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Campers explore Mill Creek’s history
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Mill Creek MetroPark sponsored a Park Explorers summer camp July 7 and 8 for students entering fourth and fifth-grade. The camp explored the history of Mill Creek, including historical landmarks and Ohio's first settlers.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Park Explorers from Boardman, Canfield, Austintown and Hubbard took a lunch break June 7 at the Old Log Cabin along Lake Glacier. The cabin, built in 1814, is the second oldest building in the Mahoning Valley.
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Neighbors | Shaiyla Hakeem .Naturalist Bob Coggeshall (left) led Park Explorers on a wild flower scavenger hunt through the fields of Mill Creek MetroPark. They had to find flowers that were used by Ohio settlers for medicine and first aid.
By SHAIYLA HAKEEM
School books were not required for the hands-on history lessons that were taught at Mill Creek MetroPark’s summer adventure camp.
The Ford Nature Center hosted Park Explorers June 7-8 for students entering the fourth and fifth grades.
MetroPark’s Bob Coggeshall was one of the naturalist working with the students during the camp. His goal was to enlighten the campers on the challenges that Ohio’s pioneers faced while introducing them to the historical value of the park.
Many of the campers participated in other adventure camps prior to Park Explorers. This was the third year Beverly Sipp, of Canfield, has participated in the park’s camps. She keeps coming back because she enjoys the exercise of the hikes, the park’s natural beauty and the history lessons.
“I have learned a lot about historic places,” Sipp said. “We’ll will be learning about the Old Log Cabin soon and I’m really excited.
Games were used as a fun way teach kids about wildflowers and how important they were for early Ohio pioneers. A scavenger hunt made campers focus on what wildflowers look like and the medical purposes they were used for.
“Dandelions were used to treat indigestion,” Coggeshall said. “Early settlers didn’t have the type of medicine we have today.”
The Ford Nature Center hosts adventure camps throughout the summer. The sessions are age specific and deal with topics appropriate for that grade level. The next camp, Kinder Kritters, will be for students entering kindergarten. It begins Aug. 4 and ends Aug. 5. For information, contact the Ford Nature Center at 330-740-7107.