April 13, 2026
Important Dates…
Monday, April 20: Overfield Summer Camp brochure published.
Tuesday, April 21: Meeting for families enrolled in Kindergarten-3rd Grade for 2026-27, 6 p.m. in the Gathering Place.
Sunday, April 26: Overfield at the Dayton Dragons, 1:05 p.m. at Day Air Ballpark.
Friday, May 1: School-wide Night Hike, 6:30 p.m. beginning at the Gathering Place. Campout for 1st-3rd families only in the Meadow after the Night Hike.
Monday, May 4: Overfield Summer Camp registration opens, 8 a.m. on the Overfield website.
Monday, May 11-Friday, May 15: Week-long residency with The Guitar Man, Jim McCutcheon.
Insights from the Outdoors
As children become primary students they select an Ohio animal to research, and learn everything they can about their animal. They read books, watch documentaries, explore trail camera footage, draw, craft with clay, create games, act like their animals during free time, and anything else their imagination and curiosity take them. The first Friday evening in May the children present what they have learned to friends, families, and the community during our annual event: the Night Hike.
The event is more than sharing knowledge. It shows how resilient, naturally capable, intelligent, and curious children are. Speaking for an hour to a rotation of over a hundred friends, family, and community members on a subject, even one they love, can be intimidating for adults let alone 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders. However, the Overfield primary children show they can do it! Once the event is complete the primary children sit around a bonfire and roast marshmallows, hike through the Hobart Preserve, and have the option to camp overnight with their families.
Night Hike means so much to them and they would love to share their knowledge with all families on May 1, 2026 from 6:30-7:30. Visiting families are also welcome to roast marshmallows and go on a scavenger hunt created by the primary children through the Hobart Preserve.
I encourage you to explore animals with your children. Check out nonfiction books about animals. Watch Wild Kratts with your child and talk about what you learned together. Go on a microadventure to Brukner Nature Center, Glen Helen Nature Preserve, the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, or a zoo, and take time to watch the various ambassador animals. Go on hikes, explore natural areas near you, and spend time in your backyard together. Showing your love and interest for nature further inspires your child’s love for nature.
Robin Ramsey – Naturalist
Artwork from some of Overfield’s 2nd and 3rd graders is now on display at the Troy-Hayner Cultural Center as part of the annual Young Masters exhibit. This show highlights the creative efforts of K-12 students from Troy City Schools, Troy Christian Schools, St. Patrick School, and Overfield. It features nearly 400 pieces of student artwork. The exhibit is open during Hayner’s regular business hours through Sunday, April 22. Exhibits at Troy-Hayner Cultural Center are always free and open to the public.
The Overfield organic veggie garden is coming along nicely, and we know it’s going to grow like crazy this summer! The children have been busy amending soil, planting, weeding, and tasting the goodies that have popped up so far! By August, it will be a beautiful space in which children can learn and snack when they return to school.
We are looking for families to sign up for a Sunday-Saturday shift to help keep our garden thriving and producing throughout the summer. Below you’ll find a link to sign up to help keep our garden amazing all summer long.
Expectations are to weed, search for insects on plants, groundhog openings in the fence, and make sure the garden is getting watered. Volunteers usually stop in a few times during their scheduled week.
Overfield Garden Summer Volunteer Signup
Thank you, Robin Ramsey
