Summer Children’s Programs: Bullfrogs
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-24 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Hop over to Inniswood to discover the amazing adaptations of Ohio’s state frog.

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-06-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out and try stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking for free at Quarry Trails Metro Park! First come, first served. All equipment provided. SUPs and solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-in kayaks have a 275Ibs limit.
*Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances, the closest parking lot to the paddling launch area is off of Trabue Road.*
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Adaptive Adventures: Bubble Playdate Party
2025-06-25 13:00 - 15:30 | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adaptive Adventures: Come have a bubble playdate at the Inclusive Playground at Blendon Woods Metro Park! Small bubble party favors will be available as well as a bubble machine. BYOB- Bring Your Own Bubbles for more bubble fun!
* Our Adaptive Adventures Programs are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families!

Meet the Animals
2025-06-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Visit the Nature Center to meet our animal ambassadors.

For Families: Try It Tae Kwon Do
2025-06-26 10:00 - 10:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join black belt instructors from Tiger Woo’s World Class Tae Kwon Do for a 30 minute Taekwondo lesson. This martial arts class instills confidence, builds strength and agility, and develops coordination. No experience necessary. Please wear comfortable gym attire. Free! Kids ages 4 and older. Meet at Highbanks Metro Park- nature center
Feel free to come to one or all these sessions
Thu 6/26/25 @ 10am “Cooperation”
Thu 7/10/25 @ 10am ” Respect”
Thu 7/17/25 @ 10am “Confidence”
Meeting location notes- Nature Center: Highbanks Nature Center is the first right after entering the park. Limited parking in the nature center parking lot on busy days. Additional parking available in the Oak Coves Picnic Area. The Oak Coves picnic area, 10-min walk from the nature center. Follow the paved trail through Oak coves toward the nature center.

MUD DAY!
2025-06-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Wallow to your heart’s content and have some down and dirty fun at our annual mud day event. Rinse station provided. Follow signs in park for location.

Pride Paddle
2025-06-26 15:00 - 19:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Celebrate Pride Month with this LGBTQ+-friendly paddling program!! Come out and try stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking for free at Quarry Trails Metro Park. First come first served. All equipment provided. SUPs and Solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-kayaks have a 275Ibs limit.
*Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances. Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr. Columbus, OH for the Lakes Area lot*

Friday Storytime
2025-06-27 10:00 - 10:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Have fun with early literacy in the park! These 30-40min programs are aimed at kids 2-5yrs. Children and their grownups will enjoy books, rhymes, songs and fun while arousing curiosity about the natural world.

Tots on Trails
2025-06-27 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Share a slow-paced, half-mile hike with your toddler and discover nature together.

Kayak the Lake
2025-06-27 16:00 - 19:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Come out to Sharon Woods Metro Park Schrock lake and try out a kayak! Solo, sit in kayaks will be available with a max weight of 275 lbs, and are open to ages 10+. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for all ages with an adult present. Equipment and instruction provided. First come, first served.

Night Hike
2025-06-27 21:00 - 22:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a 2-mile interpretive hike through the forests and prairies under the starlight.

Try it! Archery
2025-06-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come out to Scioto Grove Metro Park and try your hand at this free archery program! Come out anytime between the times listed. All equipment and instruction is provided. Recommended for Ages 8+.

Wildflower Watercolor
2025-06-28 11:00 - 12:30, 2025-06-28 14:00 - 15:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adults and kids can learn basic watercolor techniques to paint some simple wildflowers.

Adults Only: Lunchtime Chat Tram Ride
2025-06-28 12:00 - 12:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hop on the Metro Parks tram for a 30min narrated tour of the park. Tram departs from the Nature Center.

Summer Fungi
2025-06-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist and learn about mushrooms while we search the trails for fungi on this 1.25-mile hike.

Science Saturday: Terrific Trees
2025-06-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Our summer series, Science Saturday, is back again! This time, we are joining National Day of Play in encouraging kids to get outside, be playful, and explore!
We will be learning some basic tree ID, discussing how the trees talk, and enjoying fun crafts and activities!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Wind and Solar lot, rain or shine!

Day of Play
2025-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at Kingfisher Shelter for activities including corn hole, a camp fire, fishing, archery and more!
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive and follow the road back to the Lake Area parking lot.

Campfire Cooking
2025-06-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for a meal around the campfire at Scioto Grove, and learn how to make your own campfire treat! All materials and equipment will be provided, free and fun! Meet at the Arrowhead Shelter.

Discovery Night Hike
2025-06-28 20:30 - 21:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist for a 1.5-mile hike in the forest while searching for fireflies and learning about animals that are awake at night!

Let's Glow!
2025-06-28 20:30 - 21:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join us for an illuminating evening as we learn about the magical world of fireflies! Then, we’ll head out on a guided 1-mile night hike lighting up the trail with glow sticks as we search for fireflies in their natural habitat.

Dragons & Damsels
2025-06-29 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a hike with us to the creek as we search on land and in the water for dragonflies and damselflies in all life stages. Closed toed shoes required. Meet at the Little Darby Picnic Area, 3711 Gardner Rd, Georgesville, OH.

Insect Safari
2025-06-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about insects,then take nets and jars into the field to hunt for some

Nature No-Nos
2025-06-29 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a half-mile hike and learn about some wild plants and animals, like poison ivy and venomous snakes, that are best left alone.

Animal Senses
2025-06-30 11:00 - 12:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Meet a naturalist in Big Meadows to learn about animals of the meadow, their senses, and how they use them to survive in their habitat. Stay afterwards to take a self guided stroll through the Big Meadows area to see what animals you can spot! Ages 6+ recommended. Program will be entirely outdoors.
Meeting Location Oak Coves 3rd parking lot: The Oak Coves picnic area is your first LEFT after entering the park. Once you turn left into the Oak Coves picnic area, we will be in the third parking lot. Meet the naturalist at the bulletin board. Follow the orange program signs. If the parking lot is full, the Oak Coves picnic area has 4 other parking lots within 5-8 minutes walking time of the meeting location.

Toddler Tuesday: Summer Colors
2025-07-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Summer sure is hot, but there’s LOTS of colors to look for and find! Join us for a fun story about summer colors, a fun activity, and a short hike!
This program is geared for ages 2-4. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Family Creeking
2025-07-01 11:00 - 12:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Explore the Olentangy River to look for some of the animals that live in the river. Be prepared to get wet! Shoes required in the river for your safety. Please no flip flops. Limited supply of buckets and nets. All animals will be released back into the river at the end of the program. Don’t forget a towel and complete a change of clothes to dry off after the program. All ages.
Meet in Big Meadows. 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.
