MEDINA, Ohio -- It took some determination on a chilly January weekend, but the hunters still managed to bag their prey.
This past weekend (Jan. 18 and 19), the Medina County Park District hosted a Nature Photo Scavenger Hunt at Wolf Creek Environmental Center, 6100 Ridge Road in Sharon Township. Saturday brought about 20 visitors to search for designated items, both inside and outside the center. Sunday’s snow and 13-degree temperature discouraged much outdoor searching, but it was still possible to take photos of enough of the listed items to earn a prize.
The scavenger hunt directions were simple: Take a walk through the park to see what you can find, then take a picture of each item on the list to show a staff member when you are finished. Find and photograph at least 10 of the 16 items.
The list included a funny-shaped stick, signs that an animal was nearby, an interesting cloud, someone walking, snow on the ground, an icicle, an animal home, evidence of a beaver, a turtle, an owl, a place that you can go to read and learn, someone playing in the park or nature center, a place to get warm and cozy on a cold day, an insect home, the color red and a squirrel on a tree.
On Sunday, the entire sky was cloud-covered, so it was impossible to photograph one interesting cloud. But because the center has a large collection of taxidermy, it was possible to photograph a beaver, a turtle, an owl and three flying squirrels on a tree without braving the cold or the icy paved trails.
Still, tracks in the snow on the ground made it clear that a wild turkey had been nearby.
The center offers couches near a fireplace and a library overlooking bird feeders, so guests can always get warm and cozy, and read and learn.
Prizes included stickers, park district decals or small containers of bubbles or slime. The real prize was the opportunity to learn about nature and to get moving on a day that encouraged lazy indoor sluggishness.
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