Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Sunset SUP and S'mores
2024-07-25 19:00 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and enjoy the sunset on a Stand Up Paddle Board and enjoy a little sweet treat! SUPs are for ages 10+, both inflatable and hard paddle bards will be available to use, first come first served!
Free instruction, equipment and life jackets provided
Meet at Lake 1 at Darby Bend Lakes (Prairie Oaks Metro Park)
2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026

For Adults 50+: Crafting Evening
2024-07-25 18:30 - 20:00 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Try your hand at fish printing and make a mini stepping stone during a relaxing, crafting evening.
Meet at the Spring Hollow Lodge at 1069 W. Main St., Westerville. We will NOT be at Cleveland Ave. entrance.

Try it! SUP
2024-07-25 17:00 - 19:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come to our free Try it! SUP program at Darby Bend Lakes at Prairie Oaks Metro Park! 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH. All equipment provided. Meet at Lake 1.

Mud Day
2024-07-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-07-24 10:00 - 13:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Kids and adults of all ages can play in the giant mud pit. Wear old or easily cleaned clothing! Water will be available for basic clean-up. It’s probably a good idea to bring some protective newspapers, bags, etc for your car seats as well. Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Tots on Trails
2024-07-25 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.

Learning & Loving Lepidoptera
2024-07-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn about the importance of butterflies and moths, as well as how to identify several common species found at Blacklick Woods. Take a 1-mile hike to see what is flying.

Summer Children's Programs: Flyers
2024-07-24 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-07-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-07-23 13:00 - 14:00, 2024-07-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Discover the plants and animals that take flight in the gardens. Participate in activities to learn more about these garden flyers. Geared for ages 8 and younger.

Relaxation Yoga
2024-07-23 18:00 - 19:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy a relaxing yoga session on the deck of The Grove Lodge at Scioto Grove Metro Park. Bring your own mat. Instruction provided.

Try it! Climbing
2024-07-23 14:30 - 16:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Come out and climb at this free program! Meet at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park Climbing wall. All equipment provided. Tennis shoes with good tread recommended.

Junior Naturalist: Bird Watching
2024-07-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Junior Naturalist- 4 part summer series for ages 8-14. During this series, kids will learn some “naturalist skills”. If kids attend 3/5 programs, they can earn a prize. This week, we will be learning how to use binoculars, and identify some commonly seen birds in Ohio. Please note, this is not a drop-off program. Parents are required to stay nearby for the duration of the program.

Intro to Tai Chi
2024-07-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join instructor Midge Krause for an introductory tai chi class.

Off-trail Exploration
2024-07-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on this 1.5-mile hike and go off the trail along the Mud Run to explore everything from fungi in the woods to flowers in the fields.

Morning SUP
2024-07-22 10:00 - 13:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Enjoy the lovely morning air from a Stand Up Paddle Board on the Lake! SUPs are first come, first served, ages 10+. All equipment, life jackets and instruction provided. Come out to this free and fun program!!
Darby Bend Lakes, Prairie Oaks Metro Park Lake 1
2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026

Full Moon Hike
2024-07-21 20:00 - 22:00 | 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.

For Adults 50+: Walk The Dog
2024-07-21 19:30 - 21:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Bring your canine friend for an easy, 2-mile walk along the Scioto River. Pets must be leashed.
Meet at the Hickory Picnic Area close to the restrooms

Family Creeking
2024-07-21 14:00 - 15:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike 0.5 mile to the creek to search for aquatic critters. Wear shoes that can get wet.

Native Plant Gardening
2024-07-21 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn how to manage your garden for native plants and pollinators in our classroom before heading outside to view some native prairie and woodland plants.

For Families: Decomposer Hike
2024-07-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.25-mile hike and learn about the important role decomposers play in an ecosystem.

Horse Powered Grain Threshing
2024-07-20 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing from 1-3pm in the barnyard
See how horses power machinery that separates grain from straw.
Weather and crop permitting.

Turtle Shellebration
2024-07-20 12:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Celebrate turtles! Drop by for activities, crafts, and to meet our ambassador turtles.

Science Saturday: H2Olympics
2024-07-20 11:00 - 13:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join us for our second installation of Science Saturday summer series! This month we are focusing on water and its properties. Why does water flow together? How does a stream clean itself and how can we help? Come join us for some fun experiments with water!
Please bring a towel – getting wet is part of the fun!
Meet at the wind and solar lot. This program is geared towards ages 5-10.

Backcountry Hike - Dog Friendly
2024-07-20 10:00 - 12:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take a guided 3.5 mile dog friendly hike on public and backcountry trails. All dogs are required to be on a leash. Meet at the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster.

50+ SUP
2024-07-19 18:00 - 19:30 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Enjoy SUP or Standup Paddle Boarding at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Darby Bend Lakes. Ages 50+ only, free and fun. Meet at Lake 1 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard OH.

Try it! Kayak and SUP
2024-07-19 15:00 - 18:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and try standup paddle boarding and kayaking for free at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Darby Bend Lakes. SUPs and Solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-kayaks have a 275Ibs limit. Meet at Lake 1 at Darby Bend Lakes, 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard OH.
First come/first serve. Equipment and instruction are provided.

For Adults 50+: Nature Origami
2024-07-19 15:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Follow directions to make some nature-themed origami at the Nature Center. Materials provided.

Preschool: Creeking
2024-07-19 11:00 - 12:00 | OH
Let’s explore the Big Darby Creek and meet some of the animals that live there. We will be getting in the water. Closed-toed shoes required: Old tennis shoes work best. Nets and buckets provided. Trail is crushed gravel and unimproved in parts, which might not be navigable in a stroller. Program for ages 3-5. Meet at Indian Ridge.
