Janowiecki Family Memories

by Barb Janowiecki - Findlay, OH

It all began back in the late 1980's  when we started going to Tiny Hikes with Ron Bowerman at various parks in Hancock County on weekly hikes. All three of our kids attended these hikes, which then led to other park district programs like sumer camp and junior naturalilst sessions.  Bobbie Sue Grenerth was another wonderful mentor to those attending her programs.

Our son, Steven, received early training from the park district in what eventually became his passionate course of study - astronomy!  He is currently a graduate student in astronomy and plans to get his PhD, then either teach and/or do research at the university level.

Karen Oberst invited our daughter, Emily, to be the first living history interpreter to portray Mary Ann McKinnis at the McKinnis House at Litzenberg Memorial Woods.  Emily continued to take on older roles as she went through high school, and still fondly remembers her days at the house.  She particularly enjoyed going barefoot between the equinoxes, which was March through September.  She especially liked walking throught the squishy mud in the garden - something she was not allowed to do at home, as a Janowiecki.  

Our younger son, Mark, joined the interpreters at Litzenberg soon after Emily did, and he has also continued through high school.  He has enjoyed playing his fiddle at the candlelight program each December.  Our family even started doing a similar thing at the holidays where we use only candles to light the house and play music throughout the evening.

One of my personal favorite activities with the park district are the full moon hikes. I like travelling through the woods at night with a group of people who are interested in what it is like out there at night, too.  Michelle Rumschlag has always done a great job leading these hikes.  Especially nice were the cross country ski night hikes.

As our days in Hancock County draw to a close, I realize what a priceless asset the park district is to Hancock County. In a recent house hunting trip to Michigan, my husband and I had to go check out the nearby Lake Erie Metropark, to see what the parks had to offer in our new area.  Although it was a nice visit to see swans from Alaska out on the ice near the shore, it will never hold all the warm, wonderful memories that our family has made right here in Hancock County over the past 20 years.  Thank you, Hancock Park District !