2026 So Wild a Place is October 3rd
Join Us for Music, Community, and Conservation
Each year, the Conservancy hosts a variety of monthly events. We like to try new ideas, but two events have become annual traditions:
So Wild a Place
A yearly celebration of the land we love.
So Wild a Place is Black Swamp Conservancy’s annual fundraiser, bringing together people who care about conservation and the future of our region.
Woods, wetlands, rivers, and family farms shape the character of northwest Ohio and the future we want to protect. As Henry David Thoreau wrote, “In wildness is the preservation of the world.”
At So Wild a Place, we gather to honor these truths: the quiet strength of a floodplain forest, the resilience of a prairie, and the hum of life in a thriving wetland.
Join us for an evening of local food, good company, music, and inspiration from the wild places that support us.
Whether you join us for the cause or the community, you’ll leave feeling renewed in your commitment to conservation.
Why So Wild a Place Matters
Woods, wetlands, and farm fields are more than just beautiful scenery. They are the foundation of a healthy future. These places give wildlife a home, protect our communities by soaking up floodwaters, and help filter out nutrients and pollutants that can harm our streams, rivers, and Lake Erie.
By supporting So Wild a Place, you help protect the lands that clean our water, shelter wildlife, and give us all a place to breathe, reflect, and renew. Together, we can make sure these wild and working landscapes last for our communities now and for future generations.
Music on the Maumee: Paddle & Groove
A concert series on the Maumee River.
Get ready to float, groove, and celebrate summer on the Maumee!
Paddle & Groove is here to stay, and we’re excited to spend each summer with you paddling down the river. This unique floating concert series brings live music right to the river. We’ll put a band on a pontoon boat, you’ll hop into a kayak, and together we’ll head down the Maumee, playing music along the way.
Enjoy a perfect summer evening surrounded by water, nature, community, and music. Whether you’re dancing in your kayak or just drifting with the current, you’ll remember this event.
Come for the music. Stay for the mission. Paddle for the future.
Why Paddle & Groove
Paddle & Groove isn’t just a concert…it’s a celebration of the Mighty Maumee and the conservation work that keeps it flowing clean and strong. Every paddle stroke and musical note echoes the efforts of the Conservancy’s mission.
When you join us on the water, you’re not only enjoying music, you’re floating through the heart of our work, where restored prairies, wetlands, and streams upstream support better water and healthier communities downstream.