Myeerah Nature Preserve

Myeerah Nature Preserve. . , Cultural History of the Preserve , (left panel) , , The area comprising Myeerah Nature Preserve is made up of parcels of land owned at various times by families of many names. The largest part consisting of approximately 150 acres was owned by JP Dunlap at the turn of the century. About 1912 they sold it to a man named Winner who owned it with an additional 24 acres along the north side until his death several years later. Title to it was transferred to Cavanagh for a few years before coming into the Robson family. Much of the Dague area was in the Lewvan family for many years prior to the 1930's since then it has been held by men of various names among them, Fischer, Poundstone, and Swartz, who named his holding "Whispering Hope". , , 1959 - Fort Amanda Girl Scout Council purchased 265 acres of land to form Camp Myeerah. As the original purchase was cleared land, tree plantings were a major project to start the camp facility. , 1959 - In June, Camp Myeerah was dedicated. Mrs. Lyn Timmerman was Council President and Mrs. Boyd Travis was Chairman of Sites. , 1960s - The Lodge at Camp Myeerah was built, the Log House was moved from SR 540 to its current position and the lake construction took place. The main well was drilled. Mr. James A. MacDonnel was the Chairman of the Camp Development Committee. , 1962 - Platform tents were built at Camp Myeerah. , 1970s - The Tree Houses and Shower House were built at Camp Myeerah. , 1970s - The Log House at Camp Myeerah served as a nature center. Today it houses a wood burning cook stove and beds for group overnights. , 1980s - Reconstruction of the Tree Houses at Camp Myeerah took place making these the wood structures the are today. , 1980s -Covered Wagons, a favorite overnight campsite at Camp Myeerah, were built with real wagon wheels and canvas tops. , 1992 - The Troop House was built to provide girls with the modern accommodations some of our members were looking for. , 2005 - Four handicap accessible tents were added to the unit at Camp Myeerah. , 2004 - Tri-Moraine Audubon Society helped to establish Camp Myeerah as an Important Bird Area. , 2006 - The addition of a Wet Lands and board walk provide for cleaner lake waters and a multitude of nature study opportunities. , 2006 - A prairie was planted which will allow for the study of wildlife native to Ohio grass lands and will contribute to the habitat for birds was planted at Camp Myeerah. , , Camp Myeerah, Former Girl Scout Camp, Protected as New Public Park , April 8, 2014 , A former Girl Scout camp in the City of Bellefontaine has been permanently conserved as a new public park. For more than fifty years Camp Myeerah had been a popular overnight camping destination. Working with the Tri-Moraine Audubon Society, The Trust for Public Land and the City of Bellefontaine, the Girl Scouts were able to sell and conserve the 449-acre camp as a public recreation destination last month. , "We appreciate the contributions of the Tri-Moraine Audubon Society, The Trust for Public Land and the Bellefontaine Joint Recreation District in making this process a success." , The 449-acre property located at 7405 State Route 540 is now owned by The City of Bellefontaine, which will operate Camp Myeerah as a Joint Recreation District park. Tri-Moraine Audubon Society is managing conservation easements over the entire property to help the District manage important birding habitat. The easements were donated by Girl Scouts of Western Ohio. "The establishment of the former Myeerah Girl Scout Camp as a public recreational area was made possible by an outstanding act of stewardship on the part of the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio," said Don Rosenbeck, Tri-Moraine Audubon Society. "It is the result of the cooperative efforts of the Girl Scouts, The Trust for Public Land, the city of Bellefontaine and Tri-Moraine Audubon Society. This 449-acre jewel is a significant natural area and an Important Bird Area that is now protected for eternity and will remain a public resource to be enjoyed by this and future generations." , Funding for the $1.385 million purchase comes from the Clean Ohio Conservation Fund. The Trust for Public Land, a national conservation organization, managed the purchase and donated easement. "The legacy of a great nature experience at Camp Myeerah's will live on," said Pam Carson, The Trust for Public Land's Ohio state director. "Southwestern Ohio needs great places to enjoy nature, and Camp Myeerah has served that purpose for generations of Girl Scouts. Now it will be a public park for future generations to come." , , Today Myeerah Nature Preserve continues to live on with your support. If you would like to volunteer your time or contribute financially please contact The Bellefontaine Parks Department for more information. (937) 592-3475 , , , Bellefontaine City Parks Departments Welcomes You To , Myeerah Nature Preserve , (middle panel) , , [photo of a map of the nature preserve] , , , Natural Features of the Preserve , , Myeerah Nature Preserve is a unique patchwork of woodlands, rivers and meadows. It includes rolling hills with managed meadows, second growth-mature woodlots, dissected deep ravines lined by slate rock creeks, the 10 acre MacDonnell Lake, a half acre pond, and a wetland marsh. , , You will notice many pine trees at Myeerah that were planted by the Girl Scouts of Western Ohio in the late 1950s. The white tubes you see around the property are to protect the 1,800 trees planted by the US Fish and Wildlife in 2018. The wetland/boardwalk at the north area of the property was created in 2004 to provide cleaner water to MacDonell Lake. , , Myeerah Nature Preserve is an Important Bird Area. Identified for their high value to birds, these areas represent key sites for conservation and careful management decisions. Birds have been shown to be effective indicators of biodiversity in other animal groups and plants , especially when used to define a set of sites for conservation. Myeerah Nature Preserve hosts a wide variety of both birds and mammals all year long, as well as fish and insects.