ONAPA VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Blackhand Gorge State Nature Preserve
Saturday, June 3, 2017 (No Rain Date)
10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (bring a box lunch)
2200 Gratiot Rd SE, Newark
Licking County
The prime feature of this 956-acre preserve is a narrow, east-west gorge cut by the Licking River through the famous Black Hand sandstone formation. It also boasts the only bike trail in Ohio's state nature preserve system; more than 4 miles of bike trail wind through the preserve. The preserve is rich in natural as well as early Ohio history. The name Black Hand, for which the preserve is named, originated from a dark, hand-shaped Indian petroglyph which was engraved on the face of a massive sandstone cliff along the north side of the river. The engraving was destroyed in 1828 when canal builders dynamited the cliff face, during construction of the Ohio-Erie Canal, which runs through the gorge. Sections of the canal towpaths and canal locks may be seen from the trails along the river. The dry hilltops are dominated by oak-hickory mature woods along with Virginia pine and mountain laurel. Yellow birch, cherry birch and eastern hemlock grow on northerly exposures. It is an excellent site for viewing woodland spring wildflowers.
This field training session will be designed for ONAPA volunteers who wish to assist or are already assisting with ONAPA Stewardship Projects and ONAPA Preserve Monitoring. This is designed to be field-oriented as we will be hiking trails to identify native and non-native, invasive plants. Blackhand Gorge SNP also has an abundant variety of invasive plants, so it is a good location to learn many species that we will be controlling on other natural areas in 2017. We will demonstrate some of the control techniques during the training. We will also review the ONAPA Preserve Monitoring Form in the field so that volunteers know the highlights of completing this form when visiting state nature preserves.
Directions: Located in Licking County, 8 miles east of Newark on State Route 16, exit southeast on State Route 146 and proceed 1/4 mile to County Road 273. The preserve's entrance and parking lot are 1.5 miles south on County Road 273, just outside of Toboso.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, work boots, and tick spray or repellent. Water and snacks will be provided.
RSVP: To register, see below. More information will be provided to registered volunteers. Participation will be limited to the first 25 registered volunteers.
This field training session will be designed for ONAPA volunteers who wish to assist or are already assisting with ONAPA Stewardship Projects and ONAPA Preserve Monitoring. This is designed to be field-oriented as we will be hiking trails to identify native and non-native, invasive plants. Blackhand Gorge SNP also has an abundant variety of invasive plants, so it is a good location to learn many species that we will be controlling on other natural areas in 2017. We will demonstrate some of the control techniques during the training. We will also review the ONAPA Preserve Monitoring Form in the field so that volunteers know the highlights of completing this form when visiting state nature preserves.
Directions: Located in Licking County, 8 miles east of Newark on State Route 16, exit southeast on State Route 146 and proceed 1/4 mile to County Road 273. The preserve's entrance and parking lot are 1.5 miles south on County Road 273, just outside of Toboso.
What to bring: Bring lunch, work gloves, work boots, and tick spray or repellent. Water and snacks will be provided.
RSVP: To register, see below. More information will be provided to registered volunteers. Participation will be limited to the first 25 registered volunteers.