Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

For Adults: Wildflower Walk
2025-04-23 17:00 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Take a 2-mile walk through the park to search for a variety of spring flowers. Ages 16+.

Ohio Native Plants
2025-04-23 16:00 - 18:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Learn about the importance of native plants, identifying invasive plants, and even take home some natives to help your house blossom!
This program is geared for ages 12 and up. Meet at the shelter house, rain or shine!

Earth Day Trot!
2025-04-22 17:30 - 18:30 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join us for a fast paced hike at Walnut Woods Metro Park this Earth Day! Enjoy the beauty of the Tall Pines area while getting your steps in for the day!! We will hike approx. 2+ miles depending on group preference. Trail is mostly paved and flat. Dog friendly!

Earth Day Extravaganza
2025-04-22 15:00 - 17:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Celebrate Earth Day with us by making some fun crafts to celebrate the Earth! We will have kid friendly and adult friendly crafts. Get outside and celebrate our favorite planet!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Lakeside Pavilion, rain or shine!

Earth Day-Upcycling
2025-04-22 14:00 - 19:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Celebrate Earth Day and learn about how upcycling can help reduce and reuse. Visitors can make their own reusable shopping bag (while supplies last), play some games, and meet a local artist who uses recycled/found objects.

Dating Darters
2025-04-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Come check out how colorful our small fish can get as we do our own dance in the water to catch some darters during their breeding season. Closed toed shoes required. Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Backpacking Series: Week 5- Prep, Safety and Outdoor Ethics
2025-04-21 18:00 - 19:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
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.
Week #5: Prep, Safety and Outdoor Ethics. We will learn how to minimize the impact to our environment during this class, and will prepare for our upcoming overnight trip! Plan for a short hike during this class
Meet at Arrowhead Picnic Shelter at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Eagle Hike
2025-04-20 14:00 - 15:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Join us on Sundays in March to check on the progress of the Bald Eagles at their nest at 100 Acre Woods. Hike 1.5 mi. on a flat, primitive trail. Prepare for mud. Meet at 5225 Cambria Way.

Easter Traditions
2025-04-20 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-04-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Display and craft up from 1-3pm
Learn about using natural dyes for eggs and make a card or decoration.

Off Trail Exploration
2025-04-19 14:00 - 16:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Take a rugged 2 hour off-trail wander through the ravines at Blendon Woods to look for the park’s special geological features as well as spring flowers, birds and other critters. Wear sturdy shoes. 6yrs+

Spring Wildflower Walk
2025-04-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about spring wildflowers on a half-mile walk along the Boardwalk Trail.

Backpacking Series: Week 4- Clothing and Foot Care
2025-04-19 13:00 - 14:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
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.
Week #4: Clothing and Foot Care. This week we will learn how to dress properly for being on the trails! We will also cover preventative foot care to keep pesky blisters away, and how best to treat them if needed.
Meet at Arrowhead Picnic Shelter at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Bark in the Park
2025-04-19 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Bring your furry friend for a 1.5-mile walk through fields and forests! Leashes required. Meet at the Wagtail parking lot, 2914 Georgesville-Wrightsville Rd.

Rabbits Don't Lay Eggs
2025-04-19 10:00 - 14:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Rabbits don’t lay eggs, but many other animals do! Stop by to learn about eggs and nests, play games and make a craft. Visitors can also help us build a bird’s nest large enough to fit a child!

Sounds of Spring Evening Hike
2025-04-18 19:30 - 21:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Who’s calling on a spring evening? Find out as we talk about spring wildlife and go for a 1-mile muddy hike to listen for them! May include off-trail hiking to reach prime areas. All ages.
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.

Garlic Mustard Removal
2025-04-18 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Set off on an adventure to improve the habitat of Blacklick Woods! Help staff remove garlic mustard, an invasive species. Bring gardening gloves.

Tadpole Takeover
2025-04-18 15:00 - 16:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Ages 14+. Take a 1-mile hike to explore a vernal pool and learn the life cycle of frogs, toads and macroinvertebrates! Wear boots and clothes that can get muddy!

Garden Scavenger Hunt
2025-04-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Innis House, 940 S Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Stop by the Innis House to pick up a scavenger hunt and then go out to look for the garden features and plants on the list! Come back to the house when you’re done to claim a prize.

Homeschoolers: Swamp
2025-04-18 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-04-18 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn about wetlands and the animals that inhabit them while we use dip nets to scoop for tadpoles and aquatic insects.

Bunny Hunt Trail
2025-04-18 12:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Find the bunnies hidden on the trail and decode the secret word and get a sweet treat.

Evening S'mores
2025-04-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Enjoy a toasty s’more around a warm campfire at Quarry Trails Metro Park! Meet at the Basin Parking Lot, all equipment provided.
Quarry Trails Metro Park has several separate park entrances. 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.

Micro Wonders
2025-04-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the Nature Center to discover a whole new world by looking through microscopes.

Homeschool: The Best Nest
2025-04-17 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-04-17 11:00 - 12:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Homeschoolers will study different types of birds nests to find out how they are made, conduct a short experiment and learn how to build their own. Program will include a short hike to look for bird nests.

Preschool: All About Eggs
2025-04-16 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-04-16 10:00 - 11:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
The Easter Bunny is not the only one leaving eggs outside, there’s lot of animals who lay eggs in spring. Come learn about the many eggs that you can find at the park with us! We will enjoy a story, a discovery table, a craft, and a short hike.
This program is geared for ages 3-6. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Metro Parks Hiking Club: Fitness Hikes
2025-04-16 13:00 - 14:00 | 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.

For Adults 50+: Bluebell Walk
2025-04-15 13:30 - 15:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn about the natural history of Virginia bluebells and other spring wildflowers on a 1-mile walk. Please wear shoes or boots suitable for muddy, slippery walking. No pets, please. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport. Please note that the bluebell bloom time varies from year-to-year so we may or may not see lots of blooming flowers!
