Celebrate Earth Day 2017 with a “Spring Into Wildflowers” event at Cowan Lake State Park Saturday, April 22.
Free guided wildflower hikes are from 9 a.m. to noon are just one of the featured activities, along with a free photography workshop beginning at 9 a.m. Both the guided wildflower hikes and the wildflower photography workshop are free.
Two other activities — an acrylic painting workshop, and a nature journaling and watercolor workshop — will be held with a nominal fee of $10 per person to cover the cost of supplies. The wildflower acrylic painting workshop begins at 10 a.m., while the journaling and watercolor workshop begins at 11 a.m.
All activities begin at the Naturalist Cabin at the state park campgrounds.
This Earth Day activity is a kick-off event for a new non-profit group dedicated to the promotion and betterment of Cowan Lake State Park.
It is free to join Friends Caring for Cowan (FCC), a non-profit organization representing various users of the lake and the surrounding state park.
“Paddle sport enthusiasts, bird watchers, fishermen, sailors, hunters, local residents, hikers and others who care about Cowan Lake and the park should join,” said Dave Rosekrans, president of the newly-formed group. “By bringing the various user groups together, we will have a stronger voice, collectively, to support the park both locally and at the state level.”
To join Friends Caring for Cowan, go to www.cowanlakestatepark.com or search on Facebook for Friends Caring for Cowan Lake. Your free membership includes a newsletter with Cowan Lake events and volunteer opportunities.
In addition to this Earth Day event, Friends Caring for Cowan is sponsoring an Evening Paddle event on May 12, Paddle Palooza on June 18, the Full Moon Canoe event on July 8, and a Cast Iron Cookout on Nov. 4.
Friends Caring for Cowan is also partnering with ODNR to host its signature event at the park, Cowan Lake Fest, to be held on July 22-23rd.
One of the group’s first projects is to support a planned paddle sports launch area.
FCC’s mission, “to preserve and enhance the natural resources of the park,” will be accomplished through supporting park projects, holding events to educate the public about the park and activities, and advocating for the park.
“Cowan Lake is a peaceful, scenic gem in southwest Ohio and we want to pull people together who are enthusiastic and passionate about keeping what we have and enhancing the park’s facilities,” Rosekrans said.
