Saturday, January 24, 2026

Keeping Kids Smiling in the Cold


“I can’t feel my legs,” said Audrey Griswold in the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation as her father Clark leads the family on a forced winter march in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Later, as Audrey relays her misery and increasingly worse symptoms to whoever will listen, he quips, “That’s all part of the experience.” For certain, that’s what many people think of when it comes to snow and colder temperatures: misery.

Read the complete column to learn some quick tips on keeping kids warm outside and local events: Outdoor activities don’t have to stop when the temperature drops

Events


Winter Tree Identification

January 31, 2026

Cox Arboretum MetroPark: Mead Westvaco Theatre | 10:00am - 12:00pm

AGE: 10-17 | $3.00

Did you know that even when the trees don't have leaves in the winter, there are still ways to identify them?!

https://www.metroparks.org/programs-events-finder/?program_number=U122&api=programs&type=program 




Tree-Tapping Basics at Kingswood Park

 Jan 31, 2026

 10:00 am - 11:00 am

 Kingswood Park Activity Center

COST: Free

AGES: Any (children must be accompanied by a responsible guardian)

REGISTRATION REQUIRED?: Yes

https://www.warrencountyparks.com/events/event/tree-tapping-basics-at-kingswood-park/2026-01-31/ 


*A minimum of five people registered for this program to take place


Celebrate Backyard Birds

Saturday Feb 7, 2026

Germantown MetroPark: Twin Valley Welcome Center | 10:00am - 11:30am

AGE: 3-13 | FREE

Openings: 10

Like a canary in a goldmine, birds are indicators of change of the health of our local habitats. https://www.metroparks.org/programs-events-finder/?program_number=V67&api=programs&type=program 


Toddler Trek: Woodland Birds

 Feb 9, 2026

 10:30 am - 11:30 am

 Armco Park- Jones Pavilion

COST: Free

AGES: 2-6 year olds with a responsible grown up

REGISTRATION REQUIRED?: Yes

https://www.warrencountyparks.com/events/event/toddler-trek-woodland-birds/2026-02-04/ 


Trail Tots: Love in Nature

Feb 12, 2026

Admin - Board Room

Age at least 3 yrs but less than 5y 11m 4w, Mixed

Little explorers will discover animal families and how they care for each other. Explore and spark a love for nature with a story, song and craft.

https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/ntprd/activity/search/detail/4607?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true 


Maple Celebration and Great Backyard Bird Count Open House at Armco Park

 Feb 14, 2026

 9:00 am - 3:00 pm

 Armco Park Jones Pavilion - 1223 N SR 741, Lebanon, OH 45036

FREE community celebration! Participate in the Great Backyard Bird Count and enjoy an authentic maple sugaring experience.

https://www.warrencountyparks.com/events/event/maple-celebration-and-great-backyard-bird-count-open-house-at-armco-park/2026-02-14/ 


Maple Sugaring

Feb 21, 2026

Carriage Hill MetroPark: Carriage Hill Historical Farm | 10:00am - 4:00pm

AGE: All ages | FREE

Openings: Unlimited

Nature has its own way of providing us with sweeteners. Come join us as we do maple sugaring on the farm.https://www.metroparks.org/programs-events-finder/?program_number=V4&api=programs&type=program 



Resources

https://time.com/collection/guide-to-happiness/4706590/scandinavia-world-happiness-report-nordics/


https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=frostbite-and-frostnip-in-children-90-P02820 


Brownfieldagnews.com


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTKpKBzd7jg


Posted by Devin Meister at 9:22 AM 0 comments

Monday, January 19, 2026

Rolling the Dice on Ice

“I'm not going out there. That’s crazy.” That was the response heard in our car when we visited Madison, WI, one March. We were looking at a group of ice fishing tents.


As a guy who has repeatedly tested the height limits of hip boots against the uncertain depth of the muddy bottom of creeks and came up with not quite enough boot, I can assure you that Ohio water outdoors in January and February is plenty cold. And I’ve stepped through frozen cattails and found myself up to my knees. That’s more than far enough for me. I’m really not looking for any cold plunges, intentional or accidental. Making Ice The common expression and shared by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is “there’s no such thing as safe ice.” What they mean is that you should always be aware of the conditions and state of the ice. The only way to know for sure is make a hole with a spudbar or ice auger and measure. But you can get an idea of when it might be time to venture out and measure by calculating the number of freezing days. That can help determine if the body of water is making or losing ice. Calculate Freezing Degree Days (FDDs)

  • Find Daily Average Temperature: (High Temp + Low Temp) / 2
  • Calculate FDDs: 32°F (freezing point) - Daily Average Temperature
  • Estimate Ice Growth: FDDs / 15 = Approximate inches of new ice or one inch of ice for every 15 FDDs
Read the complete article here: Ice Fishing in Ohio - All ice is not equal And avoid shortcuts across streams or any ice you’re not 100% sure about, as one deer hunter recently found out at Buck Creek State Park the hard way. But don’t miss out on opportunities out of fear. We ultimately all made it out onto Lake Mendota.

Posted by Devin Meister at 8:16 AM 0 comments

Sunday, January 11, 2026

For Birds - There Ain't Nothing Better When the Wind Cuts Cold


Food and shelter are the foundation of life for wildlife during the Southwest Ohio winter. Being efficient in finding food and minimizing exposure to the elements and predators are key. That’s why winters can sometimes seem bleak and lifeless. Much like we run to the grocery and then go immediately back inside, animals dash out to food sources and then back to shelter. There isn’t a lot of loafing around when the wind cuts cold. 

You can add some action outside your windows by creating or enhancing food, shelter, or both where you can see it. I once hung a feeder outside of an office window that I made from a plastic peanut-butter jar and a promotional Frisbee. If you know me, you’re not surprised by this at all. 

If you want to be selective in what you’re feeding and attracting to your area, you’ll want to be intentional about the style of feeder and what it contains. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources offers these suggestions for winter feeding: 

  • Sunflower Seeds
  • Peanuts
  • Niger Thistle
  • Millet
  • Corn
  • Safflower Seeds
  • Suet

Check out the complete column to see what seed might be right for you: Want to attract birds to your backyard? Give them what they need

Whatever feed you choose, make sure to periodically clean the feeders, especially in the event of warmer weather. Suet can turn rancid if temperatures climb, and it wasn’t that long ago that the ODNR requested that feeders be pulled during the summer. 

If you see wildlife that looks sick or disabled, report it to the ODNR through their reporting portal here: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/987f2ade0037405ea9ff1819aab040a8?portalUrl=https://gis.ohiodnr.gov/portal 
Posted by Devin Meister at 9:13 AM 0 comments

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Fresh Start for Fresh Tracks

 

A clean slate. That’s what some think of the New Year. But a clean slate is literally what a fresh overnight snow provides to the outdoor landscape. There’s nothing better than a couple of inches of new snow to reveal what’s passed by, complete with as definitive of a time stamp as the outdoors provides this side of a digital trail camera. 

To paraphrase hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, who said, “skate to where the puck is going, not where it is,” use the tracks to determine where the animal is going. Deer and rabbits are both known for watching their backtrail, so they’ll be looking for you, too. Seeing them before they see you is the trick. Look for slight elevation changes where a deer might bed down to watch their trail and along edges of cover before you approach. 

Posted by Devin Meister at 9:31 AM 0 comments
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