The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Metro park scavenger hunt thrives despite chilly weather
Youngsters patrolled the Vermilion River Reservation, 51211 North Ridge Road in Vermilion, for pine cones, animal tracks, birds and more Dec. 17 during a Scavenger Hunt Extravaganza put on by the Lorain County Metro Parks.
Participants took photo evidence of at least eight of 14 objects and images in nature and revealed their favorite photo for roasted marshmallows over a fire and hot cocoa after their hunt.
Jannah Wilson, senior naturalist at the River Reservation, said a sledding extravaganza originally was planned but the event was tweaked no snow.
“We do have our sledding hill, so this is a popular feature during the winter months, especially when we have snow,” Wilson said. “With it being winter break, we kind of had out fingers crossed that we’d have snow.”
A newly renovated restroom and concession stand area provided the perfect place for the event, she said.
“It kinda works as a little starting point for programs like this just to get people outside and somewhere for people to meet,” Wilson said, adding that the event is “a fun family activity and something they can do together.”
One of the four families that participated in the first hour of the scavenger hunt, was Melanie Tennant, of Amherst, who brought her two daughters Maia, 9 and Maddy, 14, her six-month-old son Conor and her niece Alexa Freeman, 11, of Lorain.
“We figured we’d get out of the house today, and it wasn’t a bad day,” said Tennant, 37.
She said her family comes to the River Reservation often to go on hikes and they’ve frequented events in the past.
“There’s a lot of different things they can do,” Tennant said. “They’ve got different trails, but then they can go off the trails over here by the ponds.”
All three youngster agreed that the event was fun.
“I would have tried to find everything if I could,” Maddy said.