OCVN Program

Let's start by explaining just what the OCVN program is...
"The mission of the OCVN program is to promote awareness and citizen stewardship of Ohio's natural resources through science-based education and community service."
Two of the most fun weeks filled to the brim with both in class learning mixed with in field observation and application. Our fantastic instructor Carrie would lead each class and have guest speakers in to speak about very specific topics. All through the program you also get to meet and know all the other amazing students, with vastly different backgrounds who are all together for the love of the outdoors! 
I don't know if I can pick a favorite moment, there were too many (although wading through the Killbuck Marsh was a whole new fun experience!). 

The OCVN program is a research-based education program of The Ohio State University offered in partnership with several host locations, such as, park districts and various environmental organizations. 
The closest program to us was at the Wilderness Center in Wilmot - and I highly recommend this one as Carrie, the instructor, is a great teacher and an awesome human being! 
You can learn more about the OCVN program through the Wilderness Center HERE
​Or you can find the program being held in other places in Ohio HERE

We had wanted to take this program last year but it just didn't jive with our schedules, so this year I made sure we were signed up just as soon as the course was being offered! I took this course for many different reasons, obviously to expand my knowledge of the natural world, but also to learn how to better engage with others via nature walks & talks - if you've read this blog you know I'm huge on encouraging volunteering and getting people involved, now taking it a step further - volunteering with the proper resources to create an informative but fun nature program. I've learned this and so much more during these past two weeks.  It was invigorating to learn and grow in so many new ways.