Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District

Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Park District A system of natural areas designed to enhance the quality of life of the citizens of Allen County, OH

Ohio has exactly ONE native marsupial…and you’ve probably seen one waddling through your neighborhood after dark! Meet t...
09/12/2026

Ohio has exactly ONE native marsupial…and you’ve probably seen one waddling through your neighborhood after dark!

Meet the Virginia opossum!

Even more impressive? Opossums are the only marsupial native to all of North America.

So, what exactly makes an animal a marsupial? Babies are born extremely early in their development and continue growing inside their mother’s pouch. And when we say early, we mean it; an opossum’s pregnancy lasts only about 13 days! 🤯

After birth, those tiny babies make their way to Mom’s pouch, where they’ll continue developing until they’re ready for the outside world.

Just another reason this sometimes misunderstood Ohio neighbor is a whole lot more fascinating than you might think.

The next time you spot an opossum, remember, you’re looking at North America’s one-of-a-kind marsupial!

🌿 Did you already know this one, or did we surprise you?

09/12/2026

This mornings Walking Through Autumn is canceled due to weather. We will keep you updated if it is to be rescheduled.

🍄 A new adventure just popped up on our calendar!Join us for a special Author Adventure: More Than a Mushroom Hunt with ...
09/11/2026

🍄 A new adventure just popped up on our calendar!

Join us for a special Author Adventure: More Than a Mushroom Hunt with local author Tonalee Shinaberry-King!

Kids and families are invited to explore the wonders hiding throughout the woods as storytelling and sensory exploration come together for a morning filled with discovery. 🌳

Along the way, we’ll explore mushrooms, forest life, and the natural world while encouraging young explorers to look closer, ask questions, and build an even deeper connection with nature.

📝 Registration required by September 21 >> https://reservations.jampd.com/programs/

If you have a curious kiddo who loves books, nature, or both, this is one pop-up adventure you won’t want to miss!

09/10/2026

Marie was exploring the Agerter Road River Access when she spotted someone soaking up a little sunshine, a beautiful Painted Turtle! 🎨🐢

And this turtle has more than just good looks going for it.

Listen in as Marie shows us what makes Painted Turtles so distinctive, how they clean themselves up when they get a little too covered in nature, and how those same clever cleaning habits can even help protect them from parasites.

Pretty AND smart? We shouldn’t be surprised. Marie has been telling us how clever turtles are! 😉

Sometimes all it takes is slowing down and looking around to discover something amazing right in front of you.

So take Marie’s advice… you never know what might be waiting along the river when you GET OUTSIDE!☀️

Have you spotted a Painted Turtle sunbathing before?

Chief Ranger Ben Altenbach celebrated his birthday on September 2, and while we may have let the actual date sneak past ...
09/09/2026

Chief Ranger Ben Altenbach celebrated his birthday on September 2, and while we may have let the actual date sneak past us 😅, we’re making up for it today!

Ben’s connection to the Park District goes back to 2007, and his path eventually brought him back as Chief Ranger. His reason for choosing this career has always been pretty simple: a love of the outdoors and a desire to help people.

Today, that’s still at the heart of what he does: leading our Ranger team, helping keep our parks safe and welcoming, and spending as much time as he can out patrolling parks, walking trails, and talking with visitors.

We’re grateful for Ben’s leadership, dedication, and all he does for the Park District and the people who enjoy our parks.

So, even if we’re officially one week late to the party…please help us make up for it by wishing Chief Ranger Ben Altenbach a VERY Happy Belated Birthday! 🎂

And Ben, we promise the birthday wishes aren’t late; they just took the scenic trail getting here. 😉

📚 5th Grade Teachers: Take Your Ecosystem Lessons OUTSIDE!What if your students could step out of the classroom and dire...
09/08/2026

📚 5th Grade Teachers: Take Your Ecosystem Lessons OUTSIDE!

What if your students could step out of the classroom and directly into the ecosystem they're learning about?

This October, JAMPD's Ecosystem Interactions field trip invites 5th-grade students to spend the day exploring the forest at the McElroy Environmental Education Center while discovering how energy moves through a healthy ecosystem.

☀️ Where does the energy begin?
🌱 How is it transformed?
🐛 How does it move between organisms?
🍄 And how is it eventually recycled?

Our Naturalists bring those concepts to life through interdisciplinary, curriculum-based activities designed to get students learning, exploring, observing, and making connections in the environment around them.

Registration is NOW OPEN, and dates are available on a first-come, first-served basis. 📞 Educators can call 419-221-1232 to register their class.

Because sometimes the best way to understand an ecosystem…is to step right into one. 🌳

What does it really mean to get back to nature?This week's reading of A Sand County Almanac takes us from Manitoba into ...
09/08/2026

What does it really mean to get back to nature?

This week's reading of A Sand County Almanac takes us from Manitoba into Leopold's Conservation Esthetic and asks us to think a little deeper about how we experience the outdoors.

Leopold identifies several ways people seek recreation in nature:
🎣 Gathering something from the experience, whether hunting, fishing, or even taking photographs
🌲 Finding solitude
🌬️ Enjoying fresh air and a change of scenery
👀 Learning to truly see and understand nature
🌱 Caring for and managing the land

But perhaps the most thought-provoking takeaway from our Naturalist's notes is this:
What if the best outdoor experiences aren't about changing the land at all, but allowing the land to change us?

The more time we spend outside, the more we begin to notice. The more we notice, the more we understand. And the more we understand, the more reasons we find to care for the wild places around us.

There was even a new nature word tucked into this week's reading:
🦢 A flotilla can describe a group of swans gathered together on the water!

Take a look through this week's Naturalist notes, then tell us:
What brings YOU back to nature, adventure, solitude, fresh air, curiosity, stewardship…or a little bit of everything?

September brings a different feeling to the parks.The evenings come a little earlier. The breeze feels a little cooler. ...
09/07/2026

September brings a different feeling to the parks.

The evenings come a little earlier. The breeze feels a little cooler. And if you look closely enough, nature begins leaving tiny clues that change is on the way.

🍂What's the first sign of fall YOU always notice?

If some of your feathered friends are looking a little…ruffled lately, there’s a good reason! Late summer and early fall...
09/05/2026

If some of your feathered friends are looking a little…ruffled lately, there’s a good reason!

Late summer and early fall are molting season for many birds.

With breeding season wrapping up and food still plentiful, this is an ideal time for birds to replace feathers that have become worn or damaged throughout the year. And growing an entirely new set of feathers takes a lot of energy, which means plenty of food is especially important right now.

Those fresh feathers also have a BIG job ahead:
🪶 Migrating birds need strong, healthy feathers for the long journey ahead.
❄️ Birds staying with us through winter rely on their feathers for insulation when Ohio temperatures start to drop.

It’s one more example of how wildlife begins preparing for the next season long before we may notice it ourselves. 🍂

The next time you GET OUTSIDE, take a closer look at the birds around you. You just might spot one in the middle of its seasonal wardrobe change! 🐦

🌳 The lesson hits differently when you're standing inside the habitat you're learning about.Throughout September, first ...
09/05/2026

🌳 The lesson hits differently when you're standing inside the habitat you're learning about.

Throughout September, first graders are joining Johnny Appleseed Naturalists at Hermon Woodlands Metro Park to explore the basic needs of Allen County animals.

Instead of only reading about habitats, students get to observe, explore, describe, and compare them firsthand.

Food. Water. Shelter. Space.

Together, those needs help explain why animals live where they do, and what makes healthy habitat so important.

This is what nature education can look like when we take learning outside.

Here's to growing the next generation of curious explorers and conservationists.

Address

1682 Slabtown Road
Lima, OH
45801

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+14192211232

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