CLEVELAND, OH—May 26, 2026—The Cleveland Museum of Natural History is celebrating new improvements at Scheele Preserve, a Museum-owned preserve on Kelleys Island, as part of its ongoing commitment to stewardship, access, and education on the island.
Made possible through the support of key funders and partners, the recent work at Scheele Preserve includes a newly created quarter-mile stretch of trail, improvements to the existing trail, new boardwalks over wet areas, and interpretive signage designed to help visitors better understand the preserve’s rare species and habitats.
The new trail winds through shrub swamp and alvar forest, expanding access to a preserve known for its unusual and ecologically significant landscape. Together, the trail and boardwalk improvements will make it easier for guests to explore Scheele’s alvar shrubland, forest, swamp, and lakeshore habitats while deepening appreciation for the Museum’s conservation work on Kelleys Island.
“These enhancements strengthen our ability to care for Scheele Preserve while also making its unique habitats more accessible and meaningful to the public,” said Julia Ross, Executive Director of Impact and Engagement at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. “They reflect our continued investment in Kelleys Island and in helping more people experience and understand this extraordinary place.”
The Museum recognizes and gratefully acknowledges the organizations whose support made this work possible:
To celebrate the improvements and welcome visitors to the preserve, Museum naturalists will host Scheele Preserve Welcome Day on Saturday, June 20, 2026, from 10am to 3pm at Scheele Preserve on Monaghan Road in Kelleys Island. Guided hikes will begin at 10am, noon, and 2pm, leading guests through the preserve’s unique alvar landscape and its shrubland, forest, swamp, and lakeshore habitats. Museum Research Associate and bird bander Tom Bartlett will also be on site to share insights from more than 30 years of studying birds along the Lake Erie coast and islands.
The Welcome Day hikes will use the preserve’s newly improved and expanded trails and boardwalks, offering guests a first-hand look at the recent enhancements while exploring one of Ohio’s rarest ecosystems.
Space is limited for the free hikes, and registration is requested. Scheele Preserve remains free and open to the public during daylight hours year-round.
For more information and to register for one of the free guided hikes, visit the Museum’s website.
About the Cleveland Museum of Natural History
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History illuminates the world around us and inspires visitors to engage with the natural forces that shape their lives. Since its founding in 1920, the Museum has pioneered scientific research to advance knowledge across diverse fields of study and used its outstanding collections, which encompass millions of artifacts and specimens, to deepen the public’s understanding of the dynamic connections between humans and nature. Through its Natural Areas Program, the Museum stewards more than 12,500 acres of protected ecosystems across northern Ohio. A community gathering place, educational center, and research institution, the Museum is a vital resource that serves Cleveland and the nation. For more information, visit CMNH.org.
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Cleveland Museum of Natural History
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