Christmas at Shawnee Prairie Preserve

GREENVILLE — The nature center at Shawnee Prairie Preserve has been buzzing with holiday excitement over the past few weeks.

Several groups visited the last part of November to decorate the trees that are scattered throughout the center. Several organizations decorated trees including the Jingle Belles, Fort Greenville Chapter DAR, DC Birders Club, Skein Gang, Greenville Art Guild, Horse and Rider 4-H Club, St. Mary’s Catholic School, West Central Ohio Gourd Patch and various volunteers.

Volunteers have also been at work prepping the gift shop, which has now been reopened to the public.

Some new items in the gift shop include DCP camp mugs, bird- friendly shade-grown coffee, reusable shopping bags and metal straws. There’s still a limited supply of maple syrup available from this past spring.

Patrons looking for a unique gift for the nature lover in their lives can come check out the jewelry, toys, T-shirts and other nature-themed gifts available. The gift shop is managed by volunteers and Friends of the Darke County Parks and all proceeds go to the Friends of the Parks.

Gift Shop hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Patrons are also encouraged to register for this weekend and enjoy DCP’s first Winter Wonderland Auto Tour.

This year, Winter Wonderland will be a COVID-safe auto tour at Shawnee Prairie Preserve. While the luminary walk through the woods will be missed, this year’s event will be a wonderful alternative for 2020.

Instead of only three hours on one evening, the Winter Wonderland will be offered from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Each night, staff will be passing out a take- home craft kit to the first 65 children.

To register for this free event visit DarkeCountyParks.org/News or call 937-548- 0165.