Coffee & Birds
2025-01-19 09:00 - 11:00, 2025-01-26 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Drop by to enjoy a warm cup and beautiful birds at our viewing windows.

Rocky Fork Winter Hike
2025-01-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Rocky Fork, 7180 East Walnut St., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail at Rocky Fork Metro Park. Refreshments and a treat will be served between 10am and 1pm.
Learn more about winter hikes by clicking here.

Social Hike with Metro Parks
2025-01-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Get your steps in and meet some new people on this 2.5 mile social hike with staff and volunteers. Trail is flat and crushed gravel, no hills. Meet at Nature Center.

Lantern Hike
2025-01-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Walk around the park at night, illuminated only by lanterns! The naturalist will lead 30 minute hikes around the park starting at 5:30pm. We will supply all lanterns, please no flashlights!
The trail is a mixed path of pavement, gravel, and dirt and measures under 1 mile.
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the barn shelter, rain or shine!

Snow (Science) Day!
2025-01-20 10:00 - 11:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn about the science behind snow and do some fun snow crafts and activities!

Preschool: Winter Fun
2025-01-20 10:00 - 13:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Drop by for a craft and an icy activity at the Nature Center.

Winter Habitat Builders
2025-01-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Learn about different habitats forest critters take shelter in during the winter and then help use various materials to build a habitat fit for the forest!

Homeschool: Nature Journal
2025-01-21 13:00 - 14:30 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us and create your own natural journal. Children will learn who to sew and bind a simple paper journal that can be used all year to make observations, draw nature images and answer questions about the natural world around them.

Hootin' Hike
2025-01-21 17:00 - 18:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Let’s take a short walk to learn about owls and try to find one in our woods. Meet at the Indian Ridge Bulletin Board, 2705 Darby Creek Dr.

Try It! Archery
2025-01-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods Golf Course, 7309 E Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Enjoy the thrill and fun of archery this winter while being toasty warm inside at the Blacklick Woods Golf Course!! Archery will be indoors at the Golf Course Pro Shop! All equipment provided, fun and free! Ages 8+.

Cardio Hike
2025-01-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Join us in brining in the New Year at this fast-paced Cardio Hike at Prairie Oaks Metro Park! Meet at Darby Bend Lakes, Lake 1 parking lot. Use address 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard.

Winter Scavenger Hunt
2025-01-22 16:00 - 18:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Celebrate the winter season with a fun scavenger hunt that will lead you around the park! Pick up your scavenger hunt at the shelter house from 4-6pm and complete the scavenger hunt to earn a prize!
The scavenger hunt trail will be along our Red Oak Trail which is 0.8 miles long with varying terrain of gravel and dirt paths.
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the shelter house, rain or shine!

For Adults 50+: Hike the Sugar Maple
2025-01-24 14:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Park, 1375 St. Rte. 674 North, Canal Winchester, 43110, United States
Hike up and down hills on this moderate 1.5-mile trek through the forest.
Meet at the Buzzard’s Roost Picnic Area bulletin board.

Sunset and S'mores
2025-01-24 16:30 - 17:30 | 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.

Duck Walk
2025-01-25 09:00 - 10:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Take a slow wander out to Thoreau Lake to look for winter birds and see what waterfowl are using the pond this week.

Owl Prowl
2025-01-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1.25-mile hike through the Walter Tucker State Nature Preserve to search for roosting owls.

Adventure Book Club!
2025-01-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Join us for our Monthly Adventure Book Club! No registration is necessary; all are welcome. This month’s book is “The Shadow of Kilimanjaro” by Rick Ridgeway.
We will meet at the end of each month to discuss a different book. Meet at The Quarry Trails Park office lobby

Clear Creek Winter Hike
2025-01-25 10:00 - 13:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take a self guided hike on any of our public trails and enjoy refreshments at our Barnebey Hambleton area from 10am-1pm. Meet at the Park Office (185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster) at 10am for a guided 4-mile backcountry hike. Terrain at Clear Creek is steep and uneven, wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring water.
Learn more about winter hikes by clicking here.

January Joy: Scavenger Hunt
2025-01-25 10:00 - 14:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Stop by the Naturalist’s Office and pick-up a Scavenger Hunt sheet. Hike any trail and look for signs of life, which can be found even in the cold of January. Return the sheet before 2:00 to win a prize.

Adventure 101: Compass Basics
2025-01-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Adventure 101 programs are skill based, hands on programs to learn more about outdoor skills and tips!
Join us for a beginner-intermediate compass basics program! We will go over everything from compass tips and tricks, to orienting yourself to maps and everything in between.
This course is designed for those who have had little to no experience with compasses or those who may have trouble with learning directions. All ages are welcome! Meet at the arrowhead picnic area at Scioto Grove Metro Park

Sunset Hike
2025-01-25 17:00 - 18:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 2-mile hike and watch the sun set over Blacklick Woods. Pets are permitted.

Drop In: Astronomy Night
2025-01-25 17:30 - 19:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Drop by the Big Meadows Picnic Area between 5:30-7:30 PM to do some stargazing with Columbus Astronomical Society. Learn about the astronomy of the winter sky. All ages welcome. Limited equipment provided.
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.

Cowboy Campfire Coffee!
2025-01-26 10:00 - 11:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Howdy Y’all! Come out to the Lower Sled Hill at Quarry Trails Metro Park to learn how to make Cowboy style Campfire Coffee! All ingredients and equipment will be supplied, feel free to bring your own reusable mug or cup and fill it up with some warm and toasty fire brewed coffee

Winter Watercolor
2025-01-26 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-01-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Spring Hollow at Sharon Woods, 1069 W Main St, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Adults and kids can learn the basics of watercolor and paint a simple winter landscape. Class includes a short hike, so please dress for the weather.

Bird BINGO
2025-01-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Calling all bird lovers for a morning of BINGO! Whether you are a long time bird enthusiast or a newbie birder, you can enjoy a fun game of BINGO with us. Stop by the shelter house from 10-12pm to get your BINGO card and hit the trail!
The bird trail will be along our Red Oak Trail which is 0.8 miles long with varying terrain of gravel and dirt paths.
Binoculars and guide books will be provided!
This program is geared for all ages. Meet at the shelter house, rain or shine!

Scioto Grove Winter Hike
2025-01-26 10:00 - 13:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Gather your friends and family for a hike on any trail at Scioto Grove Metro Park. Refreshments and a treat will be served between 10am and 1pm.
Learn more about winter hikes by clicking here.

Flying Squirrel Talk & Hike
2025-01-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Learn all about the fascinating flying squirrel and go for a hike to check one of our nest boxes! Hike will be approximately 2 miles on crushed limestone. Ages 5+
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.

Houseplant Basics
2025-01-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Learn the basics of keeping houseplants happy. Brown thumbs welcome!
