Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Drop In: Leprechaun (and more) Trail for Families
2024-03-16 13:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | 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. Scavenger hunts will be posted at the beginning of the trail and paper copies are available in the nature center. Stop inside nature center after your hike for a small prize. 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. All ages.
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. “

Pokémon Go! Community Day Hike
2024-03-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Enjoy playing Pokémon Go at Glacier Ridge Metro Park! Meet staff members at the Shelter House at Glacier Ridge Metro Park.

Signs of Spring
2024-03-16 15:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.25-mile hike through the Walter Tucker Nature Preserve and search for early signs of spring.

For Adults 50+: Duck, Duck, Eagle
2024-03-16 16:00 - 17:30 | Pickerington Ponds, 7680 Wright Road, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
As winter comes to a close, we’ll check in with the eagles and other things with wings during a 2-mile walk on the easy Killdeer trail. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Meet at the Wood Duck Picnic Area parking lot at 4150 Bowen Rd., Canal Winchester

Lookin' for Leprechauns
2024-03-17 12:00 - 16:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Who’s ready for a great game of leprechaun hide-and-seek? Find one of the 100 leprechauns we’ve hidden throughout the park’s picnic areas, and return it to the Naturalist Office between 12-4pm for a prize!

St. Patrick's Day Scavenger Hunt
2024-03-17 13:00 - 15:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by doing a festive scavenger hunt! We will have fun prizes, a craft, and loads of excitement! Meet at the barn shelter to get started.

Mushroom March Madness
2024-03-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Crazy for basketball? Get crazy for fungi! From brackets to “seeds”, join a naturalist and learn all about these amazing decomposers.

Hike Behind the Lake
2024-03-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike 1.5 mi on natural surface trails through the Walden Waterfowl Refuge. Prepare for mud!

Hidden in Plain Sight
2024-03-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Learn about camouflage through a story and games, then become an expert at Leprechaun hide-and-seek through a lucky craft! Ages 5+.

Starting Seeds
2024-03-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Get your garden growing! Join us to learn the basics to successfully start seeds indoors. We will provide the opportunity to start seeds to take home with you.

Intro to Slackline
2024-03-18 11:30 - 13:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for Intro to Slackline! Slackline, very similar to a tightrope, is a section of webbing pulled taut and supported by two anchors. Feel free to stop by and try it out, as well as ask any questions regarding safety and technique! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area

Deep Dive into Vernal Pools
2024-03-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Come learn about these precious pools and the secrets they hide inside while meeting some of the animals that live there! Meet at the Honda Wetland Education Area (1 mile south of Glacier Ridge main entrance)

Fitness Series: Intro to Rucking
2024-03-19 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Join us for our fitness series and learn the basics of rucking! Rucking involves hiking with weights. Meet at the climbing wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park.

Adult Wetland Hike
2024-03-20 11:00 - 12:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Walk out to the wetland bird blinds with a naturalist! Trail will be a mixture of crushed limestone and dirt surfaces. We will walk about 3 miles. Ages 18+
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.

Try It! Archery
2024-03-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us at the Scioto Grove Metro Park Archery Range for a fun, free day of archery! All equipment provided. Recommended for ages 8+, but all ages are welcome to try with parental supervision.

Woodpecker Walk
2024-03-21 14:00 - 15:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Stroll through the forest with a naturalist as we learn about woodpeckers in Ohio and where to find them. We will meet by the picnic shelters and the flagpole.

Doggie Egg Hunt
2024-03-22 16:00 - 17:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Come out for a Doggie Egg Hunt! Free and Fun, a doggone good time for pups and humans alike! Meet at the Glacier Ridge Dog Park

Walk To The Eagle Nest
2024-03-23 10:00 - 23:30, 2024-03-23 13:30 - 15:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn about our national bird then go on a 1.5 mile roundtrip walk to observe them in the nest. Wear shoes and clothes suitable for mud. Bring binoculars if you have them. Meets at Madison Christian Church parking lot, 3565 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Signs of Spring at 100 Acre Wood
2024-03-23 14:00 - 15:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Hike 1.5 mi on seep unimproved trail to search for signs of spring and possibly spy in the bald eagles at their nest. Meet at 5220 Cambria Way. Prepare for mud.

Moonlight Hike
2024-03-23 19:00 - 21:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Experience woodland trails under moonlight on a guided 5-mile hike. Terrain at Clear Creek is steep and uneven. Meet at the Creekside Meadows Parking Lot, 23833 Clear Creek Rd in Rockbridge.

Intro To Trail Running
2024-03-24 11:00 - 12:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
This program will be centered around Trail Running! From beginners to experienced runners, all are welcome!! Join us for a staff led program including trail running through Scioto Grove Metro Park. This program will cover trail running basics as well as a run/jog on the trails. Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Shelter.

Life in our Watershed: Vernal Pools
2024-03-24 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a 1.5-mile hike out to a vernal pool to search for what’s living inside. Trail will be muddy and may have standing water. Wet Prairie Access- 1378 Darby Creek Dr.

Leprechaun vs. Easter Bunny Escape Trail
2024-03-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Think escape room – only outside! Set off on our 1.5-mile Escape Trail. Make stops at different stations along the way and solve problems to unlock clues that will enable you to successfully finish the trail.

Strange Serpents
2024-03-24 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn the truth about snakes, bust some myths, and meet a few of our slithery friends.

For Adults: Fast-Paced Full Moon Fitness Hike
2024-03-24 20:00 - 21:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Take a fast-paced 2.8 mile hike through the moonlit forests and fields of the park. Meet at the Apple Ridge Bulletin Board.

Forts, Fire & Fun
2024-03-25 15:00 - 17:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Build a fort, try your hand at fire starting, and have fun exploring our natural play area.

Full Moon Hike
2024-03-25 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

Green Giants Hike
2024-03-26 10:00 - 12:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take in all things green and visit an old growth tree on a 4-mile off-trail hike. Terrain at Clear Creek is steep and uneven in areas, wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring water. Meet at the Old Park Maintenance Shop, 9935 Opossum Hollow Road in Rockbridge. Please note there is not a restroom at this meeting location.

Learn the Ropes
2024-03-27 18:00 - 20:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Join Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure and Scioto Audubon Metro Park for a Learn the Ropes program at the climbing wall.
Open to all ages, instruction and equipment are provided. Tennis shoes are the recommended footwear for beginners.
