Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Summer Children's Programs: Jumpers
2024-07-10 13:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York) | 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.

Fantastic Ferns
2024-07-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about these ancient plants through an off-trail hike to find a few of our fern species at Blendon. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are recommended.

Two’s a Crowd, Three’s a Party: Plant Pairings and Groupings
2024-07-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join Tim Fleischer and Matt Guthrie, Assistant Horticulturists for the City of Dublin, as they discuss how to make plant groupings impactful in the garden. Sponsored by the Central Ohio Unit, Herb Society of America.

A Hunting We will Go
2024-07-11 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-12 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program ongoing 10am-4pm
All ages
Pick up a scavenger hunt list at the farmhouse and enjoy searching for items around the farm.

For Kids: Summer Storms
2024-07-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Meet at the Cedar Ridge Picnic Area’s Red Bud Shelter (to the right of the ranger station) to eat lunch and talk about weather, clouds, and what makes storms.

Try It! Archery
2024-07-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come try your hand at this free archery program! Come out anytime between the times listed. All equipment provided. Ages 8+.

Try it! SUP
2024-07-11 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.

Sunset SUP and S'mores
2024-07-11 19:00 - 20:30 | 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

Adult: Summer Wildflower Hike
2024-07-12 09:00 - 10:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Learn about summer wildflowers blooming at the park on a 1.5 mile hike Expect a combination of paved and unimproved (dirt) trails. Exact trail will depend upon the wildflowers in bloom. Ages 18+
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.

Ice Cream Social
2024-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Kingfisher Shelter. Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive Columbus OH 43228. Go on a 1 mile hike and then enjoy a sweet treat!

Kids: Mindfulness Hike
2024-07-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist to learn how to connect with the forest in a mindful way. Participants will learn mindfulness techniques to use in their day to day life to keep themselves centered and grounded. We will take notice of different components of the forest ecosystem and learn how to experience using all of our senses. The hike will be about .75 miles along gravel trail surfaces with some stops exploring off-trail.
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.

The Big Splash
2024-07-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Try canoeing, look for critters in a table-top pond, slide down a water slide or get wet in the squirt zone. Three Creeks Metro park Confluence Area, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Pokémon Go Hike!
2024-07-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Enjoy Pokémon Go! Community Day at Homestead Metro Park! Bring you own device to access Pokémon Go! and hike around the park with park staff to find different Pokémon! Meet at the Homestead Nature Center.

Happy Tails & Trails (Dog Hike)
2024-07-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Bring your dog for a 1.5 mile hike. Please bring your own drinking water for your dog. Leashes must be shorter than 6 feet. Near the end of the hike, we will stop for the optional cool down in the Olentangy River.
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.

Built to Bake
2024-07-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing between 1-3pm
Learn how a wood burning stove works and browse through our collection of 19th century cookbooks, while we prepare baked goods.

Summer Sunday Splash
2024-07-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Stop by anytime between 1-3pm for some drop-by creeking. Join the Naturalists as we search for crawdads, fish, and aquatic bugs. Closed-toed shoes recommended. Creeking supplies provided. Follow signs from Ranger Station. 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Tree Identification For Kids
2024-07-14 13:30 - 14:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Tree identification is fun and kids can learn the basics a short walk. Best suited for kids age 6 and older. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Creek Hike @ The Hundred Acre Wood
2024-07-14 14:00 - 15:30 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Hike about 2 miles to explore the creek. Wear shoes that can get wet. Recommended ages 6 and up. Hike is rugged and steep. Meet at 5220 Cambria Way.

Meet the Artists: Gillie 50+ Senior Center
2024-07-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Artists from the Gillie 50+ Senior Center will be available to discuss their artwork on display in the Innis House.

Drop in: S'morses & Wildlife!
2024-07-14 17:00 - 19:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Stop by the nature center to make a S’more by the campfire and learn about wildlife in the park! Meet on the back deck of the nature center anytime between 5-7pm. Free. Limited supply of smores.
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 Hike
2024-07-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Come out for a staff led Toddler Hike at Homestead Metro Park! We will be walking on paved trail, so strollers are welcome! We will go as far as the group can within the hour. Meet at the nature center parking lot.

Nature Kids: Crazy for Crayfish
2024-07-15 14:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 2-mile (round-trip) hike to Blacklick Creek and wade in the water in search of crayfish and other creek critters.

Dino Archery
2024-07-15 16:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Enjoy dino themed archery at Scioto Grove Metro Park! Meet at the archery range. Free and fun, all equipment provided. Ages 8+.

Bison
2024-07-15 18:00 - 19:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join a naturalist to learn about bison. Expect a short walk to the bison pasture.

Summer Children's Programs: Runners
2024-07-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-07-16 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Discover some of Ohio’s best runners and what gets them on the move. Participate in activities to learn more about these speedy animals. Geared for ages 8 and younger.

Try It! SUP
2024-07-16 16:00 - 18:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out and try standup paddle boarding for free at Quarry Trails Metro Park. First come first served. All equipment provided. Ages 10+
Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances-
* The closest parking lot to the paddling launch area 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.
