Cole Potts and his sister, Qovona “Q,” are the children of Jeff and Tena Potts of New Concord. Cole Potts said he wasn’t a good student − he cut classes until he was warned to "shape up or forget your diploma."
He graduated from John Glenn High School in 2006.
Potts worked various jobs, including building computers. He acknowledges it took him a long time to "get with it." He was a late bloomer, almost 30, when he began giving serious thought about college. He was motivated by one of his best friends who encouraged him to get his degree.
Shortly thereafter, the saddest part happened − his friend committed suicide. Potts thought, “Now, I have to go to college.”
Potts got an associates degree at Hocking College in parks and museum education. Then, “right out of the gate,” he was given the environmental education intern position at Hocking. About three months into that he also was serving as the site manager at the Hocking College Nature Center and Robbins Crossing Historical Village.
He also was enrolled at Ohio University for working toward a bachelor's in recreational management even though he was 10 years older than his classmates. Potts graduated in 2024 from OU. During that entire time he also was working as the manager at Robbin’s Crossing and the Hocking College Nature Center.
The next big step for Potts was coming to Crawford County and becoming the director of the Crawford Park District.
He was excited and feels that because he went to college so late, he can do just about anything now. Potts, with his outgoing sense of humor, laughed and said, “Fake it until you make it.”
The new position has a lot more responsibly because the scope is so big. He welcomes what lies ahead of him, he said.
Plans for Crawford Park District - birds of prey
Potts sees a lot of potential. There has been so much done already, but he wants to grow the park system even more. He wants more people involved. He wants to learn what the community is looking for and how the park can better support those ideas.
Potts loves talking to people. He likes to know their stories, what they are doing and why. Those are the kind of connections he wants to develop.
Currently, Potts is wrapping up projects at the parks. He also has connections with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is trying to introduce new programs to get the community excited.
He recently spoke with the Naturalist Supervisor Jeff Large of Hocking Hills about a bird of prey program. Potts researched older newsletters and, as far as he knows, Crawford Park District hasn’t done a lot of raptor programs. Large could bring two owls and work with them on a one-on-one basis.
The owls used in the programs are accustomed to being around people, so it’s not the same as those in the wild. The great horned owl has amazing strength and could crush a softball with a grip strength of 500 pounds per square inch.
Potts has enjoyed presenting programs about owls, hawks and vultures. He finds it to be an engaging experience for the audience. The birds usually are seen at a distance, so really close up is exciting. The lowly vulture, not to be misconstrued with a hawk, cleans up humans' messes. They pick up road kill and, while doing so, they help keep diseases down. It gives them a little status for their good work.
Vultures and hawks are in the family of raptors − birds of prey − that eat other animals. For example, a hawk will go after live prey and get a squirrel, or whatever, by swooping down on top of the animal.
Honeybee program at Lowe-Volk Nature Center
Potts wants to introduce everyone in the community to the eight parks in the system, which cover over 600 acres. He has only been on the job one month, but he hopes to go to the each park to present programs. That includes a program he is developing at the Lowe-Volk Nature Center for this fall about honeybees. From produce to medicines, bees are involved. For example, propolis, or “bee glue,” can be used to reduce scarring after a wound heals.
Potts says every day he learns something new, and he can’t wait to present the programs he has in mind. It’s been a crazy life but lots of fun. He never thought he would be doing the work he is engaged in right now, and he hopes to grow the park system and bring in new people to the parks.
Anyone can become a member of The Friends of the Crawford Park District. Call 419-683-9000. Memberships will receive a 10% discount in the shop, and seasonal newsletters; the fall issue will be mailed out soon. The newsletters inform readers about events in the county, the animals and plants of the area, and all seasonal programs. People can visit crawfordparkdistrict.org or Facebook for more information.
Go online for more of Mary Fox’s stories and photos on bucyrustelegraphforum.com . If you are interested in sharing a story, write Mary Fox, 931 Marion Road, Bucyrus, OH 44820 or email littlefoxfactory@columbus.rr.com .
This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Happened in Crawford County: Friend and tragedy put Cole Potts on journey to park district
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