Amelia Hill, 8, and her sister, Charlotte Hill, 10, drink hot chocolate inside the Elmore Barn during the Hot Cocoa Walk hosted by the Park District of Ottawa County. They are the daughters of Park District Administrative Specialist Sara Hill. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

ELMORE – Although the Hot Cocoa Walk hosted by the Park District of Ottawa County at Depot Park included a nature walk, scavenger hunt, craft, prizes and visits to the Heckman Log Cabin and Elmore Depot, no one had to ask five-year-old Cecelia Hoeppner what her favorite part of the day was. The brown, sticky sweetness around her lips was proof enough that she liked the hot chocolate the best.

Cecelia, of Elmore, attended the event with her seven-year-old brother, Tristan Hoeppner and her parents, Hayden Maxon and Noah Hoeppner. Tristen said he also liked the hot chocolate, but there was something he enjoyed even more.

“My favorite parts was that I got to see raccoon footprints,” he said.

Tristan Hoeppner, 7, left, and his sister, five-year-old Cecelia Hoeppner, who is sporting the remnants of her hot chocolate on her happy face, warm up by the fire in the Heckman Log Cabin. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Tristan was referring to the scavenger hunt that allowed participants to win prizes for finding animal footprints inside the historic buildings and along the North Coast Inland Trail while they walked. This is the second year the family attended the Hot Cocoa Walk.

“We had a lot of fun last year, so we came again,” Maxon said. “It got us out of the house, and we got to go on a walk. We had a little cabin fever.”

The event was funded by the park district with the help of the Elmore Historical Society (EHS), which offered the free use of the historical buildings and the Elmore Barn for the event. Members of EHS volunteered at the event, including EHS Vice President Kent Makulinski, who greeted visitors at the log cabin, where they could warm themselves by a raging fire.

Seven-year-old Sadie Gerwin of Gibsonburg was excited to visit the cabin.

“She remembered it from seeing Santa there,” said her mother, Heidi Gerwin.

Seven-year-old Sadie Gerwin said this vintage typewriter inside the Elmore Depot reminded her of a computer. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Sadie enjoyed seeing the antiques inside the train depot, including a vintage wedding dress that she described as “pretty.”

“I liked seeing the typewriter,” she said. “It looked like a computer because it has keys.”

Many people think of summer when they talk about the Park District of Ottawa County, but the Hot Cocoa Walk helped park district staff remind locals that the outdoors are fun in the winter as well. The park district is currently offering a Birdseed Ornament program for public organizations. Staff members will bring supplies to the organization’s site to teach attendees how to make an ornament to hang outside for the birds.

The park district is prepping for the busy summer months by hosting a Volunteer Orientation on Thursday, March 6 at 6 p.m. at the Shores & Islands Ohio Welcome Center West. Attendees can learn about the park district’s new Volunteer Program and the many opportunities available. No registration is required for the event.

For more information on the Park District of Ottawa County, visit www.ottawacountyparksoh.org.