Ohio Nature Education
4782 Riley Road
Johnstown, OH 43031
740.967.8320
Program Information
Our programs include live education animals and collections of study skins, nests, and other natural materials useful as aids in learning about nature. Ohio Nature Education has special permits from the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service which allow us to provide these materials and include live animals in our programs.
Our creed is that learning must be fun and entertaining. Therefore,our programs are all activity based and are interactive. In addition all of our school programs are aligned with the Academic Content Standards in Science as well as other academic areas.
Each of our programs has been carefully constructed to meet several of the Ohio Department of Education's Academic Content Standards. If you are an educator looking for an exciting and engaging way to meet these standards, please refer to our Academic Content Standards chart to see where an Ohio Nature Education program can fit into your classroom! If you have any questions regarding these standards, please contact via e-mail or at (740) 967-8320.
If you are interested in booking a program, have any questions, or would like any additional information regarding our programs or the Ohio Academic Content Standards, please contact via phone or e-mail.
Weird, Wonderful, Wacky Wildlife
Sure to be a hit with kids! Join us as we explore the stranger side of wildlife, from animals that eat their mates to those who use vomit as a defense mechanism. We'll take a look at the darker side of nature and, of course, give you a close up view of some live animals. This program is recommended for ages 7 and up.
Ohio Nature Education primarily services the central Ohio area, but we have traveled as far as Cleveland and southern Ohio. We will gladly accommodate customers outside of the immediate area for an additional travel fee. Please contact for more details.
Are you looking to mix in the educational value of our programs in a more informal, relaxed setting? Consider throwing a WILD birthday party, where we come out with some critters to make it a special day for all. Please contact for more details.
Below is our calendar of upcoming events, most of which are free and open to the public. Click on an event to get more information such as time, duration, and location. For any questions or to request additional information, contact .
Programs for Children and/or Families
All of these programs meet requirements for the Ohio Academic Content Standards. Please contact for more information.
They're Nothing to be Afraid of! - This is a unique puppet show program for younger children that follows seven year old Sunny through an enchanted night in the woods, where she encounters some wild friends who teach her how helpful wild animals can be. Following the puppet show, we'll reinforce what we've just learned by allowing children to touch some pelts and study skins, and to view some live animals.
Astronomy - With programs available for classrooms, scouts and after-school enrichment, Astronomy can be conducted both indoors and out, at day or night. We have a new telescope and binoculars for celestial viewing should weather allow.
Habitats and Seasons - Children learn about different Ohio habitats and their value by participating in a game show like activity. We also discuss how wildlife adapts to the changing seasons. Study skins and live animals included.
Who Are the Critters in Your Neighborhood - Think you know the common backyard mammals? Think again. We'll share with you some little known facts about common Ohio mammals and TEST your knowledge. Live animals and study skins included.
Elementary Insects - Designed for children in primary grades as an introduction or review for the insect unit of your curriculum, we'll turn a member of the audience into an insect to study the physical characteristics of this amazing group of animals. Many visuals which include live predators included.
Frogs & Toads - Discover the world of these amazing amphibians by "testing" your knowledge with a fun quiz. You'll also learn how to understand frog & toad languages too! Live frogs and toads will be available during spring & summer sessions. Also includes live predators such as an owl and snakes.
Freshwater Animals - Discover the different amazing animals which live in a water habitat by reading the book "Pond Life." The audio that we've added will make you think that you're right there at the pond! Includes study skins and live animals too!
Damsels & Dragons - Discover the world of the Odonata - the Damselflies and Dragonflies! We'll introduce you to these fast flying jewels of pond and field by turning a member of our audience into a dragonfly! Specimens and live predators will be available for viewing.
Animal Tracking - teaches animal identification through their tracks. Includes plaster casts of animal tracks and can include live animals.
Bats, "Shadows of Night" - activity-based program that dispels myths about bats. Includes interesting facts and tells why bats are beneficial. Includes "Test your Bat IQ," live bats and study skins.
Birds - Our Feathered Jewels - activity-based program which teaches about the diversity of birds. Includes live birds, study skins, and nests.
Birds in Folklore & Native American Life - This program discusses how Native Americans used bird feathers in every day life and how colors were a representation of different attributes. We'll discuss the significance of "coup" feathers, rewarded for acts of bravery and what these symbols represented. A matching game with various bird study skins will demonstrate the roll that birds have played in many cultures.Live animals included.
The Birdwatching program provides an up-close look at birds in the area.
Birdwatching - offers a brief introduction to birds before going outdoors (on school property or other site) for birdwatching. Can include live birds and study skins. Binoculars provided.
Birding by Ear - teaches how to identify birds through song. Can include live birds and study skins and outdoor activities.
Birds of Prey - activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's hawks and owls. Includes live birds and study skins.
Bluebirds and Other Cavity Nesters - teaches about the cavity nesting birds of Ohio and how you can provide homes for them. Also teaches how to establish a bluebird trail. Includes study skins and nests.
Animals We Love to Hate - This program features the animals that are most often feared and disliked: bats, spiders, snakes, and possums. We will dispell myths and include natural history facts which show how beneficial these animals are. Includes live animals.
Creek Exploration - conducted singly or as part of an all-day field trip at various locations. Children learn about creek ecosystems.
Flutter By Butterfly - activity-based program which teaches about lifecycles and physiology of butterflies and moths.
Insects - activity-based program featuring predator/prey games designed to teach about the lives of insects.
Insect Jeopardy - an elementary school program that teaches insect basics while using a game show format. Also includes a brief study of butterflies and moths.
Nature Detectives Revamped - This program is designed for the classroom. Children look at a display of nine wildlife "clues" and write their observations. We then discuss the clues and view some live animals which leave us these nature signs. Pelts, skulls, tracks, scat , pellets also included.
Nocturnal Animals - Activity-based program which teaches the physical characteristics that distinguish nocturnal animals from diurnal (daytime) animals and enable nocturnal animals to survive. Includes live animals.
Ohio's Bicentennial - Wildlife 200 Years Ago - Join a real pioneer woman as she takes you back to Ohio 200 years ago when Ohio was more than 90% forested. Discover what animals wandered in the woods and prairies. Live animals, study skins, pelts, and skulls.
Ohio's Wildflowers - A basic introduction to wildflowers. This program has been constructed to meet Girl Scout Badge requirements.
Owls - Activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's eight owl species. Includes live bird and study skins. Can include an owl prowl.
Project Wild - Activity-based program which includes games that teach children about all aspects of nature.
A frog may hop along and join the Reptiles & Amphibians program.
Reptiles and Amphibians - Activity-based program that teaches the similarities and differences between reptiles and amphibians. Can include live animals.
Snakes - A hands-on program which includes snake facts and myths, snakes of Ohio, and snakes as pets. Includes numerous live animals.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Bluebirds Fly! - A literature and music-based fun program which helps us to discover a season in the life of the Eastern Bluebird. Study skins, nests, and live animals are a part of this program.
Spiders - Meet Arachne the Spider when she visits to teach you about her cousins, the spiders of the world. Includes specimens and live spiders.
Those Bee-Utiful Bees - An interactive program that takes you into the life of the honey bee and discover why they are so beneficial. Find out how Mrs. Van became a beekeeper (sort of!) not by her choice, but because the bees showed up on her porch one day -- all 2-3 pounds of them! Study skins and live animals.
Trees - Activity-based program that makes learning about trees fun. Includes tree identification, including identifying the different parts of a tree. Can include live tree-dwelling animals.
Wildlife as Meteorologists - Activity-based program which looks at weather lore as fact or fiction while exploring how wild animals deal with the changing seasons. Includes your choice of live animals.
Who Are the Critters in Your Neighborhood - Think you know the common backyard mammals? Think again. We'll share with you some little known facts about common Ohio mammals and TEST your knowledge. Live animals and study skins included.
All My Garden Guests Are Wild! - Join us on a visual adventure of nine years of creating a wildlife habitat in Mrs. Van's yard. We'll discuss the different flowers, trees and shrubs, water features, and shelter which you can incorporate into your landscape to make your yard "wildlife friendly." Specimens and live animals included.
Animals We Love to Hate - This program features the animals that are most often feared and disliked: bats, spiders, snakes, and possums. We will dispell myths and include natural history facts which show how beneficial these animals are. Includes live animals.
Attracting the Four B's While Keeping Bambi Out! - The four B's are Butterflies, Bats, Birds, and Beneficial Bugs. This is an all inclusive nature education and gardening program.
Attracting Butterflies - teaches the "ingredients" you'll need in order to attract butterflies to your yard.
Attracting Hummingbirds - learn what you need to attracting hummingbirds to your yard.
Bats, "Shadows of Night" - activity-based program that dispels myths about bats. Includes interesting facts and tells why bats are beneficial. Includes "Test your Bat IQ," live bats and study skins.
Birds - Our Flying Jewels - teaches about the diversity of birds. Includes live birds, study skins, and nests.
Live birds, such as an American Kestrel, are used in several bird-related programs.
Birds in Folklore & Native American Life - This program discusses how Native Americans used bird feathers in every day life and how colors were a representation of different attributes. We'll discuss the significance of "coup" feathers, rewarded for acts of bravery and what these symbols represented. A matching game with various bird study skins will demonstrate the roll that birds have played in many cultures.Live animals included.
Birds of Prey - activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's hawks and owls. Includes live birds and study skins.
Birding by Ear - teaches how to identify birds through song. Can include live birds and study skins and outdoor activities.
Birdwatching - offers a brief introduction to birds before going outdoors (on school property or other site) for birdwatching. Can include live birds and study skins. Binoculars provided.
Bluebirds and Other Cavity Nesters - teaches about the cavity nesting birds of Ohio and how you can provide homes for them. Also teaches how to establish a bluebird trail. Includes study skins and nests.
Creating a Water Garden - learn the ins and outs of water gardening.
Creating a Wildflower Prairie - learn how to provide habitat for butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife through wildflower gardening.
Landscaping for Wildlife - teaches you how to turn your yard into a wildlife heaven, no matter how small your yard is!
Nocturnal Animals - Activity-based program which teaches the physical characteristics that distinguish nocturnal animals from diurnal (daytime) animals and enable nocturnal animals to survive. Includes live animals.
Ohio's Bicentennial - Wildlife 200 Years Ago - Join a real pioneer woman as she takes you back to Ohio 200 years ago when Ohio was more than 90% forested. Discover what animals wandered in the woods and prairies. Live animals, study skins, pelts, and skulls.
Live owls are used in several programs such as the Owls program.
Owls - Activity-based program which teaches about Ohio's eight owl species. Includes live bird and study skins. Can include an owl prowl.
Snakes - A hands-on program which includes snake facts and myths, snakes of Ohio, and snakes as pets. Includes numerous live animals.
Those Bee-Utiful Bees - An interactive program that takes you into the life of the honey bee and discover why they are so beneficial. Find out how Mrs. Van became a beekeeper (sort of!) not by her choice, but because the bees showed up on her porch one day -- all 2-3 pounds of them! Study skins and live animals.
Wildlife as Meteorologists - Activity-based program which looks at weather lore as fact or fiction while exploring how wild animals deal with the changing seasons. Includes your choice of live animals.
Copyright ©2003-12 David J. Francis