Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Full Moon Family Hike
2024-09-16 19:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for a hike through the nighttime woods and moonlit fields on an easy, 1 mile guided hike that ends at Schrock Lake.

Fast Paced Full Moon Hike
2024-09-16 19:30 - 20:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for a brisk 2.8 mile hike through nighttime woods and moonlit fields with no stops. Not recommended for young children.

Preschool: Hey Little Ant
2024-09-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Get the real scoop on ant life through literature, activities and crafts, and go an an ant safari!

For Adults 50+: Nature of Nuts
2024-09-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Go nutty and take a 1-mile walk through the woods in search of nuts, seeds, and maybe a fruit or two while discovering their roles in Ohio’s ecosystems. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Try It! Archery
2024-09-17 16:30 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy free and fun archery at the range! All equipment and instruction are provided. Open to ages 8+. Meet at the archery range at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Pawpaw Prowl
2024-09-17 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn about Ohio’s official native fruit and try a sample on this 1.25-mile hike.

Full Moon Hike
2024-09-17 19:00 - 21:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a brisk 4-mile hike through forests and fields. Meet us at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Drive.

Homeschoolers: Goin' Nutty!
2024-09-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-09-18 13:30 - 14:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Walk through the woods in search of nuts, seeds and maybe a fruit or two while discovering the roles they play in Ohio’s ecosystems. Includes science and fun! Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Preschool: Life of a Seed
2024-09-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-09-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Preschool is back in session! Join us for a fun lesson focused on the life of a seed. Where do seeds come from? How far do they travel? How do seeds grow? Learn all this and more during our program along with a story, a craft, and a short hike.
This program is geared for ages 3-6. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Homeschoolers: Fall Fungi
2024-09-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Celebrate National Mushroom Month by learning about and searching the trails for fungi on this 1.25-mile hike.

For Families: Bug Safari
2024-09-18 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Borrow a hand lens and explore the gardens with the educators as we search for insects.

Wednesday Evening Fitness Hike
2024-09-18 18:00 - 19:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike 2 or 4 mi. on grave and natural surface trails. Moderate pace. Stairs and hills.

Harvest Full Moon Hike
2024-09-18 19:00 - 20:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet in the Kingfisher Shelter Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive Columbus OH 43228. Come on a 1.5 mile full moon hike.

Kids Crafts - Trees are Terrific
2024-09-19 11:00 - 14:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Kids of all ages and their adults can join us for a short Tree ID hike where we will learn the names of some common trees. Afterwards we will do a fun tree-themed craft. If you don’t want to hike, you can stop by the shelterhouse anytime until 2:00 and make the craft.

Land HO-mestead!
2024-09-19 16:30 - 17:30 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Ahoy, matey! Celebrate ye favorite holiday – Talk Like a Pirate Day – with the crew at Homestead Metro Park! Sing a chantey, venture out on hunt for booty, and brush up on ye pirate lingo. Don’t be a landlubber and party like a pirate with us!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

For Adults: Nature Journals
2024-09-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Bring your own journal and discover how to use it to grow your knowledge and deepen your connection with nature.

For Adults 50+: Dog Park Gathering
2024-09-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Rocky Fork, 7180 East Walnut St., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Bring your canine friends and join other like-minded pup owners for an evening at the dog park. We’ll have refreshments for people and treats for dogs. Bring water and a bowl for your pooch. Please follow all posted dog park rules.
Meet in the Millstone Area at the back of the park

For Adults 50+: Off The Beaten Path at Camp Starview
2024-09-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Slate Run Day Camp, 9631 Neiswander Road, Ashville, Ohio, 43103
Hike 2-miles through ravines and over creek beds on an unimproved, dirt, grass and gravel trail. Be prepared, we may get a little wet and muddy on this moderate to difficult trail. Bring water as there is no potable water available.
Meet at Camp Starview at 9631 Neiswander Rd., Ashville 43103

Parade of BIRD Homes
2024-09-21 11:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
It’s a showcase of the finest in bird-home building! Drop by the Nature center any time to learn about quality house building, how to attract residents, and who your new tenants might be.

Making Sorghum Molasses
2024-09-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3pm at the barnyard
Watch as sorghum is pressed and boiled down to make molasses

Forts, Fire & Fun
2024-09-21 14:00 - 15:00 | OH
Roast marshmallows by the fire and work as a team to build a fort in our natural play area.

Welcome to Fall Event
2024-09-21 17:00 - 20:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join us from 5-8pm for a fun family event to celebrate the first days of fall! Enjoy hayrides, inflatables, campfires & marshmallows, archery and other outdoor activities. The Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves will be here with stream critters for you to explore. Don’t forget to bring your picnic dinner and enjoy all the fun activities. Hayride lines will end at 730pm, so everyone can get back for the 8pm outdoor movie “How to Train your Dragon ” Movie starts at dark (approx 8:pm). All ages. FREE!
Meeting location notes:Highbanks Metro Park-Big Meadows Picnic Area. This meeting location is located near the back of the park area in the back of the park. After you enter the park, take the main road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, a sign will be on the right side saying “Big Meadows picnic area”. After the sign, take the ROAD on the LEFT. Park in the first lot on the left. Meet near the restrooms/bulletin board/playground area.

Outdoor Movie Night - How to Train Your Dragon 2
2024-09-21 19:00 - 22:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join Metro Parks at Highbanks Metro Park for a FREE How to Train Your Dragon 2 screening. Movies start at dark. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the lawn!
Movie Synopsis:
“Five years have passed since Hiccup and Toothless united the dragons and Vikings of Berk. Now, they spend their time charting the island’s unmapped territories. During one of their adventures, the pair discover a secret cave that houses hundreds of wild dragons — and a mysterious dragon rider who turns out to be Hiccup’s long-lost mother, Valka (Thikumporn Rittapinun). Hiccup and Toothless then find themselves at the center of a battle to protect Berk from a power-hungry warrior named Drago.”
Movie rated PG

Bat Tram
2024-09-21 20:00 - 22:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Learn about bats while taking a tram ride around the park! The tram will be equipped with detectors to allow us to hear the bats.
Seating is limited to the first 18 people.
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the barn shelter at 8:30pm. We will leave when it is dark and will return to the shelter at 10pm.

Autumn Equinox
2024-09-22 07:00 - 20:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Celebrate the Astronomical Fall (the 1st Day of Fall & the time when day and night are equal) by watching the sun rise over Schrock Lake. Learn the science behind this special day and participate in an activity to welcome in the new season.

Backpacking Series: Week 5- Prep, Safety & Outdoor Ethics
2024-09-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Are you wanting to learn more about backpacking? Join us for a 6-week long series of interactive classes designed as an introduction to backpacking, building up to an overnight trip at the end! Attendance at all classes is NOT required – however the overnight trip will only be open to those who attend at least one class. Each weeks topic will have two dates to choose from in that week so participants can pick the day that works best for them to attend, you don’t need to attend both dates in the week. Meet at Arrowhead Picnic area at Scioto Grove Metro Park
This week we will be discussing Leave No Trace principles, body preparation for the trail and much more! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area at Scioto Grove Metro Park.
Fall Backpacking Series:
Week 1: 4 Essentials & Site Selection
Week 2: Water & Waste
Week 3: Fuel, Fire & Food
Week 4: Clothing & Foot Care
Week 5: Prep, Safety and Outdoor Ethics
Week 6: Shakedown Hike!

For Adults: Fall Fruits Walk
2024-09-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about fall fruits and how they help wildlife. Trails are a mix of paved, crushed limestone, boardwalk, and some turf.

Autumnal Hike and Hot Coco
2024-09-22 15:00 - 16:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy the Autumn solstice at Scioto Grove Metro Park this September! Meet at Arrowhead Picnic Shelter, grab a cup of hot cocoa, and go for a hike with Metro Parks staff.
