Celebrate Native American Heritage Month and National Hiking Day with hike on Nov. 10

OHIO’s Division of Diversity and Inclusion is sponsoring a hike to the Woodcock Nature Preserve on Friday, Nov. 10, from 10 a.m. -12 p.m. This is one of the featured events of the Native American Heritage Month activities at Ohio University.

Woodcock Nature Preserve encompasses 100 acres of wildlife preserve in the New Marshfield area in Athens County. The preserve includes prairie lands and woodlands, and local community members are working on restoring the land using progressive land management methods including genetic mapping population for Chinese chestnut trees and prescribed fires. The Woodcock Nature Preserve honors the indigenous inhabitants of the land through a comprehensive Land Acknowledgment statement. 

This will be a guided hike led by the Appalachian Understories organization, with experts of the land providing history about the region, flora, and fauna. Warm beverages will be provided along with an opportunity to gather as a group midway through the hike.

The hiking event is coordinated by Athens Hike, a grassroots effort to engage the University and Athens community in regular hiking and outdoor activities. The first hike was held on Saturday, Sept. 30, where about 30 individuals hiked the Ridges. Several who joined the event on the Sept. 30 had never been to the Ridges and were interested in learning the history, making friends, or talking with someone they had not met before. 

Collaborators of Athens Hike include the OHIO’s Women’s Center, the Office of International Students and Scholar Services, the Pan African Alumni Network, the Ohio Valley Running Company, Trail Sisters Athens, Girl Trek Athens, and NAMI Athens.

Registration is required at this webpage to account for supplies and transportation needs. More information about the hike can be found on this webpage.