Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Try it! Kayaking
2025-09-25 09:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out to Darby Bend Lakes at Prairie Oaks Metro Park and try out a kayak! Solo, sit in kayaks will be available with a max weight of 275 lbs, and are open to ages 10+. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for all ages with an adult present, on a first come first serve basis. Equipment and instruction provided. First come first served. 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH.

Storytime
2025-09-25 10:00 - 10:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Have fun with early literacy in the park! These 30min programs are aimed at kids 2-5yrs. Children and their grownups will enjoy books, rhymes, songs and fun while arousing curiosity about the natural world.

Tots on Trails
2025-09-25 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.

For Adults 50+: Archery
2025-09-25 17:30 - 19:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy free and fun archery at the range! Compound bows, arrows, and instruction are provided.
Meet at the Archery Range.

Johnny Appleseed Day
2025-09-26 11:00 - 16:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Celebrate Johnny Appleseed Day by stopping by and learning about this real person from Ohio history.

Night Hike
2025-09-26 19:30 - 20:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist for a 1.25-mile hike to learn about animals in the dark.

Kids Five Senses Hike
2025-09-26 20:00 - 21:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Join us on a fun hike as we engage all five of our senses! We will learn about different plants and animals that have similar and different senses than our own and how they thrive outside!
No bright lights please! Red lights will be provided, but night vision is the best way to enjoy our hike.
The hike will follow the paved muli-use trail around the park (approx. .7 miles) so it will be stroller and pet friendly!
This program is geared for ages 3-6. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

For Adults: Fungi Walk ‘n Talk
2025-09-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join an educator for a walk and discussion focusing on some of the fungi commonly found at Inniswood. Trails are a mix of paved, crushed limestone, boardwalk, and some turf.

Apples: Their History and Uses
2025-09-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program on-going between 1-3
All ages
Sample heirloom varieties, help press cider, and stir apple butter cooking over an open fire.

For Adults 50+: Carnival
2025-09-27 17:00 - 19:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Ride the tram through the park, enjoy freshly popped corn, roast your own hot dogs and s’mores and play carnival games like you did when you were a kid!
Meet at the shelter near the bocce courts.

Welcome to Fall Event
2025-09-27 17:00 - 20:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Highbanks BIGGEST Event of the YEAR! Join us from 5-8pm for a fun family event to celebrate the first days of fall! Enjoy hayrides, inflatables, campfires & marshmallows, archery and other outdoor activities. Don’t forget to bring your picnic dinner and enjoy all the fun activities. Most activities will start closing down at 730pm, so everyone can get back for the 8pm outdoor movie “Shrek 2 (2004) (rated PG)”” Movie starts at dark (approx 815 pm). Don’t forget to bring blanket or chairs for outdoor seating to watch the movie. All ages. Entire event is FREE!
Meeting location notes:Highbanks Metro Park-Big Meadows Picnic Area. This meeting location is located near 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. Activities will be in the grassy area behind the first lot on the left. Info table will be near the restrooms/bulletin board area.

Crochet Club: Bats!
2025-09-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Autumn has officially started and our flying friends are very active as they swoop and fly catching all the bugs before winter! Join us to learn about some of the bats at Glacier Ridge while making your own to take home!
All materials will be provided including a free pattern! You are welcome to bring your own supplies and WIPs if desired.
While the pattern is written for beginners, true beginners may not leave with a finished product (not yet that is!).
This program is geared for all ages and knowledge levels of crochet. Meet at the shelter house, rain or shine.

Night Insects
2025-09-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
See spiders, moths, katydids, and other bugs that come out after dark.

Outdoor Movie Nights: Shrek 2
2025-09-27 19:30 - 21:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join Metro Parks for an outdoor movie! Movies start at dusk and are free- bring your lawn chairs or a blanket.
As part of their welcome to fall event, Highbanks Metro Park is screening Shrek 2.

Astronomy Night
2025-09-27 20:00 - 22:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s check out the night sky and make a star chart to take home. We do not promise a cloudless night, but there will be activities regardless. Meet at the nature center overflow parking lot.

Backpacking Series: Week 4 - Clothing & Foot Care
2025-09-28 13:00 - 14:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Are you wanting to learn more about backpacking? Join us for a 6-week 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 week’s topic will have two dates to choose from in that week – you don’t need to attend both dates in the week. This series is for all ages and all backpacking abilities, from beginner to experienced backpackers.
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.
Fall Backpacking Series:
Week 1: 4 Essentials & Site Selection
Week 2: Water & Waste
Week 3: Fuel, Fire, & Food
Week 4: Clothing & Foot Care
Week 5: Prep, Safety, & Outdoor Ethics
Week 6: Shakedown Hike!

Wild Edibles Hike
2025-09-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.25-mile hike to learn about wild edible plants and try some samples.

Minecraft Hike
2025-09-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Join us for a Minecraft scavenger hunt through the woods. Look for natural objects that are also found in the game.

For Adults: Fall Gardening for Wildlife
2025-09-28 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn what to do in your garden this fall to benefit wildlife.

For Adults: Fall Tree ID Hike
2025-09-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a half-mile hike and learn to identify some common trees.

Toddler Adventure Club
2025-09-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Chestnut Ridge, 8445 Winchester Rd NW, Carroll, OH, 43112, United States
Join us on an exploratory hike at Chestnut Ridge 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 playground, the last parking lot after entering the park!

Bats & Crafts
2025-09-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Stop by the Nature Center to learn about local bats, then get crafty and make a bat-themed craft to take home!

Backpacking Series: Week 5 - Prep, Safety, & Outdoor Ethics
2025-09-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Are you wanting to learn more about backpacking? Join us for a 6-week 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 week’s topic will have two dates to choose from in that week – you don’t need to attend both dates in the week. This series is for all ages and all backpacking abilities, from beginner to experienced backpackers.
Week #5: Prep, Safety, & 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.
Fall Backpacking Series:
Week 1: 4 Essentials & Site Selection
Week 2: Water & Waste
Week 3: Fuel, Fire, & Food
Week 4: Clothing & Foot Care
Week 5: Prep, Safety, & Outdoor Ethics
Week 6: Shakedown Hike!

Preschool: Bats
2025-10-01 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-10-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Come learn about bats and discover what makes these night-flying mammals so important.

Adaptive Adventures: Fall Craft Hour
2025-10-01 15:00 - 16:00 | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adaptive Adventures: Fall Craft Hour!
Come join us for a fun fall craft at the inclusive playground shelter house at Blendon Woods Metro Park! This craft is for all abilities!
*Adaptive Adventures programs are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families.

Full Moon Hike
2025-10-02 18:00 - 20:00 | 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.

Homeschoolers: Tree Identification
2025-10-03 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-10-03 13:30 - 14:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Using a simple key, students will learn the basic skills of tree identification and get tips for starting a leaf collection. Program is for school-age kids but younger siblings are welcome to tag along. Meets at the Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport.

Metro Parks Hiking Club Fitness Hike
2025-10-03 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.
