The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Youngsters create ornaments, memories at nature center
Almost reflexively the kids began singing, “Do You Want to Build a Snowman.”
It was one of the make-yourown ornament options Dec. 23 at the West Woods Nature Center in Russell Township.
Other ornament options were Santa, angels, pine cones and reindeer. Participants could pick and choose which ornaments they wanted to create, or create all five if they wanted.
Instructions and samples were placed on the table. The ornaments incorporated natural elements in their design. The Santa for example used a milkweed pod for the face and milkweed silk for his beard.
The Nature’s Ornaments program is one that the Geauga Park District has held periodically over the years, naturalist Karie Wheaton said.
“It’s a fun activity close to the holiday,” she said.
The event is as popular as it’s ever been, with the full 50 person registration limit reached. Wheaton said they had a lot of families register together. Parents and grandparents helped the young ones as they made decorations to be added to their trees.
Megan Master, 10, of Bainbridge Township, said she created ornaments at West Woods a few years ago and wanted to see what options they were offering this year. Plus, she said, she wanted to feed the birds.
As she was making her ornaments, she said she wasn’t sure if they would all be for her Christmas tree or if some of them will be gifts.
Though instructions were included at each station, the participants were encouraged to put their own personal touches on the ornament.
“Everyone’s should look different,” Wheaton told one participant. “That’s creativity, right?”