Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Adventure Book Club!
2024-05-31 17:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | 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

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.

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
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 | OH

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Toy Boat Building
2024-05-27 13:00 - 15:00, 2024-05-26 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.

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.

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

For Adults 50+: Maples and Beeches and Oaks, Oh My!
2024-05-26 14:00 - 15:00 | 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.

Sunday in the Swamp
2024-05-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the swamp to scoop up some slimy critters.

For Kids: Awesome Opossum
2024-05-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Come to hear all about North America’s only marsupial, the opossum! Learn through story, games, and a craft all relating to our pouched pals! Best for ages 5+.

Spring Birding Hike
2024-05-26 09:00 - 10:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Warblers, Woodpeckers, Wailing Turkeys? Who’s around? Let’s look for them together on a 2 mile birding hike. All experience levels welcome. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow. Trail conditions may be muddy.
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.

For Adults 50+: Walk the Dog
2024-05-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Bring your canine friend for a 2.5-mile walk on the Kestrel and Monarch trails. Pets must be leashed.
Meet in the park office parking lot (across from the Buckeye Area) at 6723 Lithopolis Rd.,
Groveport. Additional parking is behind the park office.

Meet the Animals
2024-05-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Meet some of our animals ambassadors and learn about their important job at the Nature Center

Forest Bathing
2024-05-25 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.

Morning Fast Paced Hike
2024-05-25 09:00 - 10:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join park staff for a fast paced hike through Walnut Woods Metro Park! Meet at the Tall Pines parking area at Walnut Woods Metro Park. Hike will be approx. 3 miles on a paved trail.

Try it! Climbing @ Late Nights at the Climbing Wall
2024-05-24 21:00 - 22:30 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy Late Nights at the Climbing Wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, the climbing wall lights will stay on until midnight for open climb. Please bring your own gear.
On May 24th Join Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure for Try it! Rock Climbing from 9pm-10:30pm where gear and instruction will be provided by staff for Late Nights at the Climbing Wall!

Late Nights at the Climbing Wall
2024-05-24 20:00 - 23:30 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy Late Nights at the Climbing Wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, the climbing wall lights will stay on until midnight for open climb. Please bring your own gear.

Sunset Hike
2024-05-24 20:00 - 21:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 2-mile hike to watch the sunset over Blacklick Woods. Leashed pets are permitted on this hike.

Nature for your Mental Health
2024-05-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us as we learn tools and tips to help rejuvenate our minds and bodies with the help of the natural world.

Preschool: A Warbler's Journey
2024-05-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about the incredible journey made by these tiny birds through literature , activities and craft.

Full Moon Hike
2024-05-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join us for a 2 mile hike of Glacier Ridge during the full moon! We will have red lights for those that need them, but please no bright lights!
This program is geared for ages 15 and up. We will meet at the shelter house and leave once the sun has set.
