Morning Bird Walk at Oglebay

Learn field marks and songs of the local birds that visit our feeders and trails. Binoculars and field guides provides.

Morning bird walks take place on Wednesdays from 8-8:45am. Walks are part of the Summer of Wonder activity series at the Schrader Environmental Education Center.

Summer of Wonder features daily nature activities June 9-August 8. (No programs week of June 30-July 4.)

No pre-registration required. All ages welcome. $5 per person; free for Oglebay Institute members or Park guests with activity cards.

Program attendance limited–first come, first served. For all programs, please arrive at the listed start time.

Call 304-242-6855 with questions.

We have many events going on throughout the year, check out our calendar to help plan your visit. View all the events happening at Oglebay Institute.

2025 Summer of Wonder Schedule

June 9 – August 8 (No programs week of June 30-July 4) 

Mondays
3:30-4pm: Animal Meet & Greet
Meet the reptiles, amphibians, and other small creatures who call the Schrader Center home. Learn about the incredible adaptations of each species as you encounter some of our animal ambassadors.

Tuesdays
10-10:45am: Sand Art
Explore colors and patterns by creating your own sand art masterpiece. A bottle is provided. Pick from a rainbow of colored RECYCLED sand created right here in the Wheeling area! Supplies are limited—first come, first served.

1-1:30pm: Butterfly Exploration 
Explore our new butterfly enclosure! Discover the caterpillars, butterflies, and moths that flutter in this completely contained environment. Learn about plants you can grow at home to attract these special pollinators.

Wednesdays 
8-8:45am: Bird Walk
Learn field marks and songs of the local birds that visit our feeders and trails.  Binoculars and field guides are provided.

3:30-4pm: Stream Search
Gently catch, study, and release salamanders, crayfish, and insects as we explore Waddles Run. Nets and collection buckets provided. Wear boots and clothes that can get wet!  Check-in at the Schrader Center before our adventure begins.

Thursdays
10-10:30am: Butterfly Exploration 
Explore our new butterfly enclosure! Discover the caterpillars, butterflies, and moths that flutter in this completely contained environment. Learn about plants you can grow at home to attract these special pollinators.

9-11pm: Astronomy
Observe the night sky with local experts from the Oglebay Astronomy Club at the Speidel Observatory, located in the field across from the Schrader Center.

SELF-GUIDED SUMMER NATURE PROGRAMS

Self-guided Scavenger Hunt
Pick up your scavenger hunt list at the front desk and return it completed for a prize!  Free.

Pottery Painting
Choose from a variety of ceramic pieces in the Samara Shop and use your creativity to paint your favorite designs!  We’ll fire it in our kiln overnight for pick up the next day. Ceramic pieces range from $10-$35.

PRIVATE FAMILY NATURE PROGRAMS

Schedule a private program for your household group!
$10 per person. Minimum $50 per household. Pre-registration required.

Campfire 
Summertime is the time for sitting around a crackling campfire!  Roasting sticks, hotdogs, and s’mores provided for you to cook over the fire, which a naturalist will tend for you.

Animal Meet & Greet
Meet the animals who call the Schrader Center home. Learn about the incredible adaptations of each species as you encounter some of our animal ambassadors.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Night Hike
Tuesday, July 1 & Saturday, August 9, 9-10pm
Led by a naturalist, take a walk in the woods to listen for owls and look at stars. Enjoy the music of the night and test your night vision. Please bring a flashlight.  $5/free OI members. Register online or call 304-242-6855.

Explore nature as a family…

Replace your child’s screen time with green time! Our family nature programs bring families together for quality time learning about nature. So, get outside and explore! Activities ignite children’s interests in science and nature. Children socialize with other kids outside of a traditional classroom setting. They have a lot of fun, too. And parents meet and connect with other parents. Most of all, our programs instill a lifelong appreciation and respect for the natural world.

About the Schrader Center:

The Schrader Center offers dozens of seasonal nature programs for all ages. Nature enthusiasts gather here to experience a sense of community around a shared love of nature. Preschoolers through adults enjoy our year-round nature activities. Our hands-on programs expand nature knowledge, promote outdoor discovery and foster lifelong learning.