Ohio Prairie Conference July 12 & 13

Ohio Prairie Conference
July 12 and 13, 2013
Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park
Columbus, Ohio 

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks will host the 2013 Ohio Prairie Conference in the Nature Center at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. The 14,000 square-foot nature center features a 50-foot-long Living Stream and many interactive displays. 

Metro Parks has restored more than 1,500 acres of native Darby Plains Prairies at Battelle Darby Creek and Prairie Oaks Metro Parks. In 2011, in partnership with The Wilds, Metro Parks introduced six bison to restored prairies at Battelle Darby Creek. 

The conference will include talks on Friday evening and Saturday morning. Field trip options on Saturday include trips to restored prairies in Metro Parks, and at the Pearl King prairie savanna, and Bigelow and Smith Cemetery prairies. Alternatively, you can choose a bike ride along the Ohio To Erie Trail prairies of Madison and Clark County, or a stream study in Big Darby Creek, a Federal and State Scenic River.

 Attendance at the conference will be $35 per person (age 13 and older); $25 age 12 and under and includes conference materials, Friday evening snacks, Saturday morning bagels and donuts and a box lunch for the field trips.

Naturalists will offer an interpretive program for kids age 12 and under during the Saturday morning presentations.

Agenda, maps and directions, hotel information at http://www.metroparks.net/OhioPrairieConference_2013.aspx.

Places at the conference are limited, so please register early.  To register call 614.508.8111.