Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System

Big Birding Morning
2024-05-19 09:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a 2-mile hike to look for migratory birds. Trail will be unimproved and hilly in areas. All experience levels welcome. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow. Ages 18+. Program meets at the back of the Indian Ridge Picnic Area near the restrooms and bulletin board. 2705 Darby Creek Drive.

Beginner Birding
2024-05-19 10:00 - 11:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join fellow beginner birders and learn the basic backyard birds from inside the nature center. Then take your knowledge outside and look for birds on a half-mile hike. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow.

Inniswood Book Club
2024-05-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Innis House, 940 S Hempstead Road, Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us for a discussion on Stephanie Barron’s novel, “The White Garden: A Novel of Virginia Woolf.”

Growing Vegetable Soup Story Walk
2024-05-19 11:00 - 15:00 | OH
Program on-going from 11am-3pm
Enjoy the “Growing Vegetable Soup” Story Walk and try to find the stuffed vegetables hidden around the house.

Dating Darters
2024-05-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Come check out how colorful our small fish can get as we do our own dance in the water to catch some darters during their breeding season. Closed toed shoes required.

Wild About Food
2024-05-19 14:00 - 15:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Drop by the Nature Center to taste some recipes highlighting wild edible plants.

Pokémon Community Day
2024-05-19 14:00 - 17:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Gotta catch them all! Enjoy a Pokémon-themed day at Blacklick Woods. Find Pokémon hidden on the trail while participating in Pokémon Go Community Day, meet fellow trainers, enjoy an “Appletun” pie, and create a Pokémon-themed craft. You do not need to play Pokémon Go to enjoy the activities!

Prepping for Paddling
2024-05-20 17:00 - 18:00 | Scioto Grove, 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH, 43123, United States
Get ready for paddling season with this on-land course designed to teach you the basics of being on the water! We will go over water safety, proper paddle technique, and practice the basic kayak paddling strokes from shore. Meet at Arrowhead Picnic Area at Scioto Grove Metro Park.

Chatty Birds
2024-05-21 16:30 - 18:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Birds make all kinds of songs, and you will too! We will learn about some common birds, listen to their songs, and make our own bird call maker. Once we finish our craft, we will put your bird calls to the test on a short hike.
This program is geared towards ages 8-11. Meet at the shelter house, rain or shine!
PLEASE NOTE: The craft is not suitable for children under 7.

Preschoolers: Gone Birding
2024-05-22 10:00 - 11:00, 2024-05-22 13:00 - 14:00 | OH
Learn about birds and birdwatching through stories, an activity and crafts.

Preschoolers: Swamp Things
2024-05-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Three Creeks, 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Learn about the small creatures that make their homes in ponds and wetlands. Meets at Three Creeks Confluence Area bulletin board, 3860 Bixby Rd, Groveport

Close-up Nature photography
2024-05-22 18:30 - 19:30 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn to use your cell phone or camera to take awesome close up pictures.

For Adults: Butterfly Survey
2024-05-23 14:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Explore 2-miles of fields and trails along the Multi-purpose Trail looking for butterflies while helping a naturalist with a butterfly survey. Butterfly knowledge or identification skills are not necessary.

Full Moon Hike
2024-05-23 19:30 - 21:30 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Take a brisk 4-mile hike through forests and fields. Meet us at the Ranger Station, 1775 Darby Creek Drive.

Full Moon Hike
2024-05-23 20:00 - 22:00 | Glacier Ridge, 9801 Hyland Croy, Plain City, OH, 43064, United States
Join us for a 2 mile hike of Glacier Ridge during the full moon! We will have red lights for those that need them, but please no bright lights!
This program is geared for ages 15 and up. We will meet at the shelter house and leave once the sun has set.

Preschool: A Warbler's Journey
2024-05-24 10:00 - 11:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about the incredible journey made by these tiny birds through literature , activities and craft.

Nature for your Mental Health
2024-05-24 18:00 - 19:00 | Inniswood Metro Gardens, 940 S. Hempstead Rd., Westerville, OH, 43081, United States
Join us as we learn tools and tips to help rejuvenate our minds and bodies with the help of the natural world.

Sunset Hike
2024-05-24 20:00 - 21:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Join a naturalist on a 2-mile hike to watch the sunset over Blacklick Woods. Leashed pets are permitted on this hike.

Late Nights at the Climbing Wall
2024-05-24 20:00 - 23:30 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy Late Nights at the Climbing Wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, the climbing wall lights will stay on until midnight for open climb. Please bring your own gear.

Try it! Climbing @ Late Nights at the Climbing Wall
2024-05-24 21:00 - 22:30 | Scioto Audubon, 400 West Whittier St., Columbus, OH, 43215, United States
Enjoy Late Nights at the Climbing Wall at Scioto Audubon Metro Park! On the 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, the climbing wall lights will stay on until midnight for open climb. Please bring your own gear.
On May 24th Join Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure for Try it! Rock Climbing from 9pm-10:30pm where gear and instruction will be provided by staff for Late Nights at the Climbing Wall!

Morning Fast Paced Hike
2024-05-25 09:00 - 10:00 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Join park staff for a fast paced hike through Walnut Woods Metro Park! Meet at the Tall Pines parking area at Walnut Woods Metro Park. Hike will be approx. 3 miles on a paved trail.

Forest Bathing
2024-05-25 10:00 - 11:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Join a naturalist in some good ol’ nature therapy! Feel free to bring something to sit on that’s easy to carry as we take a short hike and practice some quiet, stress-relieving techniques surrounded by greenery.

Meet the Animals
2024-05-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Meet some of our animals ambassadors and learn about their important job at the Nature Center

For Adults 50+: Walk the Dog
2024-05-25 19:00 - 20:30 | Walnut Woods, 6723 Lithopolis Rd, Groveport, OH, 43125, United States
Bring your canine friend for a 2.5-mile walk on the Kestrel and Monarch trails. Pets must be leashed.
Meet in the park office parking lot (across from the Buckeye Area) at 6723 Lithopolis Rd.,
Groveport. Additional parking is behind the park office.

Spring Birding Hike
2024-05-26 09:00 - 10:30 | Highbanks, 9466 Columbus Pike (US Rt 23 N), Lewis Center, OH, 43035, United States
Warblers, Woodpeckers, Wailing Turkeys? Who’s around? Let’s look for them together on a 2 mile birding hike. All experience levels welcome. Please bring binoculars if you have them. Limited supply of binoculars available to borrow. Trail conditions may be muddy.
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.

For Kids: Awesome Opossum
2024-05-26 13:00 - 14:00 | Battelle Darby Creek, 1775 Darby Creek Drive, Galloway, OH, 43119, United States
Come to hear all about North America’s only marsupial, the opossum! Learn through story, games, and a craft all relating to our pouched pals! Best for ages 5+.

Sunday in the Swamp
2024-05-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Blacklick Woods, 6975 East Livingston Ave, Reynoldsburg, OH, 43068, United States
Stop by the swamp to scoop up some slimy critters.

Toy Boat Building
2024-05-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Slate Run Living Historical Farm, 1375 OH-674, Canal Winchester, OH, 43110, United States
Program ongoing between 1-3pm.
Meet in front of the barn.
Build a simple wooden boat to sail on the pond.

For Adults 50+: Maples and Beeches and Oaks, Oh My!
2024-05-26 14:00 - 15:00 | Blendon Woods, 4265 E Dublin Granville Road, Columbus, 43081, United States
Learn about common Ohio trees and what they’re up to in the spring. Hike will be approximately 1.5 miles with some hills.
