Oxbow Inc. – Annual Moonlight Evening Winter Walk

Friday, February 7, 2025 – 7:00pm – One of Oxbow Inc.’s founders, Morris Mercer, loved the night winter woods, especially with snow on the ground. He and John Klein started this night walk in the Shawnee Lookout woodlands overlooking the Oxbow many years ago. Morris is no longer with us, but John keeps Morris’s spirit alive by continuing this annual field trip, now known as the Morris Mercer Memorial field trip. Join John as he leads us on about a two-hour night walk around Shawnee Lookout Park to see what the night woods have to offer. On this date there will be a waxing gibbous moon, which is very near to a full moon. The moon illuminates a significant portion of the sky, but isn’t as bright as a full moon, allowing you to still see stars and other details in the night sky. Because of this moon phase there will be a fair chance to see deer and other night wood residents. Owls may be heard as well. John will share the history of the Oxbow and the Shawnee Lookout area and also talk about stargazing. As always at some point, John will pass out M & M’s to celebrate Morris’s memory. Meet John in the parking lot of the closed Shawnee Lookout Golf Course Clubhouse at 7:00 pm. The park is normally closed at this time of night, but the rangers will have the entrance gates open for us. Remember that its nighttime in early February so be sure to dress warmly. This trip will consist entirely of walking, most of it at a moderate pace. Decent footwear will make your trip more comfortable. John, like Morris, would prefer a little snow on the ground. However, severe weather or heavy rain will cancel this trip. If you have any doubts as to whether the trip is cancelled, contact John. This trip offers a unique outdoor experience and is highly recommended. NO ADMISSION CHARGE. For more information, please contact John Klein at 513-304-2310.