August 24, 2024 9-11AM
The construction on SR 39 will affect visitors traveling to the butterfly exhibit from July 11-21, 2024. If you are traveling west on SR 39 from the Dover/New Philadelphia Area you will need to make a detour. If traveling east from Sugarcreek you will not be affected by the construction to go to the Norma Johnson Center.
An official detour has been published from the state. The link to this site is: District 11 Detour on 39
Option 2: Exiting at Exit 81 (New Philadelphia) off of I-77 and turning left onto (39, West High, CR 21 aka Stonecreek Rd NW) go passed the Eagle Truck Stop – continue on to 21 past Job and Family Services – turn right on Crooked Run (at small car lot: Foreign Hills Auto Sales)- follow Crooked Run that till the Y on the road – take a right onto Schilling Hill – follow up the hill to the stop sign – then turn right onto SR 39 towards Dover and follow GPS to Norma Johnson Center 3645 Conservation Drive Dover OH 44622.
Option 3: Schneider’s Crossing Exit off of I-77 head west away from Dover. Continue to Winfield. Go straight at stop sign. This turns into Broadrun Dairy. Follow to the Y and go left. At stop sign at Breitenbach turn left onto Old SR 39 and continue to 3645 Conservation Drive Dover, OH 44622.
TuscParks will be hosting a butterfly exhibit open to the public for free starting July 11 and going through July 21. Through the sponsorship of the O’Donnell Family Charitable Foundation the exhibit will be open for ten days this year. The exhibit will be held under the Picnic Shelter located on Conservation Drive off of Old SR 39 from 10 to 4 Monday through Saturday and 12 to 4 on Sunday.
Fran LeMaster’s traveling butterfly exhibit “All A Flutter” has been a huge hit at Norma Johnson Center for the last 12 years. This free exhibit allows visitors to step inside the enclosure and view several native Ohio butterflies up close and personal. Chrysalis will also be on display and hatchings will occur throughout the week inside the exhibit. Free crafts and face painting will be available. For a fee, visitors can purchase certain crafts and monarch chrysalis throughout the week while supplies last. Donations will be accepted at the door. Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
July 11-21
M-Sat 10AM-4PM
Sunday 12-4PM
Exhibit is Free
Donations are Appreciated
Children Programs are on Tuesdays and Thursdays from June 4 to August 1st. Programs are free but require registration.
Tuscarawas County Park Department Website
Tuesdays from 10AM to Noon. A variety of topics will be offered. Check out the descriptions on the Eventbrite link listed below.
Interacting with Nature Registration
Thursday’s from 10AM – Noon. Programs are free but require registration. Adults help the child create their work of art. Check out the descriptions on the Eventbrite link listed below.
Crafting at the NJC Registration
With over seven miles of trails at the Norma Johnson Center one can find a variety of things to do. The three trail heads offer three loops just over a mile each. The Preservation Loop, Conservation Loop and Johnson fishing ponds are available for outdoor enthusiasts on a Catch and Release basis.
“The Norma Johnson Center is a unique outdoor experience that will keep you coming back for more!
Website: Norma Johnson Center
Upcoming Summer Events
TuscParks will be hosting a “Family Fishing Day” at the Norma Johnson Center on Saturday, June 15, 2024 from 9:30am to 11:00am. Registration will take place from 9 to 9:30. This event is sponsored by the Kimble Family and ODNR Step Outside grant. The event will take place at the Norma Johnson Center’s Preservation Pond located behind the yellow pole barn located on SR 39. This event is a free event open to the public but families must register during the specified time listed above. If you do not own a fishing pole and still would like to participate call the office to make arrangements. Prizes will be awarded throughout the day along with special awards being announced at 11:15am. Join us for a morning of fun. There is no charge for the event but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
The event will be cancelled if it rains. The Norma Johnson Center (4033 SR 39, NW Dover OH 44663) is located on State Route 39 between Dover and Sugarcreek. Questions about the event can be answered by calling the TuscParks office, at 330.365.3278, Monday through Friday 8-4:30 or visit the TuscParks Facebook page for more information.
There are five ponds located at the Norma Johnson Center. Throughout the year fishing is allowed on a catch and release basis from dawn to dusk, however, it is catch and release only.
The Family Fishing Day has proven to be a wonderful day for families and friends to gather along the banks of the Preservation Pond at the Norma Johnson Center. With the help of volunteers, those who don’t know much about fishing can still come, learn and have fun.
Click here to Sign Up today
Join other community members on Memorial Day as they tackle the hills of the Norma Johnson Center in the ‘Follow the Flock” 5K Trail Run/Walk. This event is our second annual race and leaves participants with a sense of accomplishment when they cross the finish line. Working with Yellowbrick on 39 our racers will check-in for the race near Norma’s family home. Racers will head over to the NJC yellow pole barn to embark on the race. The Finish line will bring them back to the Yellowbrick where they can enjoy the Yellowbrick Market.
TuscParks will be hosting “Spruce Up the Trails” on Saturday, April 27, 2024 from 9:00am to 12:00pm at the Norma Johnson Center (Yellow Barn – 4033 SR 39, Dover OH 44622). We will be doing general spring cleaning along the trails by collecting litter, cleaning up fallen branches, etc. TuscParks will provide basic hand tools, but volunteers are welcome to bring their own. Gloves and a litter grabber would be helpful to bring if you have them.
Groups and organizations interested in helping year-round should contact TuscParks about our Adopt-a-Trail program.
This event will be held rain-or-shine, but will be cancelled in the event of severe weather. All volunteers must sign a volunteer waiver form. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Please check with the TuscParks or the Norma Johnson Center Facebook page for updates or call TuscParks at 330-365-3279 for more information.
“Volunteers make a huge difference,” says Marsha Freeland. “The Norma Johnson Center always need sprucing up after the winter months and it is so helpful to have community members help with this effort.”
“It is always amazing to explore the trails during the winter months,” says Marsha Freeland. “The forest is still very active at this time of year.”
Winter Hike
TuscParks will be hosting the “Luminary Trail Walk” at the Norma Johnson Center on Saturday December 2, 2023 from 5:00-7:30 PM. The luminary trail walk will begin at the Preservation Loop Kiosk next to the yellow pole barn located along SR 39. The lit trail will be a quarter mile in length. Visitors can walk along the accessible trail through the forest and out to the Preservation Pond. Starting at 5:00 hot chocolate, hotdogs and cookies under the side porch of the yellow barn will be served to welcome guests before and after their walk. There is no charge for the event but children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Donations will be accepted.
This event will be held weather permitting. Please check with our Facebook page for updates.
The Norma Johnson Center is located off of State Route 39 between Dover and Sugarcreek. Questions about the event can be directed to the TuscParks Department office at 330.365.3279 Monday through Friday from 8-4:30.
