Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Bird Hike to the Wetland
2026-03-14 08:00 - 10:00 (America/New_York) | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Head out to the wetland to search for migrating ducks and song birds. Hike will be ~2.5 miles total and a mix of crushed limestone and dirt trails with rolling hills. Bring a pair of binoculars if you have them; some will be available to borrow. All ages.
Meeting location: Oak Coves Picnic Area
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.

How to Install a Bog Garden
2026-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join Wild Ones Columbus to learn how to grow a bog garden.

St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt
2026-03-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Stop by the Naturalist’s Office and participate in a hunt for Leprechauns by hike the Spring Creek Trail. Find 1 Leprechaun per person, return it to the Office and win a prize.

Pi Day Campfire Pies
2026-03-14 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the Nature Center and enjoy Pi Day with a pie made in a campfire.

Take a Lichen to Moss!
2026-03-14 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about mosses and lichens, then make your own mini-habitat to take home. Ages 6+

Fiber at the Farm Series - Cloth, Clothing, & Quilting
2026-03-15 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Join us as we explore fiber arts twice a month during January, February, and March. This is a series of six programs for adults, however, you are free to make the ones that interest you and fit your schedule. Programs will include a presentation and demonstration, as well as opportunities for hands on learning. Enjoy a warm beverage and feel free to bring a fiber project to work on after the main program. Programs will start at 1pm.
Sunday, 3/15/26 Part 6 of a series of 6: Cloth, Clothing, and Quilting
Learn about some of the fibers used for clothing. Explore the popular art of quilting, including some history, types of quilts, and equipment/ accessories. This program is for adults and meets in the farmhouse from 1-3pm.

Shamrocks & Shenanigans
2026-03-15 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the Nature Center to make a craft and hike the Buttonbush Trail to search for lost gold coins and green items.

Eagle Hike @ Hundred Acre Wood
2026-03-15 14:00 - 15:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Hike 1.5 miles along a dirt trail to spy on the eagles at their nest. Meet at 5220 Cambria Way. Park along the street.

Meet the Artist: Vicki Murphy
2026-03-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Innis House, 940 S Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Meet artist of the month, Vicki Murphy, and view her mosaic artwork on display in the Innis House.

Toddler Adventure Club
2026-03-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join us on an exploratory hike at Walnut Woods Metro Park during this month’s Toddler Adventure Club! We will hike as far as possible during the time-frame, and staff will have an adventure pack with compasses, maps, and other adventure tools for kids to utilize during the program. Meet at the Tall Pines Area of Walnut Woods, 6833 Richardson Rd, Groveport.

Deep Stretch Yoga with Naomi
2026-03-16 18:30 - 19:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for an evening of deep stretch yoga at Scioto Grove Metro Park! Yoga will be outdoors weather permitting, with an option to be indoors if needed. Meet at The Grove lodge.

For Adults 50+: Vernal Pool Survey
2026-03-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1-mile hike with a naturalist to collect amphibian traps and learn about how we monitor our vernal pools.

Preschool: Sneaky Snakes
2026-03-17 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-03-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Preschoolers can come to Spring Hollow Lodge and learn all about Ohio snakes. Meet one of our Animal Ambassador snakes and make a fun craft.

Drop In: Leprechaun (and more) Trail for Families
2026-03-17 11:00 - 13:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Hike on your own along a short trail (1/4-mile) around the nature center looking for hidden leprechauns, shamrocks and other St. Patrick’s day items on a scavenger hunt. Stop at the nature center after your hike for more actvities. If the nature center parking lot is full, try playing on the playgrounds in Big Meadows and Oak Coves for a little bit before joining us.
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.

Litter Clean Up
2026-03-17 15:00 - 16:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Help us keep the park beautiful! Grab a bucket, gloves, and trash pickers and help us clean up the litter found in the forest.
We will be off trail and roving around the Red Oak and Marsh Hawk trails.
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Shelter House at 3pm, rain or shine!

St. Patrick's Day Archery
2026-03-17 16:00 - 17:00 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Celebrate St. Patty’s Day with some fun and free archery at Blacklick Woods Golf Course! The program will take place inside the Pro Shop. All equipment provided. Ages 8+

Shamrock Scavenger Hunt!
2026-03-17 18:00 - 19:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come out to Scioto Grove Metro Park and hunt for shamrocks! Shamrocks will be scattered all around the Arrowhead picnic area section of the park, find them all and win a prize!! Meet at the arrowhead picnic shelter for instruction and supplies, free and fun

For Adults: Metro Parks Hiking Club
2026-03-18 10:00 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Join like minded individuals as we hike 2 or 4 miles with limited stops. Natural and gravel surface trails with hills and stairs; moderate pace.

Homeschoolers: Vernal Pool Study
2026-03-18 11:00 - 12:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a half-mile hike with a naturalist to collect amphibian traps and see what has been visiting the swamp.

Homeschool: Vernal Pool Exploration
2026-03-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Discover a whole new world by joining a naturalist to take a hike out to a vernal pool to learn about this important habitat and discover what lives inside! Ages 10+. Trail will be muddy and wet. Meet at Wet Prairie Access.

Glow Archery
2026-03-19 16:00 - 17:30 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
What’s better than archery? GLOW ARCHERY! Come out to the Blacklick Golf Course Pro Shop to enjoy some free and fun, indoor glow-in-the-dark archery! Ages 8+. All equipment provided.

Preschool: Amphibians
2026-03-20 09:30 - 10:30, 2026-03-20 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Learn about amphibians through story, activities, and craft. Indoor program best for ages 3-5.

Story Time
2026-03-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Listen to a reading of “The Noisy Puddle: A Vernal Pool Through the Seasons” by Lina Booth Sweeny and then head to the swamp to look for animals from the book.

Spring Equinox
2026-03-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Drop in to the Naturalist’s Office and learn how to celebrate the official start of Spring!

Signs of Spring
2026-03-20 14:00 - 16:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take a 1.7-mile hike and search for the early signs of spring in the nature preserve. Meet at the Fern parking lot. Fern Parking Lot, 22937 Clear Creek Road, Rockbridge (39.59007, -82.59188)

DIY Sundials
2026-03-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
This class, we will be learning about the history of sundials, and making our own to take home! Meet at The Grove lodge at Scioto Grove Metro Park. This class will take place indoors.

First Day of Spring Hike
2026-03-20 17:30 - 18:30 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Celebrate the first day of Spring with us by exploring the trails with us as we find the signs of spring!
This hike will be approximately 1.5 miles long with mixed trails containing paved, gravel, and dirt paths.
Please wear comfortable, closed toed shoes and layers (as it is always windy).
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Shelter House, rain or shine!
