U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rangers are proud to offer a variety of programs and events for our community. Many of the programs and events listed here are held at the Corps Visitor Center located at 2185 Slade Road, Batavia, OH 45103. Note: If you use MapQuest, GPS or similar tools, the visitor center is located approximately one and a half miles further on Slade Road, just past the main dam and boat ramp.
If you are an educator looking for a special activity for your group, scroll down to the bottom of the page for information about how to schedule a program with a Park Ranger. A calendar of events can also be downloaded here for your convenience.
Always call ahead to confirm the program is being held by calling the Park Ranger at 513-797-6081. This calendar of events is a work in progress with some details still being ironed out, so check back often for additions or changes.
William H Harsha Lake
2019 Calendar of Events
MARCH
30 March 2019– VOLUNTEER KICK-OFF MEETING– 10am to Noon @ USACE Visitor Center
Have you ever wanted to help your park? Maybe you’re interested in learning more about Bluebirds or Butterflies? Or is your interest in helping keep our trails clean and open? Join Park Rangers on Saturday, March 30th from 10am to Noon to learn more about the many volunteer opportunities that are available at the lake. Volunteer positions include but aren’t limited to – Bluebird Monitoring, Butterfly Monitoring. Purple Martin Monitoring, Trail Maintenance, Invasive Species Removal and Gardening. For more information please contact Ranger Sam at 513-797-6081 or by email at Samantha.K.Ferrarelli@usace.army.mil.
APRIL
1 April 2019 – LAKE BEGINS FILLING FOR SUMMER POOL
13 April 2019 – CINCINNATI INVITATIONAL REGATTA – All day @ Beach and USACE Boat Ramp
Cheer on local rowers as they attempt to qualify for regional and national competitions. Corps Boat Ramp will be closed at this time.
13 April 2019 - ANNUAL SPRING CLEAN-UP – Starts at 8am @ TBA location
Calling all nature lovers, hunters, anglers, boaters and everyone else who enjoys the park. Let's fight dirty! This is your chance to help clean up the park for another season of fun. A picnic lunch is provided. More information coming soon.
30 April 2019 - LAKE REACHES SUMMER POOL (733ft elevation)
MAY
18-19 JUNE 2019- MIDWEST ROWING REGATTA CHAMPIONSHIP – All day @ Beach and USACE Boat Ramp
Cheer on regional rowers as they attempt to qualify for regional and national competitions. Corps Boat Ramp will be closed at this time.
JUNE
15 JUNE 2019 – CORPS OF ENGINEERS OPEN HOUSE – 10am, Noon and 2pm @ USACE Boat Ramp near Dam
Ever wonder how the lake was built? How does the Corps know how much water to let out of the lake and when? What’s inside that big tower near the Dam? Now is your chance to learn all about the Corps of Engineers, the history of William H Harsha Lake and get a chance to tour the Control Tower. This event is free and open to the public. Those with a fear of heights may not wish to view the control tower as it requires walking across the access bridge. Please park for this event at the Boat Ramp located near the Dam. A Ranger will begin the talk at the ramp then hike to the Control Tower from the ramp. Those that can’t walk that distance will be directed to park at a closer location to the control tower at the time of the tour. Tours will be roughly 1.5hrs each. For more information please contact call 513-797-6081 or email at Samantha.K.Ferrarelli@usace.army.mil.
18-20 JUNE 2019 – JUNIOR RANGERS DAY CAMP – 10am to Noon Daily @ USACE Visitor Center
Children aged 8-12 explore nature and the environment during hands on activities. This year's theme for Jr. Rangers is Adaption! Learn how plants, animals and people have adapted to their ever changing habitats over time. Children who complete all sessions receive the highly-coveted Junior Ranger Patch! Registration is required and limited to 20 children. To register call 513-797-6081 by June 15.
JULY
9-14 JULY 2019- USROWING NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP REGATTA – All day @ Beach and USACE Boat Ramp
Cheer on rowers from across the country as they attempt to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics! The Corps Boat Ramp will be closed at this time.
SEPTEMBER
1 SEPTEMBER 2019 – LAKE BEGINS DRAWDOWN FOR WINTER POOL
28 September 2019 – NATIONAL PUBLIC LANDS DAY- 9am to Noon @ USACE Visitor Center
Join thousands of other volunteers from across the nation and participate in the annual National Public Lands Day event! NPLD is a volunteer service day based on helping out your local public lands. This year, we will be planting native trees and shrubs and removing invasive species from the Visitor Center area. This is a great opportunity for scout groups, families or the service-inclined individual. To better organize this event, please pre-register by contacting Ranger Sam at 513-797-6081 or by email at Samantha.K.Ferrarelli@usace.army.mil.
OCTOBER
TBA October 2019 - NOT QUITE AND ANNUAL HALLOWEEN CAMPOUT – 5 to 9pm @ East Fork Campground
This supreme park event has the thrills of Halloween mixed with the experience of fall camping. Trick or Treat tops off these weekends! Regular camping fees apply. Call EFSP at 513-734-2730 for dates and details. Or call 1 866-644-6727 to make reservations up to six months in advance for either weekend. Check the Ohio State Parks website for a link to online reservations.
DECEMBER
1 December 2019 - LAKE REACHES WINTER POOL (729ft)
Educators Take Note!
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers offers fun, educational programming at NO COST to local schools and organizations. Groups could include 4-H clubs, scout troops, or any age classroom. We can come to your classroom or schedule a field trip to lake. Program topics can include anything from water safety and flood control to animal habitats and invasive species. If it has anything to do with a park, we can cover it!
We also provide scout badge programs for brownies, cubs, webeloes and junior girl scouts. Badges include Insects, Forestry, Naturalist, Geology, Rocks Rock, Wildlife and Ecology.
Your organized group may request a tour of the Control Tower to discover how a modern dam works for flood control and much more. A tower tour must be scheduled at least two weeks in advance and may be cancelled due to heightened security.
All programs are offered free of charge. Call the Park Ranger at (513) 797-6081 to schedule or via email at Samantha.K.Ferrarelli@usace.army.mil.
EAST FORK STATE PARK ACTIVITIES
Many activities and facilities are offered by East Fork State Park. For more information, call 513-734-2730 or go to the East Fork State Park website at http://parks.ohiodnr.gov/eastfork.
Campsites are now reservable. Call 1 (866) 644-6727 or go to the Ohio State Parks website to make your reservation up to six months in advance.