From left, Creek Bend Farm Naturalist Sarah Chong; Creek Bend Farm Naturalist Debbie Hauber; Sandusky County Soil and Water Conservation District Outreach Coordinator, Zach Randolph; and Creek Bend Farm Program Supervisor Deb Nofzinger offered fun, educational activities during the 10th Anniversary Celebration at the Wilson Nature Center. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Ten years ago, the Wilson Nature Center opened at Creek Bend Farm in Lindsey. The construction of the center opened the door for a wider variety of educational events, as well as providing a venue for winter programming. Now, a decade later, Program Supervisor Deb Nofzinger and naturalists Debbie Haubert and Sarah Chong offer a slew of opportunities to connect with nature.

On Nov. 14, the Wilson Nature Center hosted a 10th Anniversary Celebration that included the chance to touch animal pelts and skulls, view bugs in a microscope, make trail mix and visit with live animals, including Nibbles the rabbit.

Five-year-old Wade Johnson is all smiles as he is greeted by his scaly friend at the Wilson Nature Center. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Zach Randolph, the outreach coordinator from Sandusky County Soil and Water Conservation District, helped young visitors color a Coat of Conservation where they learned about protecting valuable resources in the area.

The event celebrated a decade of growth.

“The biggest change in the last ten years is the number of programs we can do,” Haubert said. “Now, no matter what the weather, we can do programs. Prior to having the building, if the weather was bad, we had to cancel or postpone programs.”

Wade Johnson, 5, learns about pelts and skulls from Naturalist Debbie Haubert. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The Wilson Nature Center created the opportunity to offer a Winter Camp, which includes indoor and outdoor activities. Registration is already full for this year’s popular winter event.

Chong brought another recent change to the center when she updated the children’s indoor play area.

“It’s farm-themed,” Chong said. “It has a farmhouse, chickens, cows and horses.”

Looking to the future, the staff’s next big goal is to add an overhang to the front porch. The addition will provide shade for schoolchildren who eat lunch on the porch during field trips, as well as for visitors of all ages who like to enjoy the view of the park from the porch.

“We’re hoping to install that next summer,” Nofzinger said.

Natural Sarah Chong added farm-themed elements to the indoor play area, including this farmhouse. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

An overhang on the center’s back deck already provides shade for visitors who want to catch a glimpse of the screech owl that lives across the creek, and for the hundreds of birders who visit during the Biggest Week in American Birding, where they can easily see dozens of varieties of birds from the comfort of the deck.

“We’re trying to bolster bird watching. We encourage people to come here and just relax,” Nofzinger said.

Another recent addition to the center is a speaker system linked to the outdoors.

“Our speaker system is hooked to the bird feeding station,” Haubert said. “Pretty much any bird sound out there, we can hear in here. That’s been a fun addition.”

Birds aren’t the only live animals that visitors can encounter at the Wilson Nature Center. They can also meet other live animals, including turtles, snakes and sheep.

On Dec. 14 from noon to 4 p.m., Creek Bend Farm will host Homestead Holiday and the Homespun Holiday Market. Homestead Holiday will feature tours of the Homestead House, which will be decorated in 1940’s-style holiday decor. Visitors can also stop by Santa’s workshop. The Homespun Holiday Market will feature vendors selling handmade merchandise like jewelry, art and greeting cards.

Creek Bend Farm is located at 720 South Main Street in Lindsey, about ten miles outside Oak Harbor and about eight miles from Elmore. For more information, visit www.lovemyparks.com.