A.W. Marion State Park

06/18/2026

Can you notice the difference between Monarch and Viceroy butterflies?

06/16/2026

Are you hooked on fishing? Check this out!

🎣 Coming up next weekend (June 20 & 21) all Ohio residents are invited to experience Ohio's fantastic public fishing opportunities without purchasing a license. 🐟
🚨 All size and daily limits apply during these two days.
🔗 http://ow.ly/YyrS50JuGIM

06/12/2026

Be sure to check yourself for ticks after exploring the great outdoors!

Tick season is here. Check out these helpful tips on how to protect yourselves from ticks and how to remove them when you're out enjoying your Ohio State Parks, Ohio Division of Wildlife areas, Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves state nature preserves and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry state forests!

Tick bite prevention:
➡️ Know when and were to expect ticks and use repellents according to labels.
➡️ Tuck your pants into your socks and boots and tuck your shirt into your pants.
➡️ Check yourself, family and pets regularly and remove ticks immediately.

How to remove a tick:
➡️ Don't panic.
➡️ Use tweezers to remove the entire tick, including the mouth.
➡️ Monitor your health the following days for any symptoms.

Learn more about ticks in Ohio here: https://bit.ly/430wkJ1

06/09/2026

Explore the science behind clouds ⛅, seasons ⛄, and storms ☔

Thursday, June 11

Homeschool: Weather & Climate - 11:00am-12:00pm

Join the Naturalist for an outdoor lesson on weather in Ohio!
Learn about weather forecasting, the changing seasons and make a weather journal to collect your own data!
Program intended for ages 8-12 and their families.
Catch the lesson at the A.W. Marion State Park Campground Amphitheater.
what3words: ///touchy.pronouns.matchup

06/05/2026

In case you missed it, check out our naturalist programs for this Sunday, June 7:

~Lake Crawlers 1:00pm-2:00pm 🐟
Meet the Naturalist at the Marina porch and take a walk along the lake to find many critters, such as macroinvertebrates, fish and more! Supplies provided, enclosed shoes required and drinking water recommended. Be prepared to get wet. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
what3words: ///snack.magnitudes.ruthlessly

~Kayak Excursion 3:00pm-4:30pm 🚣‍♂️
Enjoy a nature excursion on the lake! No experience necessary, all kayak equipment provided. Participants should be 11 years of age or older; if under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by an adult. Along with your gear, be under the equipment load limit of 275lbs. A liability waiver signed by an adult is required for participation. Limited to 5 participants. Registration is first-come, first-serve. Sign up using the QR code located at the top of our page to secure your spot.

06/03/2026

Did someone say go fish? 🎣

New Fishing Opportunity in Xenia 🎣
📍 XENIA, Ohio – Families and young anglers in southwest Ohio can enjoy fishing this spring and summer courtesy of our district office in Xenia. The former hatchery ponds provide the opportunity for families and budding young anglers to create memories together and get hooked on fishing.

Families and Youth aged 17 and younger can fish in the ponds. The fishing ponds are open Wednesday through Sunday, ending October 31. Some dates will be closed during the season to host special activities.

The Division of Wildlife youth and family fishing ponds are located at 1076 Old Springfield Pike in Xenia. Parking, restrooms, and seating are available for guests. Young anglers must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. A valid Ohio fishing license is required for anyone who is aged 16 or older.

Five permits will be issued per day. Individuals 17 years old or younger do not need an access permit, but they are required to be accompanied by a permitted adult. Permits may be obtained through the Ohio Landowner-Hunter Access Partnership and are available 8 pm the day before, and the day of only.
🔗 https://ow.ly/5ofz50Z6Rxo

In an effort to provide all anglers with plenty of action, the fishing ponds are catch and release only. No fish may be harvested. Fish are to be returned to the lake immediately. Visitors may bring their own tackle but should note that no live fish may be used as bait.

Species that can be caught include bluegill, bass, and trout. The fishing area ponds are spring-fed and stay cool throughout the summer, supporting catchable rainbow trout 10-13 inches in length that are stocked annually. Rainbow trout are exciting to catch and give first-time anglers an excellent opportunity for success.

06/01/2026

June Naturalist Schedule ⛺️
..

We have added What3words addresses to all program descriptions!
What is what3words?
Every 3-meter square in the world has been given an address made of 3 random words. These can be used for navigation. At the end of each description will be a
what3words address. Look up what3words addresses in the what3words or Outerspatial apps.

📍Download OuterSpatial, your go-to free app to explore Ohio Trails!
http://ohiodnr.gov/ohiotrails
👇Use this Link to sign-up for programs that require registration:
https://forms.office.com/g/N32n6EV2WZ

Pickaway County Visitors Bureau

05/30/2026

We're getting to the time of year to fawns. Please take the time to read important reminders on how to handle fawn sightings.

🦌 Please Leave Fawns Alone ❌
Each year well meaning people come across a sight like this and think something is wrong. This is completely normal behavior for a deer fawn, and human intervention is unnecessary.
⭐ The More You Know 🌈
⏺️ Fawns are born nearly scentless (so predators cannot find them easily). They also have spots that serve as camouflage and are able to stand soon after being born, but as a protective tactic will remain hidden.
⏺️ It is common for female deer in urban areas to place fawns around homes, backyards, or flower beds. The mother placed it there because she felt it would be safe (often intentionally near humans).
⏺️ To protect her fawn, the mother will spend very little time with it. This is to prevent attracting predators to the fawn’s location. She will leave her fawn in various hiding places for long periods of time, returning several times a day to nurse it. By staying away, the mother is protecting it.
⏺️ Fawns will begin following their mothers at four weeks old. When they are two months old, fawns are able to forage for themselves and are completely weaned from their mother.

05/28/2026

The hours for this season are as follows:

🏕️ Campground Office: Friday and Saturday 9am - 4pm.

🎣 Marina: Thursday and Friday 10am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 7pm, and Sunday 11am - 7pm.

05/25/2026

Some gave all, all gave some. Happy Memorial Day! 🇺🇸

We hope you enjoyed the holiday weekend and survived the unusual rainy conditions. Share your holiday memories with us in the comments below!