Naturalist and nature photographer Tom Hissong will lead us on this field trip. The field trip will begin at 8:00 AM.

Also known as the “Devil’s Backbone,” Wagers Memorial Park features rocky cliffs, waterfalls, spring wildflowers and bird migrants in abundance. In 2016, the Wagers family donated 24 acres known as the “Devil’s Backbone”. This area has become a wildlife sanctuary with native plants and animals. The area is scenic with limestone formations and beautiful waterfalls. The area is mostly from the Ordovician Period of the Paleozoic Era. During this time, a warm shallow sea covered the area resulting in many marine life invertebrate fossils. Subsequent glaciers created ravines, waterfalls and a variety of igneous and metamorphic rocks. Paint Creek, a tributary of Sevenmile creek, meanders along the east end of the park.

In early 2023, Shady Hollow Longbeards, a local conservation organization chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, partnered with Preble County Park District and implemented a pollinator habitat, planting 22 species of native flowers and grasses. In addition, Amy and Jon Costanzo have just finished a biotic inventory of the area identifying 178 different taxa of plants and 76 different species of birds.

Meeting Location
The Herbert and Patricia Wagers Memorial Park
1301 OH-725 West
Camden, Ohio 45331