Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

How We Grow Caterpillars
2025-06-22 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Find out how we raise caterpillars into healthy butterflies and moths. Species covered will include monarchs, giant silkmoths, swallowtails, and more. We will discuss the best ways to keep them healthy and how to support local populations.

For Adults 50+: Kayaking and Stand Up Paddleboarding
2025-06-22 11:00 - 13:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out anytime during the listed time and enjoy kayaking or stand up paddleboarding the lake at Quarry Trails Metro Park. Kayaks and stand up paddleboards will be first come first served. Solo, sit in kayaks available, max weight: 275Ibs. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for participants on a first come first serve basis. Equipment and instruction is provided. Free and fun!
Meet at 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. This is the entrance off of Trabue Rd.

Family Creeking
2025-06-22 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. Learn about the fish we catch including how we identify them in the field with the Native Fish Coalition. Identify the insects we find with Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW). 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.

Evening Meadow Walk
2025-06-21 20:30 - 22:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Enjoy the sights and sounds of summer on an evening meadow walk. This walk will be at a leisurely pace and will be approximately 1 mile. Trail will be flat and a mixture of pavement and crushed limestone. All ages
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.

For Adults 50+: Walk The Dog
2025-06-21 19:30 - 20:30 | Rocky Fork, 7180 East Walnut St., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Take a 1.3-mile paved walk with your furry friend on the Beech Woodland trail. Pets must be leashed.
Meet in the Millstone Picnic Area near the bulletin board

Pups & Plunges
2025-06-21 15:00 - 16:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Bring your pup for a fun-filled outing at the lake! Dogs can take a refreshing swim, make furry friends, and enjoy a special treat made just for them. Meet at Pleasant Valley, 9020 US Route 62, Orient OH.

Discovering Dragonflies
2025-06-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Join local experts as we look for dragonflies and damselflies around the lake.

Celebrating Pollinators
2025-06-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program ongoing from 1-3pm.
Join us as we celebrate National Pollinator Month.
Come learn about beekeeping, gardening for pollinators, and the importance of pollinators in our world.

Summer Nature Crafts
2025-06-21 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the Nature Center and create sum simple, fun summer-themed crafts.

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-06-21 10:00 - 14:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and try stand-up 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 served. Equipment and instruction are provided.

For Adults 50+: Music in the Park with Joanie Calem
2025-06-20 18:30 - 20:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join local singer, Joanie Calem, as she leads us on a musical trip through a time tunnel, singing songs that are seldom heard on the radio these days. Joanie will have you singing along to old favorite standards, folks songs from around the world, humorous parodies about the adventures of getting old and some folk tales as well. Feel free to sit back and listen if you aren’t up to singing along. There is some amphitheater style backless seating or bring your own chair. Enjoy a treat before the music begins at 7pm.
Meet in the amphitheater at the Confluence Area at 3860 Bixby Rd., Groveport

Summer Solstice SUP
2025-06-20 15:00 - 19:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and enjoy the longest day of the year trying stand-up paddleboarding at Prairie Oaks! All instruction and equipment will be provided. Meet at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Darby Bend Lakes, Lake 1 – 2755 Amity Rd. Hilliard OH

First Day of Summer Party!
2025-06-20 12:00 - 15:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
It’s officially summer! Schools out and there’s lots to do at the parks. Join us for an afternoon full of sun, animal encounters, games, and lots more as we celebrate the turn of the season!
Kona Ice will be serving up some delicious snow cones, so don’t miss out!
This program is for all ages. Meet at the Lakeside Pavilion, rain or shine!

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-06-19 15:00 - 18:00 | 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.

Backcountry Hike
2025-06-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take a 5-mile backcountry hike to Winnowing Rock. Terrain at Clear Creek is rugged and steep. Bring water and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Meet at the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster (39.594057, -82.622219).

Learn to Fish!
2025-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Learn the basics of fishing with this free program at Scioto Grove Metro Park! All equipment provided – registration required to borrow a pole. Meet at Hickory Pond.

If you need to borrow equipment, register here.

For Adults: Mysterious Slime Molds
2025-06-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.25-mile hike and learn about slime molds and their role in the forest.

For Kids: All About Bats
2025-06-18 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn about the world’s wonderful bats through activities and stories. Suitable for pre-school and school-age children. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Adaptive Adventures: Daddy & Me Playdate & Popsicles
2025-06-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Come celebrate Father’s Day week with a Daddy & Me Playdate at the Inclusive Playground! We will have popsicles and rock painting in the shelter house! Blendon Woods Metro Park
*Our Adaptive Adventures Programs are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families!

Summer Children’s Programs: Buckeyes
2025-06-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-17 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-17 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Nuts for buckeyes? Join us to learn more about Ohio’s beloved state tree.

Metro Parks Hiking Club: Adult Fitness Hike
2025-06-18 10:00 - 11:30 | 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.

Evening Bird Hike
2025-06-17 19:00 - 20:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take an easy 1-mile hike along Big Darby Creek to look for summer birds. Trail is crushed gravel with a few small hills. All experience levels welcome, limited supply of binoculars available to borrow.

Paracord Survival Bracelets
2025-06-16 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn to make your own paracord survival bracelet. Materials provided.

Concert: Honey and Blue
2025-06-15 17:00 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Enjoy a mix of pop, blues and soul with singer/songwriters Adam Darling and Stephanie Amber. Honey and Blue combines Darling’s sultry bluesy sounds with Amber’s syrupy and raw take on lyrics and harmony. Limited seating provided or bring a chair.

Father's Day Fishing
2025-06-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Celebrate the father in your life with this free fishing program at Scioto Grove Metro Park! All equipment provided – registration required to borrow a fishing pole. Meet at Hickory Pond.

Register here to borrow equipment.
