Nature in November has been generous, providing warm temperatures and sunshine just in time for the Foundation for Geauga Park’s Nov. 7 Explorer Series off-trail hike at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve.
Nature in November has been generous, providing warm temperatures and sunshine just in time for the Foundation for Geauga Park’s Nov. 7 Explorer Series off-trail hike at Burton Wetlands Nature Preserve.
“The outings are a fun way to get outdoors, meet new people and learn more about the natural, historic and cultural beauty of our county and about the work of the foundation,” said Paige Orvis, associate director of FGP.
The series invites people to join each month to explore a different park in Geauga County by boot, bike, paddle or ski.
FGP is an independent philanthropic organization whose goal is to raise funds to support improvements and educational programs in any park in Geauga County, including those belonging to the Geauga Park District, as well as township parks and community parks.
Orvis said they often collaborate with other conservation entities like the GPD, the Western Reserve Land Conservancy or township park boards to amplify their reach and provide special experiences for constituents.
The Burton Wetlands hike took participants to the outskirts of the 22-acre Lake Kelso to view a Great Blue Heron nest colony.
“While the herons were not present, their nests were amazing,” said FGP volunteer John Buda, of South Russell Village.
The graceful wide-wingspan birds migrated earlier to the Chesapeake Bay region.
“We also had the opportunity to see an uncommon four-toed salamander, a small water snake enjoying the warm day, and swans and many types of ducks floating on Lake Kelso,” Buda added. “We learned about larch, shagbark hickory, red and white oak, and beech trees, along with numerous special plants that coexist to make up the rare natural bog ringing the ice-age lake. It was a wonderful experience.”
Popular retired GPD Naturalist Dan Best was one of three hike leaders, with GPD naturalists Dottie Drockton and Renell Roebuck.
“This is an off-season venture, well beyond the breeding season when the nests are occupied,” Best said. “This is the third outing for the Foundation for Geauga Parks that I have co-lead since August. Being very cautious in regards to COVID-19, FGP’s requirements for participation in regards to social distancing and mask wearing have made it possible for me to serve as a co-leader. Having multiple leaders breaks participants into smaller groups that aid social distancing.”
FGP canceled monthly series outings for health and safety in April and May.
“By June, we were all better equipped with protocols for social distancing and wearing face coverings,” Orvis said. “Once we resumed the outings, people were anxious to get out, so we are careful to require face masks and dividing into small pods when we hike. It’s so nice to meet with like-minded people who appreciate our natural treasures.”
Prior to the hike, Chardon’s Chuck and Carol Tuttle stood at the entrance to the park’s trail on Old Rider Road, soaking in the warmth from the sun.
“We enjoyed being able to walk through woods off trail with a naturalist and with other people who enjoy nature and were socially distanced,” Carol said, following the hike. “The combination of learning, getting exercise and a big dose of nature made for a great experience. We had been to see Lake Kelso once a few years ago, just to walk out on the dock. We had never hiked in the Burton Wetlands Park.”
The Tuttles saw mature beech, oak and maple trees, enjoying the sounds of dry leaves crunching beneath their shoes as they walked.
“We also enjoyed seeing the larch trees that had turned a vibrant yellow before dropping their needles,” Carol said.
Best said Burton Wetlands, along with adjacent preserves, protect a landscape born of the Ice Age, including such glacial features as sand and gravel knolls called kames and the wetland depressions found among the kames called kettles.
“As relatively rare natural features for Ohio as a whole, the glacial wetlands in particular have a ‘northern’ bog character that harbors some of the state’s rarest flora and, in turn, habitat-specific rare insect, reptile, amphibian, bird and mammal fauna, making this multi-component glacial wetland complex enormously valuable from an ecological and scientific standpoint,” Best added.
He explained the landscape is also a major groundwater recharge area that feeds the aquifer of the Upper Cuyahoga River region.
Geauga County is over 90% dependent on groundwater for water supply and the Cuyahoga River is the conduit for the City off Akron’s water supply, he said.
“Akron’s landholdings in the Cuyahoga watershed, while remaining undeveloped, add another element of land protection serving as buffers complementing the various preserves,” Best said.
Buda, who began volunteering in 2018, said he believes all of the parks in Geauga County are a wonderful treasure of nature.
“I wanted to give back,” Buda said. “All of the parks provide a natural setting and an opportunity to get away from the commercial world unmatched in other counties. They are something Geauga County should truly value.”
Orvis added, “Like every other nonprofit and business, we are creating new ways of doing things. Fundraising for parks is our business, so since we had to cancel our annual Twilight Soiree event in August, we created some new ways to engage people.
Dec. 1, we’ll hold our first-ever ‘Treasure our Parks’ virtual silent auction.”
Auction items will be available to browse beginning Nov. 23. Virtual bidding runs for six days kicking off “Giving Tuesday.”
