Events

This 31-acre MetroPark has picturesque Wiles Creek, a prairie, woods, and gardens planted with both native and cultivated flowers. Five Rivers MetroParks Education Coordinator Betty Hoevel will lead us through the lower gardens, past the woodland garden and home (which are on both the Ohio and National Historic Registries), to the woodland filled with Virginia bluebells and other spring wildflowers.  The garden and woodland trail is about a mile long and is a combination of grass, gravel, soil, and pavement, with a couple of minor slopes. 

Meet in the Stillwater River Access parking lot.  Note: The entrance is about 0.25 mile past the Aullwood Audubon Center entrance on the opposite side of the road!

According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Caesar Creek Gorge, rising 180 feet above Caesar Creek, was “formed by large volumes of glacial meltwater cutting down through the bedrock to expose Ordovician limestone and shale rich in fossils.” Dayton Area Wild Ones is offering an all-day exploration of two different areas of the gorge to view its abundant spring wildflowers. Join us for any combination of activities offered on this field trip—morning walk, lunch at a local restaurant, afternoon walk—or join us for all three!  

Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve, 9:00–11:15 am; 4080 Corwin Road, Oregonia, OH 45054.  This preserve features diverse habitats including heavily wooded hillsides and a floodplain covered by “luxuriant herbaceous flora,” which is an understatement! As a possible bonus, zebra swallowtail butterflies were abundant at this time last year. This is a moderate walk; the trail is a dirt path with a steep descent/ascent to and from the gorge. Our leader will be Preserve Manager Eric Sagasser. Total distance: about 1.75 miles

Lunch at Sun Sprouts Cafe, approx.11:30 am–12:45 pm; 69 S. Maple Street, Corwin, OH 45068. Park along Corwin Rd. or Maple St. Order and pay at the counter; seating will be in the front room to the left of the counter. 

US Army Corps of Engineers Caesar Creek Gorge, 1:00–3:00 pm; Meet at the Caesar Creek Fishing Pier parking lot, Caesar Creek Gorge Access Road, Waynesville, OH 45068. Join leader Kim Baker, USACE retiree, to explore the wooded trails along Caesar Creek, just downstream of the dam. Over the years, much work has been done in this area to eliminate non-native invasive species, so it is now a great area for viewing healthy woodland structure. The canopy trees, understory shrubs, and woodland wildflowers will be inspiration for creating your own woodland habitat!

There are two options for this afternoon walk:

Option 1 – Easy.  The first section is a level gravel trail parallel to the creek.  There is a wooded strip between the trail and the creek, with the wooded hillside rising from the opposite side and wildflowers and native understory shrubs on both sides. This is an easy walk with lots to see for those who may not be able to walk the full loop trail with the steep hills. Those who prefer this easy walk option will need to turn around to head back to the parking lot while the rest of the group continues up the hill.  Total distance: about 3/8 mile

Option 2 – Moderate. Continue on the loop trail, ascending the steep hill on wooden stairs.  This overlooks a tributary stream and a hillside covered with wildflowers. The trail loops back at the top of the hill and the descent is on an old road. Total distance: about 1.0 mile

Family event involving native plants.  Dayton Area Wild Ones will have an informational table.  We will also be making seed bombs with children.

A family event celebrating trees.  Dayton Area Wild Ones will have an informational table and a children's activity involving acorns.

Join Brooke Medlin, co-owner of Meadowsweet Ecological Landscapes, for a Centerville-Washington Park District presentation on planning and designing a garden for wildlife. After the presentation, Brooke and Dayton Area Wild Ones members will answer questions and offer information on planting for wildlife. Each participant will receive a CWPD native seed packet to help them get started!

Ages 14 and up

Registration deadline: Tuesday, April 21

Join award-winning author, photographer, and educator Rick Darke for What Is Wild and Why It Matters, a free national webinar on Tuesday, April 28th at 10 am CT. Discover how inviting a bit of authentic wildness can create a vibrant landscape that sustains you and local biodiversity. This national event is presented in collaboration between Wild Ones and Homegrown National Park.

Join Ohio Division of Natural Areas & Preserves Regional Manager Michelle Comer to explore this mature woodland. It was named in honor of the Davey Tree Expert Company, which provided The Nature Conservancy with half the necessary funding for acquiring the property in 1989. It has numerous large tulip trees, sugar maples, and oaks as well as an excellent array of spring wildflowers. The rolling topography of this site is indicative of glacial moraine deposited after the last glacial event. The preserve totals 103 acres, with about 90 acres of old-growth forest. It was inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network in 2021. This is a moderate walk with hilly terrain. Total distance: about 1.5 miles

Note: There are just 4 or 5 parking spaces available outside of the gate. However, the gate will be open for our guided hike. Enter and drive back on the grassy lane to the parking area in the clearing.

Join DAWO board members and friends for the Dayton Area Wild Ones book club, where we will focus on books (non-fiction and fiction) for nature lovers. Each month we will also learn a bit about a chosen native plant.  

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon! 

Details coming soon!