Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Halloween Scavenger Hunt
2024-10-27 15:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Wear your favorite Halloween costume and join Jackie O’Lantern the Pumpkin on a Scavenger Hunt in the Park! Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Learn the Ropes
2024-10-27 18:00 - 20:00, 2024-10-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy rock climbing on the outdoor public climbing wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! Equipment and instruction are provided. Open to all ages and experience levels. Tennis shoes are the recommended footwear for beginners, please no flip flops or crocs. Come out anytime during the time listed. Meet at the climbing wall.

Happy Howl-oween!
2024-10-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
People aren’t the only ones who can celebrate Halloween! Bring your pups in their best costumes for a fun filled party just for them!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the dog park.

Costume Lantern Hike!
2024-10-29 19:00 - 20:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy a lantern illuminated hike through the Tall Pines area at Walnut Woods Metro Park! Wear your best costume and plan to hike approx. 2 miles! Use address 6833 Richardson Rd, Groveport.

Halloween Bash
2024-10-30 09:30 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Wear your costume for some fall fun at Blendon Woods Nature Center! We will have games, crafts, and seasonal activities.

Preschool: Itsy Bitsy Spider
2024-10-30 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-10-30 13:00 - 14:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about these not-so-scary 8-legged creatures through a story, craft and games. The program happens at 10am and 1pm

Cemetery Hike
2024-10-30 18:00 - 19:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Dog Park parking lot -use address 2600 Dublin Road Columbus OH 43228. Follow the road all the way till it forces you to turn left and the parking lot will be on your right.
Take a half a mile round trip hike to the Cemetery to learn about it!

Tots on Trails
2024-10-31 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.

Metro Parks Hiking Club: First Friday Fitness Hike
2024-11-01 09:00 - 10:30 | 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.

For Adults 50+: Cookie Decorating
2024-11-01 18:30 - 19:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Back and sweeter than ever, join naturalist and baking expert, Shannon, with a cookie decorating class that will get you icing like a pro in no time. Just in time for the holiday season, you’ll learn the basics of designing treats such as a mushroom, chipmunk and pumpkin. It’s the perfect way to prepare and wow your friends and family this holiday hosting season. Pre-baked sugar cookies and icing will be ready and waiting for you. Participants will have fun, get to share their decorated sugar cookie creations at the end, and of course, taste testing is part of the deal!
Meet at the Beech Maple Lodge

National Bison Day- Bison Adaptations
2024-11-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Learn about all the parts of the bison that help them survive. This program includes a craft and a short hike to see the bison in their pasture! Great for ages 5+.

Hike Behind the Lake
2024-11-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hike 1.5 mile off-trail to explore the waterfowl refuge. Not stroller friendly.

National Bison Day
2024-11-02 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
BISON! Celebrate our national mammal, and a much loved part of our park! Enjoy crafts, games and snacks. Join us for a bison hike @1pm.

Forts, Fire & Fun
2024-11-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Roast marshmallows by the fire, create a craft, or work as a team to build a fort in our natural play area.

A Stitch in Time
2024-11-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing between 1-3pm
At the farmhouse
All ages
Watch or help as we mend, do handiwork, and use the treadle sewing machine.

Gardening for Butterflies
2024-11-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn what plants will attract butterflies to your yard and how to start some butterfly friendly natives with an easy DIY greenhouse. Bring a clean clear milk jug.

For Adults: Nature Journals
2024-11-03 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Bring your own journal and discover how to use it to grow your knowledge and deepen your connection with nature.

Meet the Artist: Ginny Baughman
2024-11-03 14:00 - 16:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Meet artist of the month, Ginny Baughman, and view her artwork on display in the Innis House.

Turkey Time
2024-11-03 16:30 - 17:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
What time is it? Turkey time, of course! Learn all about turkeys and go on a short walk to look for them. All ages.
Meeting Location Oak Coves 3rd parking lot: The Oak Coves picnic area is your first LEFT after entering the park. Once you turn left into the Oak Coves picnic area, we will be in the third parking lot. Meet the naturalist at the bulletin board. Follow the orange program signs. If the parking lot is full, the Oak Coves picnic area has 4 other parking lots within 5-8 minutes walking time of the meeting location.

Star Party with CETA
2024-11-03 18:00 - 21:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
A night of astronomy hosted by Community Enrichment Through Astronomy; an OSU student organization dedicated to making amateur astronomy accessible for everyone in the Greater Columbus area. As Star Party hosts, CETA will provide telescopes and telescope operators, so no equipment or experience is necessary to enjoy the night sky. This event is appropriate for all ages and astronomy knowledge levels. Astronomy is highly weather-dependent, so the Star Party may be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Be ready to see the universe like you’ve never seen it before!
Meet at the Wind and Solar Lot between 6-9pm

Toddler Hike
2024-11-04 10:00 - 11:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy a hike at Walnut Woods on this slow-paced, stroller friendly Toddler Hike! The trail will be paved, and we will hike as far as we can within the hour. Meet at the Tall Pines Area at Walnut Woods Metro Park. 6833 Richardson Rd. Groveport.

Hibrrrrrnation
2024-11-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Where do all our fuzzy friends go in the winter? Learn about hibernation and meet some of our educational animals.

Toddler Tuesday: Leaves!
2024-11-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Join us as we discuss fall colors and the many things that leaves can be! We will read a short story, enjoy a short hike, and craft with leaves!
This program is geared towards ages 2-3. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Feed The Stream
2024-11-05 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Help feed some of the animals in the Living Stream, and learn a little bit about them.

Adventure 101: Campfires
2024-11-05 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Our “Adventure 101” educational series includes everything from guest speakers to interactive outdoor skill lessons! Participants are encouraged to take notes and ask questions
Join us for an in-depth & hands on interactive class focused on campfires! Everything from different ways to build the perfect burn, to types of fire starters that we recommend. Come with questions and topics for us to talk about, meet at the arrowhead picnic area at Scioto Grove Metro Park.

Preschool: Squirrels
2024-11-06 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-11-06 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about Ohio’s squirrels and what they’re doing to prepare for winter. Then take a walk to look for squirrels.

Homeschool: Nuts for Nuts
2024-11-06 10:00 - 12:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for a look at acorns, walnuts and the other nuts of the forest. We’ll learn about this important food by playing a game and making a “nutty” craft. Meet at the Apple Ridge Picnic Shelter
