The 1.5-mile Pond Loop trail at Ooms Preserve in Chatham features a wide mowed path through fields of wildflowers.

A bench looking out over Sutherland Pond at Ooms Preserve offers a peaceful resting spot.

A view over Sutherland Pond at Ooms Preserve. Both the pond and the preserve are named after local landowners.

Thunder rumbled as I opened the car door at the Ooms Preserve in Chatham.

“Mom,” my 14-year-old daughter said from the front seat next to me. Raindrops were pattering on the windshield.

Ooms Preserve is located at 480 Rock City Road in Chatham.

Besides the 1.5-mile Pond Trail, Ooms also features several shorter trails, including the 0.8 mile Meadowlark Trail and the 0.6 mile Monarch Trail.

A map of can be found online at https://columbialand.org/get-outside/clc-properties/ooms

“It’s fine,” I said and handed them an umbrella. “Let’s get going.”

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Thunder rolled again in the distance.

“Mom!” Nikk protested.

“It’s fine,” I said again, faking........

© Times Union