By 1808Delaware
The most active place in nature are not always the ones people can see. Beneath the forest floor, roots twist through the soil, animals move through hidden tunnels, and decomposers quietly recycle fallen leaves and other organic material. Under the surface of streams and ponds, insects, larvae, and microscopic organisms form another largely unseen community.
Those worlds take center stage this summer in “What Lies Below,” a free exhibit at McKay Lodge in Shale Hollow Park.
Exploring Nature’s Hidden Layers
The exhibit invites visitors to look beneath the familiar landscapes of the park and discover the ecosystems that support life above ground. Displays explore underground roots, tunnels, soil-dwelling creatures, aquatic insects, invertebrates, and microscopic organisms. Visitors can also learn how scientists study these small forms of life to understand the health and history of streams and ponds. The exhibit connects the creatures found in the dirt with those living in shallow water, showing how each plays a role in maintaining a healthy environment.
“What Lies Below” will be open from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Wednesday through Monday through August 21. McKay Lodge will be closed on Tuesdays.
From August 22 through September 7, the exhibit will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is free throughout the summer.
A Park Shaped By Water And Stone
Shale Hollow Park is located at 6320 Artesian Run in Lewis Center, within the rapidly growing Liberty and Orange township area. The park takes its name from the curve, or hollow, formed by a tributary of the Olentangy State Scenic River. Shale formations are visible along the park’s cliff walls and stream bed, making the setting a natural extension of the exhibit’s underground and underwater themes.
A Weekend Below The Surface
The exhibit will close with three days of special programming over Labor Day weekend.
On Sunday, September 6, “Secret Lives of Salamanders” will run from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet live salamanders and learn how the secretive animals survive underground and contribute to healthy ecosystems.
The closing weekend concludes Monday, September 7, with “Make It, Take It: Toad Adobe” from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
The all-ages program will introduce visitors to Ohio’s toads, explain why they are valuable garden neighbors, and offer suggestions for helping them thrive. Participants will then build a small toad shelter to take home and place in their own yards. Together, the exhibit and its closing events offer a reminder that much of nature’s work happens quietly, beneath the ground and just below the water’s surface.
