2025 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER STEWARDSHIP PROJECT SCHEDULE
We will include a short field trip on each project to see some of the preserve we are working at. When registering to volunteer, please allow at least 24 hours prior to the project as weather may impact conditions and we make every effort to inform our volunteers of changes.
Questions: Contact us HERE.
Registration: Please let us know you are joining us and sign up using the 2025 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER STEWARDSHIP PROJECT FORM.
Volunteer Forms: If you are joining us for volunteer stewardship training or for one or more stewardship projects, please complete our Volunteer forms found HERE.
Volunteer Hours: At the completion of a project, please enter your time (Including travel time to and from the site) HERE.
Registration: Please let us know you are joining us and sign up using the 2025 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER STEWARDSHIP PROJECT FORM.
Volunteer Forms: If you are joining us for volunteer stewardship training or for one or more stewardship projects, please complete our Volunteer forms found HERE.
Volunteer Hours: At the completion of a project, please enter your time (Including travel time to and from the site) HERE.
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Hike in the Forest at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve
Hike in the Forest at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve
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10:30 am – 3:30 pm 1703 Lake Katharine Road, Jackson Jackson County Lake Katharine is a magnificent forested nature preserve of over 2,000 acres in Jackson County. It has a beautiful lake and over 6 miles of hiking trails, surrounded by spring wildflowers and many rare plants, including the bigleaf magnolia. This is a hike for stewardship assistants and volunteers- no project work today! Directions: Meet at the main parking lot near the maintenance building. The parking lot can be |
reached by taking State Street west out of Jackson about 2 miles, then turning right on County Road 85 (Lake Katharine Road) and proceeding 2 miles to the main parking lot.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots. RSVP: To attend, please CONTACT US to register. If you have questions, please contact the Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. |
Photo by Ian Adams
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Thursday, November 6, 2025
Invasive Woody Species Control at Cedar Bog State Nature Preserve 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 980 Woodburn Road, Urbana Champaign County Cedar Bog has been referred to as "The Crown Jewel of Natural Areas in Ohio." While there are many crown jewel nature preserves in Ohio, this special wetland preserve is located in southern Champaign County in the Mad River Valley between the Farmersville and Springfield moraines. The moraines were left behind when the Wisconsin Glaciers receded 10,000-15,000 years ago. Cedar Bog is actually a fen (not a bog), with a constant source of alkaline water flowing through it. Cedar Bog has the highest biodiversity index of any preserve in the state and is home to many rare, threatened and endangered plant and animal species. ONAPA volunteers will be helping DNAP and the Cedar Bog Association remove woody and invasive species in the fen |
meadows. The stems will be cut, treated with herbicide and the woody stems removed.
Directions: Cedar Bog is located off of US Route 68 at 980 Woodburn Road, about 3 miles south of Urbana and 1 mile north of the Clark/Champaign County line.
What to bring: Water, lunch, sunscreen, insect repellant, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by trained OHC staff or trained ONAPA stewardship assistants. ONAPA will provide tools.
What to Bring: Bring lunch, water and gloves. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: Cedar Bog is located off of US Route 68 at 980 Woodburn Road, about 3 miles south of Urbana and 1 mile north of the Clark/Champaign County line.
What to bring: Water, lunch, sunscreen, insect repellant, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by trained OHC staff or trained ONAPA stewardship assistants. ONAPA will provide tools.
What to Bring: Bring lunch, water and gloves. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA volunteers.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Tuesday, November 11, 2025
Woody Species Control at Killbuck Marsh Wildlife Area 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
County Road 320 (Holmes County) This 5,671-acre wildlife area is situated in northeastern Ohio in portions of Wayne and Holmes counties. The area extends north from Holmesville to three miles south of Wooster, and lies |
between State Route 83 on the east and State Route 226 on the west. The area is in a shallow, U-shaped glacial outwash valley. Approximately half of the wildlife area consists of marsh and swamp that is flooded during some portion of the year. This wetland complex is Ohio’s largest remaining marshland outside of the Lake Erie region.
We will be cutting woody species, primarily dogwood, alder, and willow, hauling brush out of the Holmesville sedge meadow. Treating the cut stems with herbicide will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. ONAPA will provide loppers and handsaws.
Directions: We will park at the Holmesville Conservation Club, 221 Franklin Street (CR 320).
What to bring: Lunch, water, muck or rubber boots, gloves.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
We will be cutting woody species, primarily dogwood, alder, and willow, hauling brush out of the Holmesville sedge meadow. Treating the cut stems with herbicide will be done by DOW staff or trained ONAPA volunteers. ONAPA will provide loppers and handsaws.
Directions: We will park at the Holmesville Conservation Club, 221 Franklin Street (CR 320).
What to bring: Lunch, water, muck or rubber boots, gloves.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Tuesday, November 18, 2025-(Rescheduled from October) Control of Woody Species at Myersville Fen State Nature Preserve 10:30 am – 3:30 pm Myersville Road, Green Summit County Myersville Fen is a small, 27-acre wetland area owned by the City of Green that contains two small fen meadows. It is one of only two fens in Ohio containing the naturally occurring, state-listed pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea). Surrounded by a housing development and besieged by invasive plants from the residences, Myersville Fen is truly an island of unique plants under constant threat and in need of persistent stewardship. |
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We will be removing woody species such as glossy buckhorn, alders, and other invading woody species which are encroaching upon the north fen meadow. We will be cutting the stems and treating them with herbicide, as well as hauling the stems out of the meadows.
Directions: Two miles west of Interstate 77, take State Route 241 to State Route 619 west, then on to Myersville Road. From Myersville Road, you turn onto Crows Nest Circle, then left onto Fen Way Court and park at the end of the road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA stewardship assistants. Tools will be provided.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: Two miles west of Interstate 77, take State Route 241 to State Route 619 west, then on to Myersville Road. From Myersville Road, you turn onto Crows Nest Circle, then left onto Fen Way Court and park at the end of the road.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, gloves, and muck boots. Herbicide treatment will be done by DNAP staff or trained ONAPA stewardship assistants. Tools will be provided.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Thursday, November 20, 2025
Woody Species Control at Travertine Fen 10:30 am - 3:30 pm SR 725, Spring Valley Greene County Travertine Fen contains a high-quality prairie fen with numerous rare species. The preserve is owned and managed by Greene County Parks and Trails. An access permit from Greene County Parks and Trails is required to visit the preserve. This 21-acre site is located northeast of the Little Miami Scenic Bikeway, just beyond the Bellbrook Avenue Bridge. It is a protected wetland fed by springs and is home to many rare species. This state nature preserve has had little management in |
the fen meadows for many years. ONAPA has offered to work with DNAP to restore the fen meadows which are overrun with woody species and cattails. On this first stewardship project, we will be working in one of the fen meadows to cut and treat woody species, pushing back the woody species around the fen meadow core.
Directions: We will be parking along on the southwest side of Bellbrook Avenue, near the bike trail and auto body shop at 200 Bellbrook Ave. We will walk back along the bike trail to access the preserve and fen meadows.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA will provide tools and herbicide and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: We will be parking along on the southwest side of Bellbrook Avenue, near the bike trail and auto body shop at 200 Bellbrook Ave. We will walk back along the bike trail to access the preserve and fen meadows.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA will provide tools and herbicide and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Tuesday, December 2, 2025 - (Rescheduled from October)
Woody Species Removal at Erie Sand Barrens State Nature Preserve 10:30 am – 3:30 pm Taylor Rd, Sandusky Erie County Erie Sand Barrens is situated in the sandy beach ridges of glacial Lake Warren, a predecessor to modern Lake Erie. Because of past intensive agricultural activities, the flora of this preserve is not very diverse. Nevertheless, many state-listed species still remain. The sandy soil of the preserve is well-drained and plants which survive here are adapted to its dry conditions. On the highest, driest ridges and knolls, prairie plants including green milkweed, partridge-pea and sand panic grass thrive. Wet depressions between the rises hold wet sedge meadow communities where plants more commonly found along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts occur. These include lance-leaved violet, Virginia meadow-beauty, twisted yellow-eyed grass and least St. John's-wort. We will removing woody species in the barren areas of the preserve where rare plants occur such as the Virginia meadow-beauty, lance-leaved violet, and twisted yellow-eyed grass. DNAP staff or trained ONAPA stewardship assistants will conduct herbicide application to the cut stems. |
Directions: Located in Erie County, the preserve is easily accessed from SR 4. Proceed east on Mason Road, and take Taylor Road to the left. The preserve is located on the right side of the road with a small parking lot and sign.
What to bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, and gloves. RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE. |
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Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Woody Species Control at Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve 10:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 2381 State Route 343, Yellow Springs Greene County This 268-acre preserve protects one of the most spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges in the state. Registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1968, Clifton Gorge encompasses a 2-mile stretch of the Little Miami State & National Scenic River, just east of John Bryan State Park. The gorge protects one of the best examples of post-glacial and inter-glacial canyon cutting. The Silurian limestone and dolomite bedrock supports an abundance of plant life, including at least 347 species of wildflowers and 105 species of trees and shrubs. The cool north-facing slopes provide much needed moist, shady habitat for northern relics such as hemlock, Canada yew, arborvitae, red baneberry and mountain maple.
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This stewardship project will focus on removal of invasive woody species. We will be working on the south side of the preserve which is the Scientific side and usually requires an access permit to visit. Hiking on the Scientific side of the preserve may be difficult as there are no trails and it is very rocky, including some mild climbing down rocks to reach some areas.
Directions: Park at the main Clifton Gorge parking lot, just west of Clifton on State Route 343.
What to Bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, insect repellant and gloves.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: Park at the main Clifton Gorge parking lot, just west of Clifton on State Route 343.
What to Bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, insect repellant and gloves.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Big bluestem --
Photo by Guy Denny
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Thursday, December 11, 2025
Woody species control at Resthaven Wildlife Area 10:30 am – 3:30 pm Castalia - directions provided to registrants Erie County A 2,218-acre state wildlife area located one mile north of Castalia. The property is in Erie and Sandusky counties. The grassland is home to a variety of native plants characteristic of prairie ecosystems.
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What to Bring: Lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves. We will be working in a small prairie opening off Oxbow Road.
Directions: Those who register for this project will be emailed directions on where to meet before the day of the project.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Directions: Those who register for this project will be emailed directions on where to meet before the day of the project.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
Woody Species Control at Daughmer Savanna State Nature Preserve
Woody Species Control at Daughmer Savanna State Nature Preserve
10:00 am – 3:00 pm
786 Marion-Melmore Road, Bucyrus
Crawford County
Daughmer Prairie Savannah is one of the finest prairie savannas in the country. It is a state nature preserve managed by Crawford Park District. The prairie has been grazed, but never farmed. Ever since ODNR purchased the site in 2011 and the sheep were removed, a number of invasive species have appeared. We will be cutting and treating woody species.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot located at 786 Marion-Melmore Road, one mile north of State Route 294, in Crawford County about 9 miles southwest of Bucyrus.
What to bring: Water, lunch, sunscreen, insect repellant, gloves, and muck boots. Tools will be furnished but you may bring your own.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
786 Marion-Melmore Road, Bucyrus
Crawford County
Daughmer Prairie Savannah is one of the finest prairie savannas in the country. It is a state nature preserve managed by Crawford Park District. The prairie has been grazed, but never farmed. Ever since ODNR purchased the site in 2011 and the sheep were removed, a number of invasive species have appeared. We will be cutting and treating woody species.
Directions: Meet at the parking lot located at 786 Marion-Melmore Road, one mile north of State Route 294, in Crawford County about 9 miles southwest of Bucyrus.
What to bring: Water, lunch, sunscreen, insect repellant, gloves, and muck boots. Tools will be furnished but you may bring your own.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
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Thursday, December 18, 2025
Woody species control at Honey Run Highlands Park, Knox County Park District 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
10865 Hazel Dell Road, Howard Knox County |
The state-endangered Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a small woodpecker, utilizes wooded habitat in the park for foraging and shelter. Granite boulders carried by Ohio’s last ice age 100,000 years ago dot the landscape. Small streams that comprise the headwaters of Wolf Run, which flows to the Kokosing River, grace the landscape.
We will be assisting the Knox County Park District to control woody species invading grassland units which have been burned recently (ONAPA helps the park district with prescribed burning). We will be cutting and treating invasive woody species in one of the prairie areas.
DIRECTIONS: We will start by meeting at the waterfall parking area at 10865 Hazel Dell Road, Howard.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA and the Park district will provide tools and herbicide and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.
We will be assisting the Knox County Park District to control woody species invading grassland units which have been burned recently (ONAPA helps the park district with prescribed burning). We will be cutting and treating invasive woody species in one of the prairie areas.
DIRECTIONS: We will start by meeting at the waterfall parking area at 10865 Hazel Dell Road, Howard.
What to bring: Bring lunch, water, hiking boots, gloves, and hand tools such as hand saws and loppers (if you wish). ONAPA and the Park district will provide tools and herbicide and conduct herbicide application.
RSVP: Please REGISTER HERE. Online registration is important for our planning. If you have questions, please contact The Ohio Natural Areas and Preserves Association HERE.