Have you ever wished you could have a personalized nature experience with the wildlife experts at Summit Metro Parks? Akron resident Amy Campbell and four of her guests recently got to do just that. As the lucky winner of the social media-based #mySMPadventure photo contest, Campbell chose to enjoy a private “Creatures of the Night” program with Chief of Conservation Mike Johnson and other expert biologists.
Running the entire month of July, My SMP Adventure encouraged park visitors to share photos of their adventures in the Metro Parks to be entered to win a random drawing for a personalized adventure with park staff.
A frequent Summit Metro Parks visitor, Campbell also regularly participates in the annual Spree for All and Fall Hiking Spree. “I love being able to visit so many great parks, and to know that they’re all safe and well-maintained,” Campbell shared.
Campbell’s winning photo, which was captured at Firestone Metro Park in Akron and featured a great blue heron, was randomly drawn from nearly 300 submissions. Photo entries included everything from landscapes to wildlife to family photos, demonstrating the full range of adventures available across SMP’s countywide system of 16 parks and 150 miles of trails.
Additional adventure options included a fly fishing lesson and demonstration or a behind-the-scenes tour of the park district’s extensive restoration efforts at the former Valley View golf course and the historic Akron Pump House.
“I love being out at night and I love animals, so being able to learn about the animals who live in the parks sounded like a really interesting experience,” Campbell said of her decision to explore creatures of the night with Summit Metro Parks staff.
During Creatures of the Night, SMP biologists perform ecological inventories of the area’s various nocturnal species, especially bats. Ohio’s bat populations have declined significantly in recent years, due largely to habitat loss and the effects of white-nose syndrome. Campbell and her friends learned about bat species found in Northeast Ohio, threats to their survival and how humans can better coexist with our neighbors in the natural world.
To study these flying mammals more closely, biologists use nets to humanely capture the animals, then note their species and assess their overall health before placing an identification band on one leg and releasing them back to the wild. Throughout the process, program participants enjoyed a rare opportunity to view these often-misunderstood animals up-close, as well as to observe biologists conducting real-time research. On this particular night, SMP biologists also called for owls and were rewarded with visits from several barred owls!
Those interested in learning more about bats — or the many other plants and animals found in the Metro Parks — can check the SMP website for upcoming programs. The park district invites visitors to select from dozens of free educational and recreational programs for all interests, including wildlife, history, yoga, fishing, kayaking, archery and much more. From picnics to performances, running to reading, camping to crafting, Summit Metro Parks has an adventure for everyone.