Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Earth Day Tree Planting
2024-04-22 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the dog park parking lot (use address 2600 Dublin Road Columbus OH) and drive back to the dog park.
Come and plant trees for earth day. All supplies provided.

Earth Day Nature Hike
2024-04-22 17:30 - 18:30 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Celebrate Earth Day by going out on a nature hike! Enjoy the fresh air and take a closer look at what makes nature special. Meet at the shelter by the picnic tables and flagpole.

Archery 101
2024-04-23 17:00 - 18:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Ever wanted to learn in-depth and hands on Archery Skills? Now is your chance! Register for this beginner archery class, we will be going over stance, form, aim and other tips and tricks all about archery! Meet at the archery range at Scioto Grove metro park promptly at the start time

Tots on Trails
2024-04-24 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.

Learn the Ropes
2024-04-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Have you always wanted to try rock climbing at Scioto Audubon Metro Park? Come to Learn the Ropes and try it out for free! Open to all ages, instruction and equipment are provided. Tennis shoes are the recommended footwear for beginners. Pre-register for a guaranteed spot: https://ohfranklinctyweb.myvscloud.com/webtrac/web/iteminfo.html?Module=AR&FMID=23411321

Storytime
2024-04-25 10:00 - 10:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Have fun with literature in the park. Introduce your little one to nature with stories, songs, and large motor activities.

Orienteering For Kids!
2024-04-25 16:00 - 17:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Orienteering is a sport that combines navigation with speed! This for kids level program will go over the basics of the sport as well as practice by playing a game! Instruction and equipment provided! Meet at the shelter house in the back of the park

Quarry Trails History Hike
2024-04-26 15:00 - 16:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at Sled Hill parking lot – use address 2600 Dublin Road and turn into the 4th parking lot (gravel).
Come on a 3 mile hike to learn about the history of Quarry Trails.

Migration Mania
2024-04-27 09:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.5-mile hike and search the forest for migrating songbirds, like warblers, vireos, tanagers and more.

Waste Not, Want Not
2024-04-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3pm.
Compare recycling now with an 1880s family’s necessary reuse of many farm and household items.

Fly Fishing 101
2024-04-28 11:00 - 13:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Have you ever wanted to learn about fly fishing but didn’t know where to start? Come to this free and fun program and learn what fly fishing is and how to get started! We will practice casting and get a chance to fish on the beautiful lakes at Quarry Trails Metro Park! All equipment provided. Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances-
* The closest parking lot to the Lakes is off of Trabue Road. 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.

Drop In: Learn about Backpacking
2024-04-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Are you interested in backpacking or backcountry hiking, but not sure how to get started? Come and explore the possibilities! At our backpacking and hiking open house we’ll have: The 10 essentials to always have with you, whether hiking or backpacking
Leave No Trace principles
Equipment you might use for a day hike or 10 day wilderness hike
Typical backpacking foods, recipes, and nutrition information
Sample hiking plans for the Appalachian Trail
Information about backpacking trails 1-4 hours from Columbus
Resource list to help you get started
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.

Invasive Removal at Hundred Acre Wood
2024-04-28 14:00 - 16:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Bring you gloves or borrow ours to help clear invasive species. Meet at 5220 Cambria Way. Park along the street.

Children's Garden Day
2024-04-28 14:00 - 16:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for an afternoon of fun while learning how water, soil, fire, and air all support life in the gardens. Activities include informational displays and demos, hands-on exploration, crafts, a scavenger hunt, plus take-home activities to extend learning, and more!

Preschool: Hide-and-Seek
2024-04-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-04-30 13:00 - 14:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Search for hidden animals hidden throughout the park and learn about camouflage. This program is geared for children ages 3-5.

Homeschoolers: Beginning Bird Watching
2024-05-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn how to use binoculars, use ID books and have fun as you look for birds. We have a limited supply of loaner binoculars but bring your own if you have them. Best for kids 6 years and older but younger siblings are welcome to tag along. Meets at Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Preschool in the Gardens: Terrific Turtles
2024-05-01 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about the turtles that live in the gardens.

COSI Science Festival - Fantastic Fungi BioBlitz
2024-05-01 18:00 - 19:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Be a scientist! Learn to use iNaturalist to record scientific observations and then set out on a 1.25-mile hike to observe, identify and record mushrooms and other fungi around Blacklick Woods.

COSI ScienceFest: Woods & Water BioBlitz
2024-05-02 18:00 - 19:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Become a citizen scientist, and join the park Naturalists as we explore a State Nature Preserve and sample aquatic life. We’ll teach you how to use the free app iNaturalist to record and document the natural world around you.
Your observations will help add to the park’s biodiversity list and may even be used by scientists around the world! Be sure to download the iNaturalist app and sign up for a free account before the program. Meet at the Schrock Lake Picnic Shelter.

COSI BioBlitz - Be a Citizen Scientist
2024-05-03 17:30 - 19:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join the naturalist for a fun and interactive citizen science program! Using iNaturalist, we’ll observe Glacier Ridge’s biodiversity on a guided hike. We will be partnering with COSI for this experience!
Meet at the shelter house by the flagpole. Please dress for hiking.

Moms Morning Out
2024-05-04 08:00 - 09:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Bring your coffee and join other moms on this half-mile hike while using the Five Common Topics to prompt discussion.

Birding and Breakfast
2024-05-04 08:00 - 10:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join us for a potluck breakfast at the picnic shelter then go bird watching after. Beginners to experts are welcome to participate and we’ll have some loaner binoculars available. If you are able, please bring a breakfast dish to share with the group. If you’ve never done birding and breakfast before, it’s great fun! Meets at the Three Creeks Confluence Area picnic shelter, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport

Star Wars Archery
2024-05-04 10:00 - 11:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
May the 4th be with you! Enjoy Star Wars themed targets at the Scioto Grove Archery range. Equipment and basic instruction provided. Recommended for ages 8+ only.

Central Ohio Folk Festival
2024-05-04 11:00 - 17:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Two day event celebrating folk music!
https://www.columbusfolkmusicsociety.org/festival.html Saturday May 4
1030-530pm Festival & activities
7-930pm- Arcadian Wild Concert A two day family-friendly festival featuring multiple performing stages presenting an array of upbeat folk/roots/Americana music, kids’ & youth programming, and 30+ music workshops (all levels).
More than 30 hourly concerts on 3 different stages by soloists, duos, and groups, singing and playing guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle, dulcimer, harp, and other instruments. You’ll hear a wide range of folk music — bluegrass, old-time, blues, singer-songwriter, Southern roots, Americana, Celtic, and more….songs that often reflect the struggles of everyday people. A giant 1960’s-style folk music community sing-along to open the festival at 11 am Saturday, plus a poignant song circle to close the fest on Sunday.
More than 30 workshops for beginning and advanced musicians alike. Among the topics: songwriting, jamming, playing for social change, the music business, and how to play autoharp, blues guitar, ukulele, mandolin, and other folk instruments.
An area with special music, stories, workshops, and arts/crafts for children. Plus, a perennial favorite — our “instrument petting zoo” to let youngsters handle folk instruments. Festival mascot Darby Duck will also be on hand for the young and young-at-heart.
2 drum circles where everyone, young and old alike, is invited to pound on a drum or other rhythm instrument to a mesmerizing beat.
Expanded Informal jamming by anyone with an instrument or voice. This year will feature 5 jam tents, each with a different thrust: bluegrass, old-time, folk-mix, voices-only, and one encouraging novice jammers.
Saturday, May 4th at 7 pm, our headliner act, The Arcadian Wild, will create musical magic. The Nashville trio describes themselves as genre-bending, since they had roots in alt-rock and punk, but now mix bluegrass, classical, and other genres with tight 3-part vocal harmonies in original songs that defy categorization.
Produced by –– The Columbus Folk Music Society in cooperation with The Metro Parks. Co-sponsored by WCBE 90.5 FM
Meeting location notes: Big Meadows Picnic Area Big Meadows picnic area is at the back of the park. After you enter the park, take the main road down the hill. At the bottom of the hill, take the ROAD on the LEFT. Park in the lot with a playground. Meet near restrooms.

Washday Blues
2024-05-04 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3.
Help the farmwife with the laundry and try the scrub board and wringer. Watch as we make soap from lard and lye.

Family Creeking
2024-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike about .5 mi to the stream to search for aquatic creatures. Wear shoes that can get wet; crocs and flips not recommended!

Five Senses Hike
2024-05-04 15:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.5-mile hike and explore things in nature that you can touch, see, smell, taste and hear during spring.

Migration Mania
2024-05-05 08:00 - 10:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1.25-mile hike as we search the forest for migrating songbirds like warblers, vireos, tanagers and more.
