“During all these years there existed within me a tendency to follow Nature in her walks.” John James Audubon and Ben Forkner. Selected Journals and Other Writings. Penguin Books, 1996. For anyone who has visited the Miami Whitewater Forest visitor center in the past 25 years, a familiar, and sometimes unsettling, face has been there […]

It was snowing at Miami Whitewater Forest Lake three days before the first Bass Series Tournament on Saturday, April 21. It was only 32 degrees when 64 bass anglers launched their boats. Toss in cold and off-colored water, and you have very difficult fishing conditions. All results Most of the field, no doubt, expected the […]

With warm weather right around the corner, it is only natural that people’s thoughts will turn to the outdoors. One of the most enjoyable ways to experience nature is to take a boat out on one of Great Parks’ beautiful lakes. But if you’ve never been in a boat, then heading out on the water […]

If you spend any time outdoors, you have likely noticed some odd residents growing on rocks, sidewalks and tree trunks. With shades of gray, green and blue, growing interspersed with mosses, these organisms are often mistaken for plants. Closer inspection reveals that these residents – lichens – are something unique among living things. So, what […]

Our national symbol, the bald eagle, begins to think spring earlier than some other animals. This is a great time of year to put your eye to the skies for an opportunity to see this bird soaring above. Here are six facts to keep in mind as you keep watch: 1. They’re picky about where […]

Make a list of some of the most endangered animals on the planet and the first that come to mind might be large mammals like tigers, rhinoceroses and gorillas. However, some lowly mollusks should be on the list. Mussels are some of the most endangered animals in not only Ohio, but also the country. Approximately […]

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of the gloomy browns and grays of winter, not to mention the cold and ice that change my daily schedule and tend to keep me indoors. So on a blue sky day, I rejoice! I can’t wait to get outside and take a walk. One of […]

Many of us treat the cold weather as an obstacle. But I’m the opposite. I’ve always believed that it has healing properties. My advice to most winter ailments is, “You need to get outside and breathe some winter air!” Have you heard of white fat and brown fat? There are two types of fat in […]