Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Try it! Archery
2025-08-04 11:30 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | 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!

Dusk to Dark Hike
2025-08-06 20:00 - 21:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Join us for a 2-mile hike around Scioto Grove Metro Park, enjoying the park as it changes from evening to night. Meet at the Arrowhead Picnic Area.

Bat Hike
2025-08-06 20:30 - 21:30 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Take a 1-mile hike with a naturalist to search for bats, while learning about their role in the ecosystem.

Touch-a-Truck
2025-08-07 16:00 - 19:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Touch, Honk and Explore a variety of different machines and equipment used in a variety of organizations. Cedar Ridge Picnic Area, 1775 Darby Creek Dr.

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-08-08 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.

Bison
2025-08-08 10:30 - 11:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Come learn about bison, and take a short hike to get a closer look. All ages. Trail is crushed gravel and stroller-friendly

Touch-a-Truck
2025-08-08 16:00 - 19:00 | Sharon Woods, 6911 Cleveland Ave., Columbus, OH, 43081, United States
Visitors can stop by to see, touch and explore a variety of Metro Park’s truck, tractors and more.

UV Night Hike
2025-08-08 21:00 - 22:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Bring a UV flashlight or borrow one of ours as we search for glowing animals on this half-mile hike.

Fly Fishing: Beyond The Basics
2025-08-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Clear Creek, 185 Clear Creek Road, Lancaster, OH, 43130, United States
Develop your fly fishing skills and catch fish in Clear Creek. Equipment provided. Experience or attendance at the July 12th beginners program is recommended. Meet at the Fern Parking Lot, 22937 Clear Creek Road in Rockbridge (39.59007, -82.59188).

Hiding in Plain Sight
2025-08-09 11:00 - 12:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Follow a naturalist and discover what is hiding right before your eyes when you stop for a closer look. Learn about fungi, slime molds, insects and more on this 1.25-mile hike.

For Adults: 100 Acre Wood Off Trail Hike
2025-08-09 11:00 - 12:30 | 100 Acre Wood, 5280 Cambria Way, Westerville, Ohio, 43081
Take a rugged off trail hike through the ravines at the 100 Acre Wood property to see what we can find. Park along street; 5224 Cambria Way.

Try it! Kayaking and SUP
2025-08-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Prairie Oaks, 3225 Plain City-Georgesville Road, West Jefferson, OH, 43162, United States
Come out and try stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking for free at Prairie Oaks Metro Park, Darby Bend Lakes. SUPs and Solo sit-in kayaks ages 10+ only. Tandems open for all ages. Solo sit-kayaks have a 275Ibs limit. Meet at Lake 3 at Darby Bend Lakes, 2755 Amity Rd, Hilliard OH.
First come, first served. Equipment and instruction are provided.

Tram Ride
2025-08-09 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.

Craft-a-Creature
2025-08-09 14:00 - 16:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Create your own species by piecing together different animal parts.

Bat Hike
2025-08-09 20:00 - 21:30 | 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.
