Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Evening Meadow Walk
2025-06-21 20:30 - 22:00 (America/New_York) | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Enjoy the sights and sounds of summer on an evening meadow walk. This walk will be at a leisurely pace and will be approximately 1 mile. Trail will be flat and a mixture of pavement and crushed limestone. All ages
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.

Family Creeking
2025-06-22 11:00 - 12:00 | 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 in the river. Learn about the fish we catch including how we identify them in the field with the Native Fish Coalition. Identify the insects we find with Friends of the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW). Be prepared to get wet! Shoes required in the river for your safety. Please no flip flops. 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. All ages.
Meet in Big Meadows. 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 Adults 50+: Kayaking and Stand Up Paddleboarding
2025-06-22 11:00 - 13:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out anytime during the listed time and enjoy kayaking or stand up paddleboarding the lake at Quarry Trails Metro Park. Kayaks and stand up paddleboards will be first come first served. Solo, sit in kayaks available, max weight: 275Ibs. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for participants on a first come first serve basis. Equipment and instruction is provided. Free and fun!
Meet at 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. This is the entrance off of Trabue Rd.

How We Grow Caterpillars
2025-06-22 13:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Find out how we raise caterpillars into healthy butterflies and moths. Species covered will include monarchs, giant silkmoths, swallowtails, and more. We will discuss the best ways to keep them healthy and how to support local populations.

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-06-22 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-06-25 13:00 - 15:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out and try stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking for free at Quarry Trails Metro Park! First come, first served. All equipment provided. SUPs and solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-in kayaks have a 275Ibs limit.
*Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances, the closest parking lot to the paddling launch area is off of Trabue Road.*
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Summer Sunday Splash
2025-06-22 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. Creeking supplies provided. Follow signs from Ranger Station. 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Summer Tree ID Walk
2025-06-22 13:30 - 15:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy the shade of trees as you learn to identify them from their leaves on an easy 1-mile walk. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Family Tram Rides
2025-06-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hop on the Metro Parks tram for a 30-minute narrated tour of the park. The tram departs from the Nature Center and last picks up at 12 p.m on June 7th, and 6 p.m. on June 22.

Wonderful Wildflowers
2025-06-22 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 2-mile hike on the Multipurpose Trail to learn fun facts about summer wildflowers growing in the fields.

Toddler Adventure Club!
2025-06-23 10:00 - 11:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us on an exploratory hike at Quarry Trails Metro Park during this month’s Toddler Adventure Club! We will hike as far as possible during the time-frame, and staff will have an adventure pack with compasses, maps, and other adventure tools for kids to utilize during the program. Meet at the Lakes Area – use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr. Columbus OH. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction and pedestrian traffic.

Summer Children’s Programs: Bullfrogs
2025-06-24 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-24 13:00 - 14:00, 2025-06-25 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Hop over to Inniswood to discover the amazing adaptations of Ohio’s state frog.

Adaptive Adventures: Bubble Playdate Party
2025-06-25 13:00 - 15:30 | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adaptive Adventures: Come have a bubble playdate at the Inclusive Playground at Blendon Woods Metro Park! Small bubble party favors will be available as well as a bubble machine. BYOB- Bring Your Own Bubbles for more bubble fun!
* Our Adaptive Adventures Programs are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families!

Meet the Animals
2025-06-25 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Visit the Nature Center to meet our animal ambassadors.

For Families: Try It Tae Kwon Do
2025-06-26 10:00 - 10:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join black belt instructors from Tiger Woo’s World Class Tae Kwon Do for a 30 minute Taekwondo lesson. This martial arts class instills confidence, builds strength and agility, and develops coordination. No experience necessary. Please wear comfortable gym attire. Free! Kids ages 4 and older. Meet at Highbanks Metro Park- nature center
Feel free to come to one or all these sessions
Thu 6/26/25 @ 10am “Cooperation”
Thu 7/10/25 @ 10am ” Respect”
Thu 7/17/25 @ 10am “Confidence”
Meeting location notes- Nature Center: Highbanks Nature Center is the first right after entering the park. Limited parking in the nature center parking lot on busy days. Additional parking available in the Oak Coves Picnic Area. The Oak Coves picnic area, 10-min walk from the nature center. Follow the paved trail through Oak coves toward the nature center.

MUD DAY!
2025-06-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Wallow to your heart’s content and have some down and dirty fun at our annual mud day event. Rinse station provided. Follow signs in park for location.

Pride Paddle
2025-06-26 15:00 - 19:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Celebrate Pride Month with this LGBTQ+-friendly paddling program!! Come out and try stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking for free at Quarry Trails Metro Park. First come first served. All equipment provided. SUPs and Solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-kayaks have a 275Ibs limit.
*Quarry Trails Metro Park has several park entrances. Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr. Columbus, OH for the Lakes Area lot*

Friday Storytime
2025-06-27 10:00 - 10:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Have fun with early literacy in the park! These 30-40min programs are aimed at kids 2-5yrs. Children and their grownups will enjoy books, rhymes, songs and fun while arousing curiosity about the natural world.

Tots on Trails
2025-06-27 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.

Kayak the Lake
2025-06-27 16:00 - 19:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Come out to Sharon Woods Metro Park Schrock lake 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.

Night Hike
2025-06-27 21:00 - 22:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a 2-mile interpretive hike through the forests and prairies under the starlight.

Try it! Archery
2025-06-28 10:00 - 11:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come out to Scioto Grove Metro Park and try your hand at this free archery program! Come out anytime between the times listed. All equipment and instruction is provided. Recommended for Ages 8+.

Wildflower Watercolor
2025-06-28 11:00 - 12:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adults and kids can learn basic watercolor techniques to paint some simple wildflowers.

Adults Only: Lunchtime Chat Tram Ride
2025-06-28 12:00 - 12:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Hop on the Metro Parks tram for a 30min narrated tour of the park. Tram departs from the Nature Center.

Summer Fungi
2025-06-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist and learn about mushrooms while we search the trails for fungi on this 1.25-mile hike.

Science Saturday: Terrific Trees
2025-06-28 13:00 - 15:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Our summer series, Science Saturday, is back again! This time, we are joining National Day of Play in encouraging kids to get outside, be playful, and explore!
We will be learning some basic tree ID, discussing how the trees talk, and enjoying fun crafts and activities!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Wind and Solar lot, rain or shine!
