Funded by the Wayne A. and Jessie B. Stainbrook Fund and the Ben Franklin Fund
The Mammoth Run Natural Area is one of Crawford County’s quiet treasures. Just east of Conneaut Lake, its forests, wetlands, and winding streams offer a peaceful place for people to slow down, explore, and reconnect with the natural world. Thanks to generous donors who support the Wayne A. and Jessie B. Stainbrook Fund and the Ben Franklin Fund, this special property is becoming more accessible for everyone.
This year’s grant is helping the French Creek Valley Conservancy (FCVC) take a major step forward through the Mammoth Run Access Improvement Project. The work includes installing new wayfinding signs, trail markers, and informational signage so visitors can confidently navigate the landscape. It also funds the materials needed to build elevated boardwalks that protect fragile wetlands while allowing people to move safely through the most sensitive parts of the trail.
These improvements will create a new loop trail of nearly one mile, constructed by FCVC staff and volunteers. What might look like simple additions on a map actually represent something deeper for the community. Clear signage helps keep visitors safe. Boardwalks preserve the integrity of the wetlands that filter our water. A completed trail gives families, hikers, and nature lovers a place to return to again and again.
The project also opens the door for more meaningful learning opportunities. FCVC hopes to bring students from regional schools to Mammoth Run for hands on lessons that build on their existing environmental programs. Seeing wildlife, wetlands, and conservation practices up close turns classroom concepts into something real. These moments shape how young people understand and value the world around them.
Mammoth Run is more than a place to hike. It is a property that helps protect the health of Conneaut Lake and the larger watershed. FCVC has conserved more than one hundred eighty acres near the tributaries that feed the lake, creating natural buffers that help reduce pollution and keep the water clean. Improving access to the property means more people can experience the land that quietly works to protect the community every day.
This project shows the power of local generosity. Donors who give to endowed funds help create lasting changes that strengthen our region year after year. Their support allows conservation organizations like FCVC to protect natural spaces, open trails, and offer places where people can feel connected to the environment and to one another.
Every gift tells a story. Every story becomes a legacy.
Be the first to know how your support is making a difference in Crawford County.