes to land the hobby of a lifetime.

"Any natural area near you will hold treasures for your kids that we as adults are apt to completely overlook. Get them out there and let them be curious.”