Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Intro to Tai Chi
2024-07-08 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join instructor Midge Krause for an introductory tai chi class.

For Adults: Nature Photography
2024-07-08 18:00 - 19:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Learn the ins and outs of your camera in our classroom before heading outside for a 1-mile hike to look for birds, butterflies and blooms to photograph.

Summer Children's Programs: Jumpers
2024-07-09 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-07-09 13:00 - 14:30, 2024-07-10 10:00 - 11:30, 2024-07-10 13:00 - 14:30 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Hop on over to the gardens to learn all about Ohio’s best jumpers. Geared for ages 8 and younger.

For Kids: Creeking
2024-07-09 10:00 - 11:30 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Take a 1-mile round-trip hike to our creeking area and use nets and hands to search for critters in the creek. For safety, please wear closed-toed shoes or sandals. Best suited for older preschoolers and school-age kids but younger children are welcome to tag along. In case of high water, an alternate activity will be held. No pets, please. Meets at the Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

A Hunting We will Go
2024-07-09 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-10 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-11 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-12 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-13 10:00 - 16:00, 2024-07-14 10:00 - 16:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program ongoing 10am-4pm
All ages
Pick up a scavenger hunt list at the farmhouse and enjoy searching for items around the farm.

Junior Naturalist: Animal Husbandry
2024-07-09 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Junior Naturalist- 4 part summer series for ages 8-14. During this series, kids will learn some “naturalist skills”. If kids attend 3/5 programs, they can earn a prize. This week, we will be learning how to take care of some of the educational reptiles and amphibians, including feeding and habitat requirements. Please note, this is not a drop-off program. Parents are required to stay nearby for the duration of the program.

Witches Hollow Hike & Picnic
2024-07-10 10:00 - 12:30 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Take a 2-mile backcountry hike to Witches Hollow. Crossing Clear Creek will be required to access this area; bring a change of shoes. Bring a lunch for a picnic in the shelter house afterwards. Meet at the Barnebey Hambleton area, 620 Clear Creek Road in Lancaster.

Try it! Climbing
2024-07-10 12:00 - 14:00 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Come out and climb at this free program! Meet at the Scioto Audubon Metro Park Climbing wall. All equipment provided. Tennis shoes with good tread recommended.

Fantastic Ferns
2024-07-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about these ancient plants through an off-trail hike to find a few of our fern species at Blendon. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are recommended.

Two’s a Crowd, Three’s a Party: Plant Pairings and Groupings
2024-07-10 19:00 - 20:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join Tim Fleischer and Matt Guthrie, Assistant Horticulturists for the City of Dublin, as they discuss how to make plant groupings impactful in the garden. Sponsored by the Central Ohio Unit, Herb Society of America.

For Kids: Summer Storms
2024-07-11 11:00 - 12:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Meet at the Cedar Ridge Picnic Area’s Red Bud Shelter (to the right of the ranger station) to eat lunch and talk about weather, clouds, and what makes storms.

Try It! Archery
2024-07-11 16:00 - 17:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Come try your hand at this free archery program! Come out anytime between the times listed. All equipment provided. Ages 8+.

Try it! SUP
2024-07-11 17:00 - 19:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come to our free Try it! SUP program at Darby Bend Lakes at Prairie Oaks Metro Park! 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH. All equipment provided. Meet at Lake 1.

Sunset SUP and S'mores
2024-07-11 19:00 - 20:30 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and enjoy the sunset on a Stand Up Paddle Board and enjoy a little sweet treat! SUPs are for ages 10+, both inflatable and hard paddle bards will be available to use, first come first served!
Free instruction, equipment and life jackets provided
Meet at Lake 1 at Darby Bend Lakes (Prairie Oaks Metro Park)
2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard, OH 43026

Adult: Summer Wildflower Hike
2024-07-12 09:00 - 10:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Learn about summer wildflowers blooming at the park on a 1.5 mile hike Expect a combination of paved and unimproved (dirt) trails. Exact trail will depend upon the wildflowers in bloom. Ages 18+
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.

Ice Cream Social
2024-07-12 12:00 - 13:00 | Quarry Trails, 2600 Dublin Road, Columbus, OH, 43228, United States
Meet at the Kingfisher Shelter. Use address 2319 Quarry Trails Drive Columbus OH 43228. Go on a 1 mile hike and then enjoy a sweet treat!

Kids: Mindfulness Hike
2024-07-13 10:00 - 11:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Join a naturalist to learn how to connect with the forest in a mindful way. Participants will learn mindfulness techniques to use in their day to day life to keep themselves centered and grounded. We will take notice of different components of the forest ecosystem and learn how to experience using all of our senses. The hike will be about .75 miles along gravel trail surfaces with some stops exploring off-trail.
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.

The Big Splash
2024-07-13 10:00 - 13:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Try canoeing, look for critters in a table-top pond, slide down a water slide or get wet in the squirt zone. Three Creeks Metro park Confluence Area, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Pokémon Go Hike!
2024-07-13 14:00 - 16:00 | Homestead, 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, OH, 43026, United States
Enjoy Pokémon Go! Community Day at Homestead Metro Park! Bring you own device to access Pokémon Go! and hike around the park with park staff to find different Pokémon! Meet at the Homestead Nature Center.

Happy Tails & Trails (Dog Hike)
2024-07-13 19:00 - 20:00 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Bring your dog for a 1.5 mile hike. Please bring your own drinking water for your dog. Leashes must be shorter than 6 feet. Near the end of the hike, we will stop for the optional cool down in the Olentangy River.
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.

Built to Bake
2024-07-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Ongoing between 1-3pm
Learn how a wood burning stove works and browse through our collection of 19th century cookbooks, while we prepare baked goods.

Summer Sunday Splash
2024-07-14 13:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Stop by anytime between 1-3pm 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.
