Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Rucking
2025-02-24 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York) | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Enjoy Rucking, the act of hiking with added weight to strengthen your body and gain endurance, at Highbanks Metro Park! Participants should plan to hike approximately 2.5 miles on the Dripping Rock Trail. Water jug weights will be provided, and you have the option to lessen the weight as you hike. Empty backpacks are recommended to carry the water jugs. Meet at the Nature Center Parking lot

Winter Compass Quest
2025-02-24 15:00 - 16:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for a winter themed compass activity! This map and compass skills program is geared toward children ages 4-15, participants will be given a map and compass and have to find several winter themed characters hidden around the park . Complete the activity and return to the shelter for a prize! The program starts promptly at 3pm and will take the entire duration of the program to complete; Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Shelter at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Adventure Book Club!
2025-02-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
NEW LOCATION!!! Join us for our Monthly Adventure Book Club! No registration necessary, all are welcome. This months book is “A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail” by Bill Bryson.
We will meet at the end of each month to discuss a different book. Meet at The Grove Lodge at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Relaxation Yoga
2025-02-25 17:30 - 18:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Celebrate self-care and come out to Scioto Grove Metro Park to enjoy yoga indoors! Stay toasty warm while watching the winter wonderland outside from the floor to ceiling windows! This yoga class is perfect for everyone! Free and fun. Meet at The Grove at Scioto Grove Metro Park.

Campfire Cooking
2025-02-25 17:30 - 18:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us for a meal around the campfire at Quarry Trails! All materials and equipment will be provided, free and fun! Meet at the lower sled hill parking lot. Use address 2600 Dublin Rd.

Homeschoolers on the Farm: Maple Time
2025-02-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program begins at 10:00am. Meet in front of the farmhouse.
Learn about how maple Syrup is made and the history of this sweet treat.

Homeschoolers on the Farm: Maple Time
2025-02-26 13:30 - 14:30 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program begins at 1:30. Meet in front of the farmhouse.
Learn about how maple Syrup is made and the history of this sweet treat.

Scavenger Hunt!
2025-02-26 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
A strong wind came through Scioto Grove Metro park and scattered all of our equipment! Find all of our missing items hiding around the Arrowhead Picnic area and win a prize! Meet at Arrowhead picnic shelter to get your activity sheet and instruction.

Lantern Hike and Hot Cocoa
2025-02-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come out for a cup of Hot Cocoa and take an illuminated stroll through the park! We will have lanterns to borrow as well as lots of cocoa to go around! Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Shelter at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Tots on Trails
2025-02-27 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.

For Adults 50+: Preserving Food for Health and Safety
2025-02-27 14:00 - 15:00 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
How do we know our preserved food is safe? Join Jeannie Seabrook from Glass Rooster Cannery for a presentation on five methods of home preservation with a focus on canning. Get your questions answered as we share samples from this delicious demonstration.
Meet at the Spring Hollow Lodge.

Outdoor Adventure - Speaker Series
2025-02-27 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join us for our Speaker Series this winter, at Blacklick Woods Golf Course! We will be cozy warm inside the Pro Shop! Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Our February Speaker is Billy Finissi from Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and he will be discussing Hunting Conservation.

Storytime
2025-02-28 10:00 - 10:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Introduce your little one to nature through stories, songs and large motor activities. Program held inside the Nature Center. Ages 2-5.

For Adults 50+: Hike the Walter Tucker Preserve
2025-02-28 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.5-mile hike through the nature preserve and see what is happening as we begin to transition from winter to spring.

Sunset and S'mores
2025-02-28 17:30 - 18:30 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Enjoy watching the sunset while eating a toasty s’more around a warm campfire at Quarry Trails Metro Park! Meet at the Basin Parking Lot, all equipment provided.
Quarry Trails Metro Park has several separate park entrances. 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.

Scrapbooking
2025-03-01 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Get excited for spring as we try nature-themed scrapbooking! Scrapbooking paper, glue, and other decorative materials will be provided.

Maple Time
2025-03-01 13:00 - 15:00, 2025-03-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program on going from 1am – 3pm. Take a short hike through the sugarbush to learn about tapping trees and collecting sap, then go to the Farmhouse to watch sap boiling and sample a sweet maple treat.
Hikes leave at 1:15 am and 2pm from the Farmhouse. If needed, additional hikes will be available.
Sap flow is dependent on weather conditions, all other activities will take place.

Teens & Adults: Iditarod 101
2025-03-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Come celebrate the ceremonial start of the 53rd Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and learn about the history, the athletes, and the traditions of this incredible sport! Indoor program.
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.

Take a Lichen to Moss!
2025-03-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about mosses and lichens, then make your own mini-habitat to take home. Ages 6+

For Adults 50+: Greg Miller - A Big Year
2025-03-02 13:30 - 15:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join Greg Miller, Ohio Birder Extraordinaire, as he tells stories about his big year of birding in North America in 1998. This amazing year inspired a book and a movie starring Jack Black, Steve Martin and Owen Wilson.
“The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature, and Fowl Obsession” by Mark Obmascik can be reserved at the Columbus Metropolitan Library in book or audiobook form. “The Big Year” movie can be reserved in DVD format at the library and is also available on several streaming platforms.
Meet at the Grove Lodge.

Secret Lives of Trees
2025-03-02 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join a naturalist on a 1-mile hike and learn how trees communicate with each other and how they are able to help each other out. Meet at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Eagle Hikes
2025-03-02 14:00 - 15:00 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Join us Sundays in March to check on the progress of the Bald Eagles at their nest at 100AcreWoods. HIke 1.5 mi. on flat, primitive trail. Prepare for mud. Meet at 5225 Cambria Way.

For Adults 50+: Hike in the Pines
2025-03-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Enjoy a hike through the tall pines at Walnut Woods Metro Park! We will hike approx. 2 miles on this paved, flat trail. Meet at the Tall Pines Area at Walnut Woods Metro Park, 6833 Richardson Rd, Groveport. 50+

Highbanks Adult Hikers
2025-03-03 11:00 - 12:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join like-minded adults who enjoy nature for approximately 2-3 miles hike on crushed limestone. Prepare for possible icy trails and cold weather. 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.

Bird Hike to the Wetland
2025-03-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist on a hike to the wetland bird blind to look for migrating ducks. Hike will be approximately 3 miles over crushed limestone and somewhat hilly. The wetland spur trail will likely be muddy. Bring binoculars if you have, a limited number will be available to borrow. Ages 8+
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.

Preschool: Sounds of Spring
2025-03-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-03-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about the animals making sounds in the gardens this spring. Then join in on a short hike and make a musical craft.

Skunk Cabbage Hike
2025-03-05 10:00 - 11:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Search for Ohio’s earliest wildflower and visit a vernal pool on a guided 3-mile hike. Meet at the Barnebey-Hambleton Picnic Area, 620 Clear Creek Road SW in Lancaster (39.600092, -82.631611).

Glow Archery
2025-03-05 16:00 - 17:30 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
What’s better then archery? GLOW ARCHERY! Come out to the Blacklick Golf Course Pro Shop to enjoy some free and fun, indoor glow-in-the-dark archery! Ages 8+. All equipment provided.
