Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Bat Hike
2025-08-09 20:00 - 21:30 (America/New_York) | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Learn about bats and take a 1.5-mile hike to look for our flying mammals in the evening sky. During the bat hike, we will try to see as many bats foraging as possible. Please apply bug spray prior to arrival to the park. All ages. Meet in Big Meadows.
Meeting location notes: Big Meadows Picnic Area. This meeting location is located near 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: Science Sundays - Snakes of Central Ohio
2025-08-10 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join Abby Ditomassi from the Ohio Division of Wildlife as we learn about what snakes live in Ohio during this session of Snakes of Central Ohio. This session will feature an outdoor learning experience where we will take a short walk to check and flip over coverboards placed specifically for finding snakes. Meet at Beech Maple Lodge.

For Kids: Walking Sticks
2025-08-10 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Meet and learn more about these captivating creatures, along with a fun craft to take home.

Meet the Artists: Angela Scavo-Manno & Neal Piek
2025-08-10 14:00 - 16:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Meet artists of the month, Angela Scavo-Manno and Neal Piek, and view their artwork on display in the Innis House.

Walk with the Horticulturist
2025-08-10 18:00 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join Inniswood’s horticulturist for a walk through the Gardens to learn about this year’s garden theme and how it influenced the design of our seasonal beds. The walk will provide insights into plant selection and pairings to inspire the design of your home garden.

Tree ID on the Canopy Walk
2025-08-11 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn to identify some trees while exploring the tree canopy.

Perseids Meteor Shower Viewing
2025-08-12 02:00 - 04:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
We will be hosting a specialty viewing party of the Perseids Meteor Shower peak! The park gates will open from 2-4am on August 12th. The viewing area will be restricted to the Wind and Solar Lot (the rest of the park will be closed). We will have an information table and treats for guests to enjoy! The park will close again at 4am and reopen at our normal opening hours.
Please bring your own telescopes, binoculars, lawn chairs or blankets, and cameras to view this special moment!
This program is geared for all ages. The Wind and Solar Lot will be open to view the meteor shower. Parking will be in the Wind and Solar Lot and along the one-way loop.

Try it! Kayaking
2025-08-12 10:00 - 14:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Come out anytime during the listed times and enjoy kayaking the lake at Quarry Trails Metro Park, kayaking will be first come first served. Solo, sit in kayaks available for ages 10+, max weight: 275Ibs. A couple of tandem kayaks will be available for all ages, with an adult. Equipment and instruction is provided. Free and fun!
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Bagged Lunch and Box Turtles
2025-08-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Bring a lunch to the park and enjoy the afternoon with some of our naturalists and an animal ambassador! Meet at Cedar Ridge Picnic Area.

Preschoolers: Butterflies
2025-08-13 10:00 - 11:00, 2025-08-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn about butterflies through a story, activity and a craft.

Winnowing Rock Hike
2025-08-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take a 5-mile backcountry hike to Winnowing Rock. Terrain at Clear Creek is rugged and steep. Bring water and wear sturdy hiking shoes. Meet at the Park Office, 185 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster (39.594057, -82.622219).

Creeking
2025-08-13 13:00 - 14:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Explore Spring Run creek with the Inniswood educators. Supplies will be provided. Closed-toe boots or water shoes recommended.

Evening Kayaking
2025-08-13 16:00 - 19:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Enjoy Darby Bend Lakes at Prairie Oaks Metro Park from a kayak! Kayaks are solo, sit in kayaks with a max weight of 275 lbs. A couple tandem kayaks will be available for all ages, with an adult present in the boat. Water wicking clothing is recommended. Meet at Lake 1 at Darby Bend Lakes, 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard OH.
Ages 10+. Equipment and instruction are provided.

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-08-14 10:00 - 14:00 | 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.
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Dr, Columbus, OH. Please follow signage and be on the lookout for construction traffic.

Breakin' It Down With Worms
2025-08-14 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States

Family Creeking
2025-08-14 13:00 - 14:00 | 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. 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.

Wildflower Hike
2025-08-15 10:00 - 11:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the shelter and come on a 1 mile hike to look for wildflowers.
Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive Columbus OH 43228 and follow the roadway to the parking lot.

Alphabet Walk
2025-08-15 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-16 10:00 - 16:00, 2025-08-17 10:00 - 16:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing between 10am – 4pm
All ages
Explore the farm while learning 26 facts about tools, animals, and life in the 1880s.

Evening Tram Rides
2025-08-15 18:00 - 21:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
The tram will make its rounds once again in the evening this month.! We will keep our eyes peeled for dusk and evening activity as we travel through the entire park!
We will have rides at 6pm, 7pm, 8pm, and 9pm (lasting about 50 mins, with a stop at the wetlands). 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.
This program is for all ages. We will meet at the second parking lot beside the flag pole. If there is heavy rain, we will reschedule the program!

Bat Hike
2025-08-15 20:00 - 21:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about bats and take a short hike to look for them by the lake.

Blacklick Creek Exploration
2025-08-16 13:00 - 14:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 2-mile (round-trip) hike to Blacklick Creek and then wade in the water in search of crayfish, frogs, fish and insects.

Science Saturday: Captivating Clouds
2025-08-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Our final installment for this year’s Science Saturday may blow you away! Join us for Captivating Clouds as you learn how clouds form, the different types of clouds, and what clouds can tell you! Cirrus-ly, it’s going to be lots of fun!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the Wind and Solar Lot, rain or shine!

Tram Ride-National Joke Day
2025-08-16 13:00 - 16:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Ride our open-sided Tram and celebrate National Joke Day with a “tramendous” guided tour of Sharon Woods. Tram is wheelchair accessible and leaves every half-hour. Tram is free, but children must be accompanied by an adult.

Snakes Alive!
2025-08-16 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn all about our snake ambassadors!

Try it! Archery
2025-08-16 14:00 - 15:30 | 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+.

Evening Hike
2025-08-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
We’ll go on a 2-mile hike, enjoying the woods and hopefully observing bats or other creatures as the sun sets. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Tram Ride
2025-08-17 13:00 - 16:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Ride our open-sided Tram while you learn about Sharon Woods in style! Tram leaves every half-hour and is wheelchair accessible. Tram is free to ride, but children must be accompanied by an adult.
