Things to do in The Oak Openings Activities in the Oak Openings such as volunteer work days at Kitty Todd, Hikes and educational programs by the Toledo Naturalists and of course many activities at the Metroparks are listed under Community Involvement.

The Green Ribbon Initiative is a grass-roots effort to save the Oak Openings Region -- a natural community as rare and significant as the rainforest. This globally distinct ecosystem has been designated by The Nature Conservancy, a renowned conservation organization, as "One of the 200 Last Great Places on Earth."

Sadly, this habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate as natural areas within the region are destroyed by urban sprawl. Of the 832,983 acres in the Oak Openings region, ecologists have identified 6,000 acres of high-quality greenspace running like a ribbon through the area. We hope to protect this habitat by creating a biological and recreational corridor of preserved land -- a "green ribbon" of natural beauty, rare plant and animal species, and quality recreation opportunities stretching across Northwest Ohio and Southeastern Michigan.

Thursday May 17
Savanna Saunter and Stewardship
ODNR Mielke Road Savanna, Denise Gehring
Kick off Blue Weekend with Naturalist Denise Gehring on an exploration of one our area's best sand barren and oak savanna. Floral highlights include some Ohio's rare plants: lupine, puccoon, sweet fern, mountain phlox and dwarf dandelion. We may encounter the federally endangered Karner Blue Butterfly on its first flight after overwintering in the savanna. Following the walk, there will be an opportunity to work on invasive species identification and removal so please bring: work gloves, drinking water, 1-2 big trash bags, and shovel or trowel. Wear long pants and closed shoes. Binoculars for butterflies recommended! RSVP by May 14 (denise_gehring@yahoo.com). Map and site info will be emailed to you. Limit: 18. At 6:30 pm, we will caravan or car-pool from Westside Montessori Middle School, 7115 W.Bancroft St.

Friday May 18
Blue Weekend Kickoff BBQ Dinner and Keynote Speaker
Join us for a variety of activities, a tasty dinner and Keynote Speaker Tony Reznicek, botanist and curator of the University of Michigan Herbarium, at the Visitation Barn on the IHM Sisters' Campus in Monroe, Michigan, a property in the northern range of the Oak Openings Region.
Tickets are $10 per person which can be paid at the door, reservations must be made by contacting Cheryl Rice at 419.893.1966, or by email at Cheryl.Rice@oh.usda.gov

Carpooling available from Olander Park, call Erika Buri at 419.467.6261 or email at eburi@olanderpark.com for information.

6 p.m. The Blue Nuns Go Green DVD
Visitation Barn
View this short video featuring the sisters' vision of sustainability as a spiritual mandate and the story of the LEED certified renovation of their 376,000-square-foot Motherhouse.

6 p.m. to 7 p.m. IHM Campus Self-Guided Tours
Explore the rich, contemplative landscape that connects us physically, spiritually and emotionally to this place. The self-guided map identifies 17 significant areas on campus, including the oak savanna. Click here to download tour.

Nature Stations
Choose from a collection of nature sites, or “stations”, that attempt to link us to the universe story, the Earth Story, our Christian belief story and our personal stories. Each station offers input, reflection questions and simple rituals for this meditative walk.

Labyrinth
Experience this path for prayer. Enter onto a single path to the center and return following the same path out. The IHM labyrinth is a circle divided in thirds, borrowing from the Christian tradition of the Trinity.

Time to Sow
Reflect on themes regarding sustainability and contemplate the related questions in one of the many issues of this quarterly publication on the spirituality of sustainability.

6:30 p.m. Oak Woodland Tour
IHM Sisters Campus, Danielle Conroyd IHM
Danielle will provide a brief tour the IHM Campus Oak Woodland. Wear appropriate shoes.

7 p.m. Chicken BBQ Dinner
Welcome, Lindsey Reinarz

7:30 p.m. Keynote: The Oak Openings flora and modern systematic biology
Tony Reznicek, Assistant Director, University of Michigan Herbarium

Saturday, May 19:

All Day:
Native Plant Sale, Kitty Todd Preseve, Naturally Native Nursery, Jan Hunter
Flora of the Oak Openings, Paintings by Nadine Perry on display at Kitty Todd Preserve

9 a.m. Birds Birds Birds: Club Camp
Oak Openings Preserve, Buehner Center Porch
Bluebirds, Blue Jays and Indigo Buntings. There are more birds in Ohio this time of year than any other. Let’s see how many we can find. Youth ages 7 to 11 will enjoy this birding adventure. Binoculars and field guides available.
Fee $3 / Reservations at Metroparkstoledo.com

10 a.m. Family Time with the Amphibians and Reptiles of Irwin Prairie
Irwin Prairie SNP, Greg and Landon Links
Join leaders Greg Links and his 10 year old son Landon on this family-friendly adventure! Walk the boardwalk at Irwin Prairie SNP to look for and learn about the frogs, snakes, turtles and salamanders that call Irwin Prairie home.

11 a.m. Kitty Todd tour with Tony
Kitty Todd Preseve, Tony Reznicek, University of Michigan Herbarium
Meet at the Kitty Todd office.

Noon to 5 p.m. The Oak Openings Blues
Secor Metropark, National Center for Nature Photography
"The Oak Openings Blues" highlights in photos the many plants, animals, insects, amphibians, etc. that are colored blue. Expanded for 2012 with new images from local photographers, this exhibit in celebration of Blue Weekend features amazing plants, animals and scenery that bring the color blue to the Oak Openings.

Noon to 6 p.m. Sand to Glass: Metroparks and The Toledo Museum of Art
Fusing nature, history and art, sand to glass explores the Toledo glass industry's connection the Oak Openings region's unique resources. Participants meet at one of the nation's most unusual natural areas, the Oak Openings sand dunes to learn about natural glass before travelling on their own to The Toledo Museum of Art for a tour of the Glass Pavilion. The program concludes by creating your own glass flower as a reminder of this unique outing. Registration opens April 23, and participants must call 419-254-5771 ext. 7432.
Fee: Members $20, Non-Members $25

1 p.m. The Geology, Ecology and Restoration of Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve
Irwin Prairie SNP, Todd Crail, The University of Toledo
The sand dunes that are a common feature of the Oak Openings Region have an important role in shaping the hydrology and ecology of the extensive wetland complex at the Irwin Prairie State Nature Preserve. Join trip leader Todd Crail and members of The University of Toledo Environmental Sciences Department as we highlight the significance of the site, both geologically and ecologically, and discuss the management techniques employed to protect this globally unique landscape.

2 p.m. Oak Woods Winged Wonders
Oak Woods Nature Center
Enjoy a walk through our Certified Monarch Waystation, a 5-acre area designated as suitable Monarch habitat, and enjoy the plants that play host to hungry caterpillars, those in chrysalis, and nectaring adult butterflies. Bring your binoculars to get up-close looks at those "winged-wonders" that grace Oakwoods with their presence.
Fee: $3 per person

3 p.m. Butterflies of the Oak Openings
Kitty Todd Preseve, Jan Dixon, Jackie Riley
Enjoy an introduction to The Secret Life of Butterfies and information on the butterflies of the Oak Openings, then explore the gardens at the preserve to hone your new skills. A self guided hike will provide more opportunities to locate more butterflies.

7 p.m. Blue Drinks at the One2 Lounge
Treo, 5703 Main Street, Sylvania, OH
Enjoy good company, a few Oak Openings themed beverages and a snack or two at this local lounge, then stick around for some rollickin' tunes from Stonehouse!

8:30 p.m. Bats in the Oaks Toledo Memorial Cemetery, Maureen Schell, ECO Discovery!
Meet at Treo in Sylvania and stroll down to the Toledo Memorial Cemetery to discover what bats call the Oak Openings Region home .

Sunday, May 20:

All Day:
Native Plant Sale Kitty Todd Preserve, Naturally Native Nursery, Jan Hunter
Flora of the Oak Openings, Paintings by Nadine Perry on display at Kitty Todd Preserve.

7 a.m. Bird Banding and Bird Hike
Kitty Todd Preserve, Jeremy Ross, BGSU
Meet at the Kitty Todd office, group will go out to the field at 7 a.m. to see where the nets are stationed, birds will be brought back and banded at a station near the office. Great chance to see birds up-close! Wear field appropriate clothing. Kid friendly!

7:00 a.m. Oak Openings Birds
Kitty Todd Preserve, James Cole, TNC
Bring field appropriate clothing and binoculars if you have them. James's hike will complement the information provided by Jeremy Ross. Meet at the Kitty Todd office. Kid friendly!

9 to Noon. Volunteer Adventures
Southview Oak Savanna, Erika Buri, The Olander Park System
Looking for a way to make a difference in the community? Join us to restore wildlife habitat in Sylvania. Wear long pants and bring gloves if you have them. All necessary tools provided by TOPS; volunteers will need transportation to the worksite. Meet at the Olander Park Maintenance Building, register by calling 419-882-8313, extension 29.

9 to 11 a.m. Cooridor Exploration with Tim Schetter
Irwin Prairie SNP
Be the first to walk the Oak Openings Corridor! This rigorous off trail adventure will journey through 3 miles of newly preserved lands beginning at Irwin Prairie SNP and ending at Kitty Todd Preserve. Please bring insect repellant and a water bottle.
Free, reservations at www.metroparkstoledo.com

Noon to 5 p.m. The Oak Openings Blues
Secor Metropark, National Center for Nature Photography
"The Oak Openings Blues" highlights in photos the many plants, animals, insects, amphibians, etc. that are colored blue. Expanded for 2012 with new images from local photographers, this exhibit in celebration of Blue Weekend features amazing plants, animals and scenery that bring the color blue to the Oak Openings.

1 to 5 p.m. Lupine Ride, Toledo Hostelling International
Meet at Crissey Elementary School at 1 p.m., ride the Oak Openings Region, and wrap it up with ice cream at Kitty Todd Preserve. Call Judy Wright at 419-410-0087 to RSVP.

2 p.m. Oaks To Oaks Bike Ride
Wildwood Preserve Metropark, Lot 3, Erika Buri, The Olander Park System
Enjoy a leisurly ride down the University/Parks Bike Trail from Wildwood Preserve to the oak savanna behind Southview High School. Wander the site looking for lupine, puccoon and our resident box turtle then head back to Wildwood; 5 miles round trip.

2 p.m. Karner Blue Butterfly Project at the Petersburg State Game Area
Jennifer Finfera, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Mike Losey, TNC
Learn about the work the Green Ribbon Initiative does and how it manages in landscapes where there are rare and endangered species. Tour at PSGA will begin at the parking area on the east side of Teal Rd, immediately south of the Lulu/Teal Rd intersection. Participants are encouraged to park at this location, with overflow parking being available at a secondary parking area on the west side of Teal Rd just south of the parking lot where the tour will begin.

4 p.m. Invasive Species Workshop
Kitty Todd Preserve, Lindsey Reinarz, TNC
Lindsey will be talking about the invasive species that threaten the ecological diversity of our region and how to identify and treat them. Plan on being outdoors for demonstrations and possibly a short hike to see treatment areas on the preserve.

4 p.m. Fire Ecology in the Oak Openings
Kitty Todd Preserve, Ryan Gauger, TNC

7 to 10 p.m. Solar Eclipse
Wildwood Preserve Metropark, Metz Visitors Center
Celebrate the solar eclipse of 2012. Toledo is at the extreme edge of the viewing area for this rare sky event. Eclipses have been written about in history and observed for centuries but what is really happening? Participants will receive solar eclipse glasses to view it safely. Fee $3.00 / Reservations at www.Metroparkstoledo.com

7:30 p.m. Bonfire and Bluegrass
Kitty Todd Preserve, Jim and Janet Toppin, TNC Volunteers, Root Cellar String Band
Jim and Janet will have a bonfire with hot dogs and marshmallows while the Root Cellar String Band plays amazing bluegrass to close the 2012 Blue Weekend!

NEW: Oak Openings Region Model available for Google Earth The Oak Openings Region Model is available free of charge for viewing in Google Earth. The model was developed to identify areas of greatest conservation value in the region as well as those areas where restoration would be the most feasible and have the greatest positive impact on nested target species. [READ MORE]

The Karner Blue is back! Federally endangered Karner Blue butterfly reintroduced into the Oak Openings Region. [READ MORE]

Gardens That Make A Difference Oak Openings Natives Demonstration Gardens Take Root [READ MORE]

Midwest Oak Savanna and Woodland Conference 2009 Thank you to everyone that attended and supported the 2009 Midwest Oak Savanna and Woodland Conference. The abstracts from the conference are listed as a sub page of this web site. Click READ MORE at the end of this paragraph. If you have any comments about the conference or are interested in hosting a future conference please contact us at moswc@bex.net. [READ MORE]

Students help restore Oak Openings Native Plants Restoration in the Oak Openings Region [READ MORE]