Education & Engagement
Connecting People with Nature
The Nature Education Department of the JAMPD is focused and committed to enriching lives by connecting people with nature. We strive to be Engaging, Experiential, Educational and Empowering. Our informal education environment offers unique opportunities to connect with the natural world. We also seek to enhance and facilitate the knowledge and use of the Park’s resources, through hiking, boating, birding, fishing, monitoring and in other ways.
This aspect of the Park’s education is a vital part of connecting people with nature. Public programming takes many forms and can include formal nature presentations, challenges, a photography contest, games, nature walks, open-houses, programs with other organizations, and virtual programming.
To help facilitate the highest quality nature programming, the Park District collaborates with several partner organizations, including groups like Tri-Moraine Audubon Society, Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalists, Lima Area Wood Carvers, Lima Astronomical Society, Allen Soil and Water Conservation District, Allen Co Conservation Club, local libraries, and more!
Learn more about our upcoming public programs on our Program Calendar
The Park District continues to be a source of connection with nature through programming and outdoor experiences at various groups and centers for both adult and youth audiences.
- Visiting numerous community and civic groups, garden clubs, senior centers, special interest groups, assisted living facilities, day habilitation programs, the Education Department handles requests as time allows.
- We also provide programming specific for youth audiences, we visit libraries, afterschool, and VBS programs, facilitate badges with boy/girl scouts, provide a homeschool program and offer a monthly pre-school program.
- Browse this website to learn more or inquire directly about bringing a naturalist to your group! Call 419-221-1232 or email naturalists@jampd.com
Our school education programming is focused on being standards-based and interdisciplinary, fitting into the school curriculum and meeting the needs of our teachers and students.
Field Trips
Our curriculum-based field trips offer students opportunities to engage in hands-on and minds-on activities to experience nature in a positive way. Our programs are designed to allow for a full day of immersion and exploration in nature at one of our parks. Students arrive in the morning, meet their teams, and begin exploring! We take a break for lunch and recess activities, then wrap up our learning with a few more activities.
Each field trip offered in a specific month with nearly three weeks of programming opportunities. Explore each field trip opportunity for more information!
Kindergarten: Givin a Livin’ in May
1st Grade: Basic Needs in September
2nd Grade: Ecosystem Safari in April
3rd Grade: Pioneer Skills in November
4th Grade: Maple Syruping in March
5th Grade: Ecosystem Interactions in October
Classroom Programs
We offer a variety of curriculum-based classroom programs that can be delivered in place of a field trip. Our team can also design custom programming to fit the themes you are currently teaching!
The Nature Education department of the Park District engages with the community in a variety of ways to offer educational and positive experiences with nature, and to educate about the resources that the Park District offers to the community.
Some methods of outreach include:
- Park District Newsletter
- Quarterly publication with programs and articles
- TV
- Weekly First Edition segment
- Noon Edition
- Interviews
- Radio
- Virtual
- Social media especially Facebook and Youtube
- Displays at various fairs, festivals, markets, community events. Often with the B.E.E.T.L.E.*
- As a source of nature information
*Utilizing our mobile program vehicle, the B.E.E.T.L.E. – Bringing Environmental Education To Learners Everywhere, the Nature Education Department seeks out opportunities to facilitate positive nature interactions, whether it be at fairs and festivals, or at village parks and communities throughout Allen Co.
Reach out to the Education Department at 419-221-1232 or naturalists@jampd.com with your outreach opportunities!
The Park District offers or is involved with several special events, or larger scale programs that involve multiple departments. These events are focused on facilitating a positive experience for families and participants in an outdoor setting. We strive to include an educational aspect, but fun, family entertainment in the Parks are a big part of the goal.
Here are some of the special events at the Park District:
- Maple Fest
- Summer Amphitheater Series
- National Night Out
- Allen County Fair
- Apple Fest
- WWII at Lauer Farms
- Meet the W.I.L.D.
- Christmas Tree Festival at Allen Co Museum
To help make these events a success, check out our Volunteer Page and join us in creating these experiences!
The Nature Education department houses and cares for several captive animals, many of which are native to this area. These animals are used in our educational programs and are displayed in the McElroy Environmental Education Center. Many of our displays are provided by local partners, including Dot’s Pet Center.
In addition to living education animals, the Park District maintains a variety of animal parts such as skins, skulls, and mounts to help educate and share about our native wildlife.
The Park maintains state and federal permits to capture and house the animals and animal parts that are maintained in the MEEC.
Check out our Program Calendar for opportunities to engage with these animals!
The Nature Education Department collaborates with the Natural Resources Department to inventory and monitor populations of various Flora and Fauna in the parks. Part of the mission of the Park District is to conserve resources and in order to do that we need know what we have! Much of this is accomplished through education and the hard work of volunteers.
Here are some of the current projects at the Park District:
- Project FeederWatch (birds at feeders)
- Bluebird Trail Monitoring
- Spring Wildflower Monitoring
- Butterfly Monitoring
- Purple Martin Nest Box Monitoring
- iNaturalist online project
Check out our Volunteer Page to get involved with some of these projects!