Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

For Adults 50+: Maples and Beeches and Oaks, Oh My!
2024-05-26 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about common Ohio trees and what they’re up to in the spring. Hike will be approximately 1.5 miles with some hills.

Canoe and Kayak The Lakes
2024-05-27 12:00 - 16:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Enjoy the lakes from a canoe or kayak on Memorial Day!
Canoes are open to all ages with a minimum of one adult per canoe. Solo, sit-in kayaks provided, open to ages 10+. Kayaks max. weight of 275lbs.
Life jackets are provided and worn while on the water. Visitors are welcome to bring their own Type III life jacket.
Equipment and instruction is provided. No pre-registration, first come/first serve. Free and fun!
Darby Bend Lakes portion of Prairie Oaks Metro Park. 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026

Meet the animals
2024-05-27 13:00 - 14:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Drop by the nature center between 1-2pm and meet some of Highbanks educational animals up close.
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.

Toy Boat Building
2024-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program ongoing between 1-3pm.
Meet in front of the barn.
Build a simple wooden boat to sail on the pond.

Memorial Day!
2024-05-27 13:00 - 15:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Celebrate Memorial Day with us! We will have a scavenger hunt and fun crafts!
This program is for all ages. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Drop-by Creeking
2024-05-27 13:00 - 16:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Stop by anytime between 1-4pm for some drop-by creeking. Join the Naturalists as we search for crawdads, fish, and aquatic bugs. Closed-toed shoes recommended. Follow signs from Ranger Station.

Spring Junior Naturalists
2024-05-29 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Calling all future naturalists! Go behind-the-scenes as we feed the animal ambassadors, hike and explore the trails, and learn what a naturalist does.

Tots on Trails
2024-05-30 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.

Kids: Off-trail Ravine Adventure
2024-05-30 10:00 - 12:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Get wet on this rugged adventure hiking in the ravine. Climb over logs, navigate between rocks and enjoy the scenery. Water depth will vary from inches to several feet depending on recent rains. Rocks will be slippery so water shoes with a tread is encouraged. Old tennis shoes work great. Crocs may not have enough traction on slippery rocks. Hike will be approx 2 miles round trip, with approx 2-miles of the hike in the water and 1 mile on crushed limestone trail. Expect to be outdoors approx 2 hours. Bring water bottles and a change of clothes. towel for the after the program. Clothes and towels can stay in the car. Kids are welcome to bring buckets to look for water animals, be aware most of the hike we will be moving. Families may turn around and walk back on their own if the hike gets too strenuous. It’s adventure time!
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.

Try It! Kayaking
2024-05-30 15:00 - 18:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out to the new Quarry Trails 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. Equipment and instruction provided. First come first served.
2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH has the closest parking lot to the water. This is a newly opened entrance, please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Seasonal Shuffle
2024-05-31 09:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join the naturalist on a 4-mile hike while we note seasonal changes happening along the way. Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Storytime
2024-05-31 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.

For Adults 50+: Outdoor Adventure Day
2024-05-31 11:00 - 14:00 | OH
Bring lunch and something to drink and join us for a fun-filled day of archery, kayaking and fishing. All equipment is provided.
Meet at Darby Bend Lakes at the first shelter on your right at 2755 Amity Rd., Hilliard

For Adults 50+: Outdoor Adventure Day
2024-05-31 11:00 - 14:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States

Swan Hike
2024-05-31 15:00 - 16:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Sled Hill Parking lot. Use address 2600 Dublin Road Columbus OH 43228. Drive to the sled hill parking lot (second parking lot on your right, it’s gravel).
Come on a 2 mile hike to learn about swans and look for them.

Adventure Book Club!
2024-05-31 17:00 - 18:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us for our Monthly Adventure Book Club! No registration necessary, all are welcome. This months book is “Touching the Void: The True Story of One Mans Miraculous Survival” By Joe Simpson. We will meet at the end of each month to discuss a different book.
Bring your own hammock or chair to lounge in the trees and chat about this months reading!
We will meet at the Dog Park Parking lot, use the north entrance off of Dublin/Roberts Rd and follow signage to the dog park!
2600 Dublin Road, Columbus

Forest Bathing
2024-06-01 10:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join a naturalist in some good ol’ nature therapy! Feel free to bring something to sit on that’s easy to carry as we take a short hike and practice some quiet, stress-relieving techniques surrounded by greenery. Ages 7+. Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Geocache the Hundred Acre Wood
2024-06-01 15:00 - 16:30 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Find several geocaches while exploring the forest. Sign up for a free account on geocaching.com before the program. Be prepared for mud.

Make Hay While the Sun Shines
2024-06-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3pm.
Watch the farmhands and horses make hay. Weather permitting.

Sustainable Gardening
2024-06-02 14:00 - 16:30 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join the Inniswood Garden Society for their annual meeting. Dianne Kadonaga, owner of Sunny Glen Garden, will present “Become the King and Queen of Green: Gardening Your Way to a Zero Waste, Sustainable Lifestyle.” Dianne will share easy ways to implement changes in your garden that will increase biodiversity, support pollinators, and improve resilience to climate change. She will even show how you can reduce pollution, minimize garbage and plastic output, and use existing resources to build soil health and save money. Live like royalty in your own natural garden oasis!
Stay after the presentation to enjoy refreshments in the Gardens. This event is free and open to the public.

Natural Play Area Open House
2024-06-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Explore the NPA with a naturalist! We’ll have tools to borrow and suggestions for how to have fun!

Evening Creeking
2024-06-02 17:00 - 18:00 | 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 there. Be prepared to get wet! Shoes required in the river for your safety. Please no flip flops or crocs. 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.
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 Kids: Swamp Things
2024-06-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-04 13:30 - 14:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn about tiny wetland creatures and their adaptations by studying them in our table-top ponds. Suitable for preschool and school-aged kids. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Summer Children's Programs: Jumpers
2024-06-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-04 13:00 - 14:30 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Hop on over to the gardens to learn all about Ohio’s best jumpers. Geared for ages 8 and younger.

Preschool: Forest Explorer
2024-06-04 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-06-04 13:00 - 14:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Learn how to become a Forest Explorer with stories, songs, crafts, and a short hike! Meet in Nature Center Multi-Purpose Room. For preschoolers aged 3-5.
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.

Toddler Tuesday: Fireflies!
2024-06-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
The twinkling bugs are in full swing right now! Come learn about these showstopping critters as we read a story, play with lights, and make a craft to take home!
This program is geared towards ages 2-4. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

For Adults 50+: Nature Ramble
2024-06-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
We’ll walk about 2-miles, stopping along the way to learn about what we observe. Wear shoes suitable for some muddy areas. Meet at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport
