COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio First Lady Frances Strickland and Sean D. Logan, director of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), will help kick off "Explore the Outdoors," a statewide campaign to reconnect children with their natural world, on Saturday, May 10 at Alum Creek State Park in Delaware County. Area children and their parents are invited to attend the event, which runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Activities at the beach will include canoeing, kite flying, sand football, disc golf, a sand treasure hunt and a naturalist program. A naturalist-led wildflower hike on park trails is also scheduled.

COLUMBUS, OH - The Natural Areas Discovery series event at Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve on Sunday, May 18 will give visitors a rare glimpse of an endangered landscape at a preserve that is generally open to the public only by permit. The public open house from noon to 4 p.m. is in conjunction with other Oak Openings activities at local parks and natural areas across Lucas County. A microcosm of the biologically significant Oak Openings region, Lou Campbell State Nature Preserve harbors more than 30 state-listed plant species, including grass-pink orchid, soapwort gentian, dwarf dandelion, cow-wheat and Missouri ironweed. Two endangered species-- the lavender blossoms of wild lupine and the yellow flowered plains puccoon flowers-- will be in full bloom at the open house.

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife has some strong advice for well-meaning people who seek to rescue wild animals that appear to be orphaned: Leave them alone!

COLUMBUS, OH - In an effort to better educate the state's recreational boaters about the importance of wearing life jackets, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft today announced its "Wear It, Ohio!" campaign.

COLUMBUS, OH - Recreational boaters across Ohio will soon benefit from a $260,365 grant awarded to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft for the construction and installation of shoreline sewage pump-out facilities.

COLUMBUS, OH - A 436-acre forested area located in Muskingum County and owned by Superior Hardwoods of Ohio, Inc. is the first woodland in the state to become permanently protected through the federal Forest Legacy Program, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. A recognition ceremony is planned for noon on Friday, May 9 to commend this important conservation effort.

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and its local partners in Stark County and the City of Canton will cut the ribbon on a nearly completed five-mile section of the Canton Downtown Connector Trail at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 5. The ceremony will take place along the trailway at 12th Street N.W. and Stadium Park Drive N.W. The location is just off Interstate 77.

*ODNR advises homeowners on how to protect trees and shrubs from noisy invaders*

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COLUMBUS, OH - After 17 years of quiet, cicadas will soon emerge in several southwestern Ohio counties, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry.

*$445,000 from the Clean Ohio Trails Fund supported the project*

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources and its local partners in the City of Canton and Stark County dedicated the five-mile Canton Downtown Connector Trail today as part of an ongoing celebration of the Clean Ohio Fund and its support of recreational trail construction statewide.

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) recently purchased 100 acres on Little Darby Creek in Madison County as an additional measure of protection for this state and national scenic river - and the endangered clubshell mussel, which calls its waters home.

COLUMBUS, OH - Central Ohio children and their families are invited to participate in the May 10 kickoff of "Explore the Outdoors," a statewide campaign that challenges children - especially those in grades K-5 - to get outside and reconnect with their natural world.

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters killed 10,374 wild turkeys in the first seven days of the spring hunting season, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. Last year, 9,114 birds were harvested during the season's first week.

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohioans are encouraged to take advantage of "Free Fishing Days" on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4 to experience the great angling opportunities Ohio has to offer. For these two days only, anglers may fish any of the state's public waters without a license.

COLUMBUS, OH - Eleven Ohioans were honored in recent days for their commitment and hours of service to boating safety education in the state. The recognition came from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft as part of National Volunteer Week, April 27-May 3. Springfield resident Warren Shupp set a new record for volunteer service, earning a 7,000-hour volunteer pin.

COLUMBUS, OH - Ohio hunters harvested a preliminary total of 2,768 bearded wild turkeys on the first day of the spring turkey-hunting season, which is open statewide through May 18. The preliminary figure was almost eight percent above last year's opening day harvest number of 2,569 turkeys, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.

COLUMBUS, OH - Recreational boaters seeking to get their season off to a good start are encouraged to participate in free safety inspections offered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft and its boating partners across the state.

COLUMBUS, OH - The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft is seeking public comments for revision of its long-term strategic plan for recreational boating in Ohio. Ten town meetings will be conducted around the state beginning April 29 at Walnut Township Elementary School in Millersport.

COLUMBUS, OH - Disabled hunters who meet certain medical criteria will be able to apply for a permit to hunt from a motor vehicle on select state wildlife areas as a result of legislation signed into law today by Governor Ted Strickland.

COLUMBUS, OH - Sandusky resident Tom Pascoe was recently appointed to serve a three-year term on the 21-member national Navigation Safety Advisory Council. His term runs through November 4, 2010, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Watercraft.

COLUMBUS, OH - Athens County resident Dan Kincaid was recently named private lands and nursery administrator for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Forestry. A career forester, Kincaid has spent nearly half his professional life in Ohio, working for the USDA Forest Service as a ranger in the Wayne National Forest on the Marietta, Ironton and Athens units. He has also been assigned to national forests in Georgia, Minnesota, North Carolina and West Virginia, and has worked as a regional Forest Service liaison in support of state forestry programs.