Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Summer Children’s Programs: Bullfrogs
2025-07-30 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-07-30 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York) | 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.

What Is It?
2025-07-30 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-07-31 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-01 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-02 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-03 10:00 - 16:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing between 10am-4pm
All ages
Everyday objects familiar to people in the 1880s are a mystery to modern folks. Guess how ours work and what they do.

Adaptive Adventures: Wheelchair Water Games!
2025-07-30 13:00 - 15:30 | Blendon Woods Inclusive Playground, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Adaptive Adventures: Wheelchair Water Games- Come cool off with summer water fun at our Inclusive Playground at Blendon Woods Metro Park! We will have sponges, spray bottles, a wheelchair “car wash”, water shooters and more to cool off in the hot July sun! Bring a friend to play!
* Our Adaptive Adventures programs are programs designed for individuals with disabilities and their families!

Tots on Trails
2025-07-31 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: Adult Fitness Hike
2025-08-01 10:00 - 11:00 | 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.

Natural Paints
2025-08-01 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Paint your worries away with us while you use natural paint to make a masterpiece. Learn about the pigments certain plants, fungi and flowers create and how you can make your own.

Friday Night Fishing
2025-08-01 18:00 - 20:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Stop by Schrock Lake for an evening of fishing. Use one of our poles or bring your own. Not fishing license required, all fishing is catch & release.

Evening Mindfulness hike (age 12+)
2025-08-01 18:30 - 20:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Relax, recenter and explore nature through a mindful evening hike and creative nature journaling. Hike will be approx. 1-mile on crushed limestone with some hills. Nature journaling supplies provided. Ages 12+ recommended. Meet @ nature center.
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.

Summer Bird Hike
2025-08-02 08:00 - 09:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
The early bird gets the worm! Join a naturalist to search for birds using binoculars and field guides. Some binoculars will be available to borrow. Trail will be ~1 mile, flat limestone gravel with some dirt trail, and with frequent stops. All ages. Meet at nature center
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.

Wellness: Hoop for Fitness
2025-08-02 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn how to control a hula hoop with Tasya Lacy of Hoop Fitness during this fun, low impact, full body workout. Hula hoops provided or bring your own.

Hike to the RippleRock
2025-08-02 10:00 - 11:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Walk through the creek upstream to find some unique geologic features. Wear closed-toe shoes that can get wet. Best for 6+

Bugstravaganza: A Celebration of Insects
2025-08-02 10:00 - 13:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Celebrate the world of insects and more! See insects up close, catch and release bugs, make crafts, learn about moths, visit a beekeeper, explore the OSU Bugmobile (with bugs from around the world), learn about pollinators and pests and more. All activities are free. Free hot dogs, chips and drinks served from 10:30am-1pm. Walnut Woods Metro Park Buckeye Area, 6716 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport

Flower Power
2025-08-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Come learn about beautiful native plants and enjoy a flower themed craft!

Wonderful Wildflowers
2025-08-03 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1-mile hike through a prairie to search for blooming wildflowers.

Crochet Club: Strawberries
2025-08-03 11:00 - 15:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Calling all crocheters! We are hosting another free crochet event! This month we are focusing on the sweetest summer berry – the strawberry!
All supplies needed will be provided. No experience necessary, we can teach you the basics of crochet! Feel free to bring your own WIPs as well!
For our beginners: Our staff is limited, so we appreciate all the patience you have as we make our way around to teach you!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Lakeside Pavilion, rain or shine!

Fairy House Building
2025-08-03 13:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Calling all fairy house construction workers! The Blendon Woods fairies are in desperate need of new homes. Collect natural materials to create your own house for fairies or trolls.

Try it! Archery
2025-08-04 11:30 - 13:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come out to Scioto Grove Metro Park try your hand at this free archery program! Come out anytime between the times listed. All equipment and instruction provided. Ages 8+.

Introductory Tai Chi
2025-08-04 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join instructor, Midge Krause, for an introductory tai chi class. This program is geared for adults, children may participate with adult supervision.

Toddler Tuesday: Turtles!
2025-08-05 10:00 - 11:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Turtles are a popular topic in our park during the summer months. They enjoy sunbathing at the pond, exploring the prairie, and racing through the water! Join us as we learn all about turtles by reading a story, meeting our ambassador turtles, and visiting our pond to look for some sunbathing turtles!
This program is geared for ages 2-4. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Preschool: Fairy Time
2025-08-05 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-05 13:00 - 14:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join seasonal naturalist/resident fairy princess Isabel to celebrate a fairy good time! Join us for a short hike, storybook reading and other activities. Fairy costumes encouraged. Recommended ages 3-5. Indoor and outdoor program. Meet @ nature center
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: Who Lives Here?
2025-08-05 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-08-05 14:00 - 15:30 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Preschoolers can learn about which animals live in Sharon Woods through games, songs and a craft.

For Kids: Catch A Bug
2025-08-05 13:30 - 14:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn the basics about insects then grab a net and collect some to observe and identify. Three Creeks Metro Park Confluence Area, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Kids Tram
2025-08-06 10:00 - 15:30 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Hop aboard the tram as we drive through the forests! We will be looking for wildlife and talking about cool facts about the park!
We will have rides at 10am, 10:35am, 11:10am, 11:45am, 1pm, 1:35pm, 2:10pm, 2:45pm, 3:20pm (lasting about 20 mins). The tram seats approximately 18-20 bodies, so it will be first come first served! We will be giving out tickets 30 mins before each ride to reserve your seat. Children sitting in laps will NOT require a ticket, but must sit on the lap the entire tram ride.
This program is geared for ages 6-12. We will meet at the second parking lot beside the flag pole. If there is heavy rain, we will reschedule the program!
