Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Monarch March
2024-08-27 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1-mile walk while we search for monarch caterpillars and butterflies.

Nature Tram
2024-08-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Hop on the tram and enjoy a guided ride through the park.

Mammals of Ohio
2024-08-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn about Ohio mammals and their adaptations on this 1.25-mile hike.

Ultraviolet Night Hike
2024-08-25 20:00 - 21:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Take a hike to see who glows after dark.

Music in the Gardens: High Street Stompers
2024-08-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
This New Orleans-style Dixieland jazz band plays music for all ages, and is sure to keep your toes tapping and fingers snapping. Seating is limited, feel free to bring a lawn chair.

Backpacking Series: Week 1- Four Essentials & Site Selection
2024-08-25 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-08-19 18:00 - 19:30 | 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 the 4 essentials of backpacking sleep systems as well as information about picking the proper site to spend your night in the wilderness. It is not as easy as simply pitching a tent, but we will go through all of the steps to set you up for success! We have gear for demonstration, but you are encouraged to bring your own. 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 50+: Picnic On The Ridge
2024-08-25 11:30 - 13:30 | Chestnut Ridge, 8445 Winchester Rd NW, Carroll, OH, 43112, United States
Hike up the Ridge trail to the old homesite and enjoy your packed lunch in the shade of trees. After fortifying ourselves with lunch we will hike the rest of the Homesite and Ridge trails. The trails are considered moderate to difficult on this 1.4-mile trek. Bring your lunch and a chair or blanket for picnicking. We will have a limited number of camp chairs. Chairs can be transported to the top of the ridge.
Meet in the 2nd parking lot at the end of the park by the bulletin board and restrooms.

For Adults: Calm Down Hike
2024-08-25 10:30 - 12:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Want to learn how to channel your inner nature aspect? Take a 3-mile hike and learn about all the cool and colorful things to touch and explore. Ages 18+. Little Darby Picnic Area, 3711 Gardner Rd.

Family Tram Rides
2024-08-24 16:00 - 16:30, 2024-08-24 15:00 - 15:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Enjoy a narrated tour of Blendon Woods in the open-air tram.

For Kids: Sensory Hike
2024-08-24 15:00 - 16:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Practice sensory skills while learning more about the pieces of an ecosystem during a guided hike with activities to engage our senses with nature. Hike will be approximately .5-1 mile over crushed limestone trails. Expect hills and off-trail exploration.
Meeting Location Notes: Highbanks Nature Center is the first right after entering the park. There is limited parking in the Nature Center lot on busy days. Additional parking is available in the Oak Coves Picnic Area, a 10 minute walk from the Nature Center. Follow the paved trail through Oak Coves toward the Nature Center.

Homemade Dog Treat
2024-08-24 14:00 - 16:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Dog Park. Use address 2600 Dublin Rd Columbus OH 43228 and follow the roadway till it stops and take a left. The dog park will be on your right.
Come and make a no-bake dog treat for your pet to enjoy!

Inniswood Book Club
2024-08-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us to discuss “The Seed Keeper” by Diane Wilson.

Bark Bash
2024-08-24 10:00 - 16:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
This fun-filled event promises a day of canine-centric activities and entertainment for dog lovers and their four-legged friends.
Bark Bash will be held at the Darby Bend Lakes area of Prairie Oaks Metro Park from 10 am to 4 pm on August 24, 2024, and will feature canine vendors dedicated to all your dog needs, canine rescue organizations, humane societies, food vendors, and more! Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure will host stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking for humans and their pups, and owners can customize and tie-dye a bandana for their companion with Friends of Metro Parks. There will be walking trails, a lake for dogs to swim in, and an ice castle to cool off in.
Have questions? Contact Metro Parks at info@metroparks.net.
Find more information here.

After Dark: Moths and Mammals
2024-08-23 21:00 - 23:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join us after hours and marvel at the night flying insects and mammals that we don’t normally see as they visit our light traps and feeders behind the Nature Center.

Outdoor Movie Night - The Big Year
2024-08-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Join Metro Parks at Scioto Audubon Metro Park for a FREE screening of The Big Year. Movies start at dark. Bring a chair or blanket to sit on the lawn!
Movie Synopsis:
“Three men find that they have come to a turning point. Stu (Steve Martin) faces a late-life crisis, Kenny (Owen Wilson) is in the grip of a midlife crisis, and Brad (Jack Black) is wallowing in a no-life crisis. Determined to kick-start their stagnant lives, Stu, Kenny and Brad decide to enter a prestigious contest. During the course of one calendar year, the three friendly rivals criss-cross North America in a quest to count more species of birds than anyone else.”
Movie rated PG

Date Night: Creeking
2024-08-23 19:00 - 20:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Bring your significant other for an evening of exploration in the Olentangy River! Wear closed-toed shoes that can get wet and get ready to learn all about our fascinating river inhabitants. Adults 18+
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.

Bison
2024-08-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join a naturalist to learn about bison. Expect a short walk to the bison pasture.

Forest Bathing
2024-08-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join a naturalist in some good ol’ nature therapy! Feel free to bring something to sit on that’s easy to carry as we take a short hike and practice some quiet, stress-relieving techniques surrounded by greenery. Ages 7+. Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Composting for Beginners
2024-08-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
What is composting? What can you compost? How do you start? These are all wonderful questions that we will cover at our composting program! Come join us for a group information session about composting where we will discuss and answer some of your questions and teach you the basics to get started. We will also be able to provide some material to help you get started! Please bring a bag and your questions to get ready to have a fun night of composting with us!
This program is geared towards ages 12 and up. Meet at the lakeside pavilion (beside 4th parking lot). This building is covered so weather will not affect the program.

Try It! Kayaking
2024-08-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out anytime during the listed times and enjoy kayaking the lake at Quarry Trails Metro Park, kayaking will be first come first served. Solo, sit in kayaks available for ages 10+, max weight: 275Ibs. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for participants of all ages, with an adult, on a first come first serve basis. Equipment and instruction is provided. Free and fun!
Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances-
* The closest parking lot to the paddling launch area is off of Trabue Road. The address is 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. This is a newly opened entrance. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

For Adults: Summer Fungi
2024-08-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn about mushrooms and search the trails for fungi on this 1.25-mile hike.

Preschool Storytime- Tops and Bottoms
2024-08-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program begins at 10 am behind the farmhouse.
Enjoy a story about plants, learn about which parts we eat, and do a craft.

Try It! Kayaking and SUP
2024-08-21 15:00 - 18:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and try standup paddle boarding and kayaking for free at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Darby Bend Lakes. SUPs and Solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-kayaks have a 275Ibs limit. Meet at Lake 1 at Darby Bend Lakes, 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard OH.
First come/first serve. Equipment and instruction are provided.

Nature Kids: Creek Exploration
2024-08-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 2-mile hike (round-trip) to Blacklick Creek to wade in the water in search of fish, frogs, insects and crayfish.

Butterfly Hike
2024-08-21 10:00 - 12:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Search for butterflies, learn about habitat management and monitoring efforts on a 2.5-mile hike with the Naturalist. Meet at the Fern Parking Lot, 22937 Clear Creek Road in Rockbridge.

Try It! SUP
2024-08-20 15:00 - 18:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out and try standup paddle boarding for free at Quarry Trails Metro Park. First come first served. All equipment provided. Ages 10+
Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances-
* The closest parking lot to the paddling launch area is off of Trabue Road. The address is 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. This is a newly opened entrance. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Toddler Time: Touch and Feel
2024-08-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Explore the Gardens using the sense of touch. Enjoy hands on activities and a walk.

Full Moon Hike
2024-08-19 20:00 - 22:00 | 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.
